Lennox Lewis: "For 100 Million Dollars, I'll Fight Again"

[Wiley Hyena]

Only a little...take away the fact that Vitali avenged two of Wlad's losses, and there's little if any comparison. Wlad has a much deeper resume in terms of top ten conquests.

IMO Vitali is better than Wladimere. Wladimere has a glass jaw. Big deficit there. Vitali gives Lennox problems. Lennox probably knocks Wlad out. Lennox shouldn't come back though (unless it's for 100m...lol). I don't see how he could measurably enhance his legacy and because of his age, the chances of getting hurt are greatly enhanced. One more serious shot to the head could render his already shaky commentating talents untelevisable.

[edgarg]

Only a little...take away the fact that Vitali avenged two of Wlad's losses, and there's little if any comparison. Wlad has a much deeper resume in terms of top ten conquests.

Yes, he'd knocked them off during the 4 years that his brother has been out of action. If VK had been around then, can you think of even ONE who'd have gone past the 6-7 th rd??

[edgarg]

Not to be unfair because it's true of most modern careers, but the early and indeed bulk of Vit's career doesn't look like much because it isn't. His first win against a fighter universally seen as top ten at heavyweight was Sanders. Hide was borderline. he suffered, I think, because Kohl was and often still is so reluctant to bring his best fighters out of the pool. Vitali's power and amatuer background should have seen him moved much faster. because he wasn't, a potentially great career will result probably in more than a good one and HOF hopes will rely more on the Fame element than in ring fistic merit a la a Johansen or Willard (both of whom he was better than and I'm not making a skills comparison).

But, the point I'd like to pursue in this is that it was or is REGARDLESS of the opponent, he seems to treat them all the same, with his own never changing, awkward style, and just walks over them. The only thing I've EVER noticed in him "changing his style" was that he held his hands either low -or very low.

Many of those early fighters he faced were not bad, probably about half a dozen were quite good, I seem to recall from looking into their own records. We don't know much about European fighters, from this distance. {When I lived there, I knew ALL about them}.

[crold1]

Yes Lewis and Vitaly would sell, but we mustn't forget, Vitaly chased Lewis into retirement, so we can forget THAT fight. There are some good young heavyweights coming up, and they'll make some sparks fly when they reach for the top.

Did you watch Vitaly and Peter? It wasn't interesting because Klitschko outclassed Peter by so much. He outclasses everyone. As his brother did in his points win.

It's actually interesting to look at their BOXREC records.

Only a little...take away the fact that Vitali avenged two of Wlad's losses, and there's little if any comparison. Wlad has a much deeper resume in terms of top ten conquests.

[edgarg]

The HW division SUCKS ASS right now. Outside an overweight, out of shape James Toney, I havent watched a HW fight since he fought Peter the second time. Lewis vs Vitali would sell

Yes Lewis and Vitaly would sell, but we mustn't forget, Vitaly chased Lewis into retirement, so we can forget THAT fight. There are some good young heavyweights coming up, and they'll make some sparks fly when they reach for the top.

Did you watch Vitaly and Peter? It wasn't interesting because Klitschko outclassed Peter by so much. He outclasses everyone. As his brother did in his points win.

It's actually interesting to look at their BOXREC records.

[fight_professor]

He just ruled a comeback out on live TV. He just spars with his son now.

[crold1]

I like what you say here, it has a very fair sound to it. How riight you are about the Byrd thing, everytime I saw Byrd saying he'd beaten Klitschko, what I remembered was Byrd being bounced from the rafters all around the ring... until the last round.

Everything you write is accurate (in this letter anyway) and in reading it, It struck me that Vitaly's early career looked like not much, because he mangled everyone he fought. Thje only one to survive the full 12 rds was Timo Hoffmann, himself 6'7" and in fact a very good fighter who ws either EBU champ or drew for the title. I think his fight with Klitschko also was for the EBU title.

Again your letter pushed my thoughts along another path, and I now think that there's not going to be much left for VK because his brother has actually cleaned out the heavyweight division. If there'd been any prepared new faces they wouldn't have put Rahman against him. But, I suppose, that they'll probably like it that way, since they'll run even less chance of having their features re-arranged by an errant punch, all the while pulling down large purses.......nice.

Not to be unfair because it's true of most modern careers, but the early and indeed bulk of Vit's career doesn't look like much because it isn't. His first win against a fighter universally seen as top ten at heavyweight was Sanders. Hide was borderline. he suffered, I think, because Kohl was and often still is so reluctant to bring his best fighters out of the pool. Vitali's power and amatuer background should have seen him moved much faster. because he wasn't, a potentially great career will result probably in more than a good one and HOF hopes will rely more on the Fame element than in ring fistic merit a la a Johansen or Willard (both of whom he was better than and I'm not making a skills comparison).

[edgarg]

You talk like a slasher flick or whatever you said..And it's pure nonsense. I suggest you have another look at the video, I just did. And there's no reason to be nasty, if you can't be pleasant, don't be anything.

I meant of course, nasty to Klitschko, because, if he hears you, you may run the risk of being d****d over the ropes (actually the floor) yourself. And then I'd lose a sparring partner. Isn't it nice that we can throw thunderous punches at one another and not need to bleed, except figuratively, which happens from time to time....I admit it.

[edgarg]

The Witherspoon fight last week was excellent. All needling of Edgarg (in good fun) aside, Heavyweight has produced some fun fights this decade. Byrd vs. McCline was good; Brewster-Liakhovich was borderline great; Vitali vs. both Lewis and Sanders were tons of fun and Wladimir Klitschko is much closer to a HOF career than most care to recognize. If Vitali can fill out what to now is a weaker overall resume than his lil' brothers, he certainly will be on that edge too and is the tougher of the two. With better opportunities earlier in his career, he may well have been a legitimately great Heavyweight. Instead, he got a bit of an unfair kick from the Byrd fight and the bulk of his prime was lost. He has time to make up for it.

I like what you say here, it has a very fair sound to it. How riight you are about the Byrd thing, everytime I saw Byrd saying he'd beaten Klitschko, what I remembered was Byrd being bounced from the rafters all around the ring... until the last round.

Everything you write is accurate (in this letter anyway) and in reading it, It struck me that Vitaly's early career looked like not much, because he mangled everyone he fought. Thje only one to survive the full 12 rds was Timo Hoffmann, himself 6'7" and in fact a very good fighter who ws either EBU champ or drew for the title. I think his fight with Klitschko also was for the EBU title.

Again your letter pushed my thoughts along another path, and I now think that there's not going to be much left for VK because his brother has actually cleaned out the heavyweight division. If there'd been any prepared new faces they wouldn't have put Rahman against him. But, I suppose, that they'll probably like it that way, since they'll run even less chance of having their features re-arranged by an errant punch, all the while pulling down large purses.......nice.

[edgarg]

You left out that Klit was d****d over the top rope and barely able to stand at the end of the sixth as his lead in the fight was evaporating after getting hammered in the fifth and sixth while his face came apart like a slasher flick.

You talk like a slasher flick or whatever you said..And it's pure nonsense. I suggest you have another look at the video, I just did. And there's no reason to be nasty, if you can't be pleasant, don't be anything.