Do you really believe that Vitali scared Lewis into Retirement?

[Stickman]

Vitali/Lewis II was offered to Lewis for 30 million. That's the fight everybody wanted to see. Vitali and Lewis with proper training camps and hopefully a clear winner would emerge. It's a shame Lewis tarnished his legacy by first ducking Vitali and then not giving him the rematch in a fight he was losing but won on a technicality, a freak cut that may have been caused by a headbutt. The referee calls the headbutt and Vitali wins a UD, but there would still not be a clear winner. 5 years later this is still the biggest fight that can be made at HW.

It wasn't a headbutt. I've watched the fight maybe a dozen times, and run through the first part of the third round where the cut showed up many times. It was a short right hand that opened it slightly, then Lewis used his head immediately after the punch to make it worse, then pounded it throughout the remainder of the fight. It was torn wide open later on with a glancing punch where the lacing of Lewis' gloves caught and ripped it wide open.

[Stickman]

Anyway, as to the subject....Lewis might've fought again if there'd been a less dangerous opponent that he was expected to topple, but I don't think you can really say he was scared into retirement. I can see, personally, why he retired. Money isn't everything, why risk so much when the only gain is cash, of which you already have plenty.

[boxing_great]

WLADOWNS said that "anyone with at least two brain cells knows that Vitali scared Lewis into retirement". I say he's outta his mind with Wladimir butt-lickery but I've been drinkin so I made this thread... Was Lewis scared into retirement???

lolll,. no!!

[boxing_great]

Lewis knew his game was in decline and he didn't want to risk going down to a guy who he could beat with one hand tied behind his back in his prime.

The cowardly thing would have been to take the money and give the fans less than they expected.

good post...