So Lennox Lewis has got me thinking....

[marvdave]

What's the real belt? The WBC? Why? Lewis won the IBF And WBC titles and gave them both up. He gave up the IBF belt to avoid fighting Byrd and he gave up the WBC belt when he retired. Do you mean The Ring belt? That's a sportswriter title, though I suppose they're right most of the time.

Lewis "avoided" Byrd becuase he didn't bring any money to the table. Unmarketable fight. Nobody wanted to see that fight except CITA. I'm sure Lennox wasn't afraid of him.

If I had to pick "the real champ", I guess it would have to be Vitali becuase of his showing against Lewis and then beating Sanders. That in itself is pathetic becuase he got glory from beating a fat Golfer and losing to a champ. But considering who the other guys are, I guess he is the man. I don't feel strong about it however. If we wanted to get realistic about it, Everyone's All American, John Ruiz has beaten the best fighters and fought better competition, but I can't bring myself to supporting him

[neils7147933]

I wasn't faulting Lewis for not fighting Byrd. People give up titles all the time. Sometimes, it's the best thing to do (winky not defending vs. Ouma to fight Mosley)

I just wondered why fighting for a vacant title was The Real Belt.

[marvdave]

I wasn't faulting Lewis for not fighting Byrd. People give up titles all the time. Sometimes, it's the best thing to do (winky not defending vs. Ouma to fight Mosley)

I just wondered why fighting for a vacant title was The Real Belt.

sorry about that. Like I said, I don't feel strongly about it. I guess maybe the real champ is yet to come. if we could only get Vitali, Byrd and Ruiz to fight each other. A heavyweight tourney would be good right now, but I know it won't happen.

did I just say I want to see a Byrd-Ruiz fight?

[tracylee]

I thought the WBC was the 'real' belt. The one, legit belt. Like I posted on another thread, I'm still learning every day. It was the belt Lennox had right? And he was considered the one, true champ. Help me out here; gotta learn somehow. (to be honest, this business with the belt's always confused me; I understand boxing really well, the belt's leave me thinking what the hell???)
I mean, I know what the initials stand for on all them; the WBC, WBA, IBF, and all of that, but which is the real one?

[marvdave]

it's a long drawn out story. The WBC and WBA have been the most reconized belts for a long time. The IBF came into play in the early 80's when Larry Holmes dumped his WBC belt becuase he didn't want fight Greg Page. He was awarded the newly formed IBF belt. Thats about the time everything went hay wire with the belts. The WBO then came into play later on. The WBC gets more play becuase Don King owns.errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr his fighters usually are involved. At this point IMO, out of the three, there is not one more important than the other. that would be a brief summary of what could be a 500 page book

[tracylee]

it's a long drawn out story. The WBC and WBA have been the most reconized belts for a long time. The IBF came into play in the early 80's when Larry Holmes dumped his WBC belt becuase he didn't want fight Greg Page. He was awarded the newly formed IBF belt. Thats about the time everything went hay wire with the belts. The WBO then came into play later on. The WBC gets more play becuase Don King owns.errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr his fighters usually are involved. At this point IMO, out of the three, there is not one more important than the other. that would be a brief summary of what could be a 500 page book

Thank you, that does help!

[Torino]

I have one major problem with Vitali, and it has nothing to do with actual talent. I have this scene that runs though my head automatically every time I hear his name, and I just cant get rid of it. Remember when he lost to Lewis? While everybody was still in the ring, etc. he kept throwing a fit cause they stopped the fight (like, his eyeball was about to fall out of his head!!) and Wlad entered the ring (to make matters worse) and they kept going over to Lewis' corner carrying on and on to the point where I tought they were gonna 'jump him' or something. It was crazy; like they blamed him for it getting stopped (technically it was his fault..that big right hand of his). It just made me sick, and as unfair as it is, no matter how long ago it happened I just cant get that scene out of my head!! And I KNOW they damn sure werent going over there to congradulate him

It all makes sence now.

[tracylee]

It all makes sence now.

Good for you

[Neuraxis]

I have one major problem with Vitali, and it has nothing to do with actual talent. I have this scene that runs though my head automatically every time I hear his name, and I just cant get rid of it. Remember when he lost to Lewis? While everybody was still in the ring, etc. he kept throwing a fit cause they stopped the fight (like, his eyeball was about to fall out of his head!!) and Wlad entered the ring (to make matters worse) and they kept going over to Lewis' corner carrying on and on to the point where I tought they were gonna 'jump him' or something. It was crazy; like they blamed him for it getting stopped (technically it was his fault..that big right hand of his). It just made me sick, and as unfair as it is, no matter how long ago it happened I just cant get that scene out of my head!! And I KNOW they damn sure werent going over there to congradulate him

Apparently you missed Lewis's friends try to start a fight.

[tracylee]

Apparently you missed Lewis's friends try to start a fight.

But of course that's what YOU saw, and I'd expect nothing else from you. NO, I didnt see that , and it wasnt cause I didnt want to or cause I wasnt looking either. I saw, in the ring, what I saw. I've got it taped and have seen it many, many times. You'll not convince me that the commotion was caused by Lewis' corner. You convinced yourself of that and that is just fine with me. Like I said, I would have been surprised, no FLOORED, if you had seen what I saw. It's ok, no big deal.