I think Lennox was always going to have problems with fighters he couldn't knock out, fighters like Mercer, McCall and Klitschko (Vitali not Wlad). I don't think Lennox felt confident he could defeat Vitali, not after seeing what he saw in the first fight.
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Lennox revising history re Vitali rematch
Collapse
-
Originally posted by JAB5239 View Post
If he had come back and made another fight I would get their point. As it stands he did not. I don't see how we can fault a man for retiring and staying that way when so many others cannot.
It may sound harsh but it's the truth, Lennox distaste for the Vitali rematch ended his career prematurely. But he covered it up with the baloney, "Oh I was going to retire anyway."
It does not shade LL's greatness at all, his career speaks for itself. One of the finest in ring history, any weight class. But the public and boxing history were denied a spectacular rematch that would have generated over $100,000,000.
Comment
-
Originally posted by Bennyleonard99 View Post
The optics were clear. Vitali chased Lennox into retirement. LL is still trying to do damage control two decades later.Bennyleonard99 likes this.
- Likes 1
Comment
-
Originally posted by Bennyleonard99 View Post
He could not come back after running from Vitali into retirement. Vitali checkmated him out of the game.
It may sound harsh but it's the truth, Lennox distaste for the Vitali rematch ended his career prematurely. But he covered it up with the baloney, "Oh I was going to retire anyway."
It does not shade LL's greatness at all, his career speaks for itself. One of the finest in ring history, any weight class. But the public and boxing history were denied a spectacular rematch that would have generated over $100,000,000.
It is not premature if he actually stays retired. He did. It was the right time.
You're not allowing the man the right to exit when he knows he hasn't got it anylonger.
That his right and he should be respected for it, not demeaned.
Your argument gives no fighter the right to retire.
You seem to believe that he has a obligation to get hurt just to entertain you.
Comment
-
Originally posted by Willie Pep 229 View Post
No!
It is not premature if he actually stays retired. He did. It was the right time.
You're not allowing the man the right to exit when he knows he hasn't got it anylonger.
That his right and he should be respected for it, not demeaned.
Your argument gives no fighter the right to retire.
You seem to believe that he has a obligation to get hurt just to entertain you.
Lennox planned on having more fights after he expected to beat Vitali, video evidence exists on the HBO broadcast tape. But Vitali changed all those plans and sent Lennox to retirement earlier than he wanted. The rematch was so big nobody would have paid to see Lennox fight anyone else do he quit. Boxing is a cruel business and Lewis learned that. To get booed out of the ring after his final fight was a cruel exclamation point to a historic, legendary career.Willie Pep 229 likes this.
- Likes 1
Comment
-
Originally posted by Bennyleonard99 View Post
He could not come back after running from Vitali into retirement. Vitali checkmated him out of the game.
It may sound harsh but it's the truth, Lennox distaste for the Vitali rematch ended his career prematurely. But he covered it up with the baloney, "Oh I was going to retire anyway."
It does not shade LL's greatness at all, his career speaks for itself. One of the finest in ring history, any weight class. But the public and boxing history were denied a spectacular rematch that would have generated over $100,000,000.
Comment
-
Originally posted by Bennyleonard99 View Post
He could not come back after running from Vitali into retirement. Vitali checkmated him out of the game.
It may sound harsh but it's the truth, Lennox distaste for the Vitali rematch ended his career prematurely. But he covered it up with the baloney, "Oh I was going to retire anyway."
It does not shade LL's greatness at all, his career speaks for itself. One of the finest in ring history, any weight class. But the public and boxing history were denied a spectacular rematch that would have generated over $100,000,000.
Comment
-
Originally posted by Bennyleonard99 View Post
It's the hurt business pal. Rahman and McCall gave Lewis the rematch. Duran gave Leonard the rematch. Johansson gave Patterson the rematch. Frazier gave Ali the rematch. Tunney gave Dempsey the rematch. Marciano gave Walcott the rematch. Vitali deserved the rematch.
Lennox planned on having more fights after he expected to beat Vitali, video evidence exists on the HBO broadcast tape. But Vitali changed all those plans and sent Lennox to retirement earlier than he wanted. The rematch was so big nobody would have paid to see Lennox fight anyone else do he quit. Boxing is a cruel business and Lewis learned that. To get booed out of the ring after his final fight was a cruel exclamation point to a historic, legendary career.
Comment
-
Originally posted by JAB5239 View Post
What did Vits duck the Rahman fight? Happened both before and after he retired i believe. Didn't want to even find out if he could stop him, just flat out avoided him.
Comment
-
Originally posted by Bennyleonard99 View Post
If you think Vitali ducked Rahman or anybody, you're just a hater. Rahman was shot at the end, Vitali was injured. Like Williams vs Pavlik was scuppered by injury and never remade, same deal on Vitali vs Rahman.
Comment
Comment