Vitali was green and experienced when he dominated Lewis.
Lewis was 37, that's not really that old for a heavyweight. Vitali is almost 39, came back after a 4 year layoff and is still dominating the HW division.
He is dominating the worse division in boxing, and the worse that the HW has been ever IMO, not really a big achivement.
In the interviews before their fight, Lewis said he was well prepared, very motivated for the fight and he wanted to keep fighting for a few more years.
He was going to say that he was going into a fight, if said before hand that he was washed up ect then what would be the point of being the World Champ? He might aswell have vacated his title. But as everyone can see Lewis was over the hill and very tired during the fight, but imo had a second win in round 5.
Lewis was coming off the biggest win of his career, the KO win over Tyson. In the Lewis/Tyson post fight interview Lewis stated "I'm like fine wine, I get better with age."
Firstly it wasn't his biggest win, yes he wanted to fight Tyson, but he was well past prime coming into the fight and most people knew Lewis would have won. Secondly like my comments before, of corse he is going to say that he has still got it ect, which world champ wouldnt after beating someone unless they decieded to retire after the fight befor hand
Vitali took the fight on just 10 days notice.
Yes but he was still in training to fight Cedric Boswell so its not as if he had not train at all. Also as number one contender and wanting a shot at the title, when an oppertunity comes along your going to take it.
Lennox Lewis got DOMINATED and RETIRED by Vitali Klitschko.
Yes in the earlier round kilschko did hurt lewis, but imo lewis got a second wind and did hurt Vitali quite a bit during the fight, and destroyed his facem so had the upper hand yes, dominated NO. On the point of lewis retiring? He had nothing to gain from a rematch, yes he was offered a lot of money, but to lewis money isn't everything and he left with a very good legacy and retired undiputed HW champion and didnt go down the path of past champions trying to regain the glory days coming back from retirement
Don't get me wrong Vitali is a very good fighter, but at the wrong era for him. If he was contender in the 90's he would have been put more to the test and could have proved himself more, but with the current competition around it will effect his legacy. Prime for Prime Lewis Wins everytime, as he proved himself against great fighters to Vitali's average ones.
On the fight itself, yes it made Lewis more aware that he couldnt continue in boxing, but he did mess up Vitali's face quite badly and even though i thought that there should of been anouther round, if his eye got damaged that could have been his last fight and the doctor did right stopping the fight.