Why did Lewis turn down over 20 million dollars for a rematch with Vitali Klitschko??

[DURAN_IS_GOD]

lewis was the guy coming on stronger in the fight. klitschko was hitting old, out of shape lewis with the kitchen sink early but couldn't even knock him down. vitali struggled back to his corner at the end of the 6th. lewis was on his way to a stoppage victory imo

[Benny Leonard]

Who's fault was it for Lewis's shape coming into the fight? Vitali or Lewis?

Part Lewis, part Nature. Lewis was 38 years old and past his prime, both physically and mentally. Physically, it gets harder when you are at that age, at his height, and his weight, to stay in tip-top shape. It was already telling that he could not get himself up for the first fight with Rahman since Lewis never slipped in training before. But credit to him, he was able to get himself back together and rebound, after all, he still needed to finish off what was left of Tyson so people could shut up about him never facing Tyson.

For the Lewis vs. Vitali fight, it was a good fight, but it was a one fighter coming in supreme condition and trying to get to the top of the mountain, trying to redeem himself, vs. a Man that reigned for along time that had already finished off his career when he defeated Tyson...plus, 38 years old and past his prime.

The poster above is right, Vitali was winning early, but it was clear, even though Lewis was getting battered, he was getting back into the fight and turning it on towards the end, especially with that uppercut that had Vitali holding…Lewis ended that round quite nicely and it was clear that Vitali no longer had the high ground.

I respected both fighters for that fight but I wonder what would have happened if Lewis was younger, motivated and in tip-top shape.

For no rematch: Like I said, the obvious, Lewis was 38 years old in the first fight, by the time the second fight came around he would have been older. He would have to be able to get himself motivated for a rematch and at that point of his life, he knew he couldn’t do it anymore and it wasn’t worth selling out just to collect a last big payday.

[landmine950]

Scared?

scared of what? that he might kill Vitali next time?
Klitschkos face looked like a family pack of ground beef!
They fought.
Lewis won (big time)
Its over.

quit crying.

[Thread Stealer]

scared of what? that he might kill Vitali next time?
Klitschkos face looked like a family pack of ground beef!
They fought.
Lewis won (big time)
Its over.

quit crying.

Apparently some Quitali fanboys are crybabies like their hero. After Lewis turned Brittley's face into a maxi-pad, ****ali cried for years like Scott Tenorman.

4 years later, he still proclaims "I beat Lennox Lewis!"

[adamk1304]

Apparently some Quitali fanboys are crybabies like their hero. After Lewis turned Brittley's face into a maxi-pad, ****ali cried for years like Scott Tenorman.

4 years later, he still proclaims "I beat Lennox Lewis!"

Klitschko has never claimed to have beaten lewis, i've only seen him ask for a rematch or state that he could beat him if they fought again.

[Thread Stealer]

Klitschko has never claimed to have beaten lewis, i've only seen him ask for a rematch or state that he could beat him if they fought again.

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&id=7221

Vitali Klitschko: "I Know I Beat Lennox Lewis"


By Mark Vester

The returning Vitali Klitschko is still having dreams of a rematch with Lennox Lewis. In a recent interview with Sportinglife, Klitschko said that he beat Lewis when the two fighters met in 2003. He feels the referee saved Lewis by stopping the fight because of a very deep cut above Klitschko's eye. Klitschko was ahead on points when the fight was stopped in the sixth round.

"Lennox Lewis is a gentleman and he promised me a rematch. Everybody wants to see the second part of the story. I never lost the fight. The doctor allowed him to keep his title, I was ahead on points. I've never fought such a strong fighter but I know I beat Lennox," Klitschko said. "I have a vision for the future, a dream. And once I've beaten (Oleg) Maskaev I'll tell you what it is."

Klitschko's personal manager Bernd Bonte said that Vitali recently ran into Lewis and told him that he wants to fight him again. Lewis told Klitschko that he was too out of shape to return to the ring.

"He saw Lennox recently and said to him 'Lennox, Lennox when are you going to make a comeback, but Lennox said he's too fat now.'"

[C'MONMANG']

Yes, it does matter. What kind of a coward would turn down over 20 million dollars for a rematch?? I want the Vitali haters to admit that Lewis is SCARED of Vitali and he retired to avoid getting KO'd in the rematch.

Lewis had a party and spent close a mil on it...

he has doe ..he beat Vitali.....duh. why fight again at 37-38?

[warp1432]

2 things:

1. It doesn't matter. Even if Lewis had agreed Vitali would pull out of camp like he always does.

2. I love how all of you act like just because Vitali was winning by 2 points he automatically won the fight. Lewis could have easily come back because even if the ref hadn't stopped it because of his eye (which was gruesome and should have stopped it) Vitali would have got affected by it and Lewis would have targeted even more causing it to win him the rounds.

[Mike Tyson77]

Apparently some Quitali fanboys are crybabies like their hero. After Lewis turned Brittley's face into a maxi-pad, ****ali cried for years like Scott Tenorman.

4 years later, he still proclaims "I beat Lennox Lewis!"

TS, I know you are a smart guy. How can you put Vitali down after the heart he showed in that fight? If my face looked like that, I would be running to the doctor, not wanting to fight on.

[KILLA RIGHT]

Lewis did win right?hahaha u guys are crazy....Lennox is a legend vitali is another good fighter