Was He Robbed or Was He Saved?

The much watched ascension of the Klitschko brothers in the boxing world moved up another notch on Saturday. After rising to the top of the less-acclaimed World Boxing Organization (WBO), Vitali Klitschko's next step was to prove his worth contesting the heavyweight title holder of World Boxing Association/World Boxing Council (WBA/WBC) Heavyweight crown. That would be no one other than Lennox Lewis. Lewis, who a year ago having won decisively against Mike Tyson, has waivered in accepting the challenge from the Klitschkos. In one moment he is mulling retirement, in another he is determined to continue his career believing in his ability to be unvanquished. In one instance a tentative fight date is set, in another all bets are off - Lewis deeming the Klitschkos as unworthy of a contest. Would it be Volodymyr entering the ring or would it be Vitali? Finally, after delays and scheduling changes Vitali Klitschko got the chance to prove his mettle. Because of an injury to Canada's Kirk Johnson, Lewis's scheduled opponent, Vitali, at that time slated for one of the opening matches of the evening, was rebooked to take on the defending champion. Though not generating the buzz of the Lewis-Tyson contest, boxing fans nevertheless approached this fight with excitement. Just prior to the start cameras focused on arriving celebrities (Sylvester Stallone, Magic Johnson, Rick Fox and David Duchovny among others) and cheering spectators waving flags in the stands (one poor rendition of a Union Jack and three full fledged Blue-and-Golds) Even HBO's veteran boxing analyst Larry Merchant invoked his Ukrainian ancestry to stir the mix. With the opening bell it was clear that this would not be a high speed ballet of gladiators. Rather, it would be one which exhibited Vitali's pedantry and stoic determination working against Lennox's less-than-great preparedness exhibited by his grimly but staggering persistence. Lewis never got to land his legendary high speed right, while Vitali stuck to his strategy of taking the fight into the late rounds and wearing Lennox down along the way solidly connecting. Scheduled to go twelve rounds the fight was stopped after six on an anti-climactic note. Vitali had won four of the rounds and was leading in points cast by all three judges decisively landing his punches and progressively weakening his opponent. However, in the third round Lennox had opened a cut above Vitali's left eye which worsened in the subsequent ones. Court physicians examined Vitali at each break and at the end of six deemed that the injury was too great for the fight to continue, consequently giving the decision to Lennox. In disbelief on hearing the news Vitali jumped out of his corner. He beat his heart and raised his arm to the crowds earning him their cheers. In the end Vitali Klitschko got respect from the boxing analysts and journalists, the affection of the fans, and less trauma to his left eye, but Lennox Lewis got to keep his title.