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by David P. Greisman - It was a moment years in the making.
Wladimir Klitschko, 6-foot-6, a towering, powerful man thought to be the future of the heavyweight division, locked eyes with Lennox Lewis, 6-foot-5, as big, as strong, the best of boxing’s marquee weight class.
They never fought.
Klitschko and Lewis shared the ring only for “Ocean’s Eleven,” a remake of the classic casino caper. They briefly tussled on the big screen in 2001. Two years later, Klitschko was rebuilding after a two-round destruction at the hands of a semi-retired fighter named Corrie Sanders. Lewis had thrown his last punches as a professional prizefighter, six rounds of heavy trading against Klitschko’s older brother, Vitali.
Though Lewis won that night, it was still Vitali, not Wladimir, who would be considered the rightful heir to Lewis’ throne.
Vitali only fought three times before injuries forced him into retirement. Supremacy was Wladimir’s to win or lose.
A year after the knockout loss to Sanders, Wladimir suffered another devastating defeat, the third of his career, this one against Lamon Brewster. By the time his brother retired, Wladimir was three victories into remolding himself into a winning form. [details]
Wladimir Klitschko, 6-foot-6, a towering, powerful man thought to be the future of the heavyweight division, locked eyes with Lennox Lewis, 6-foot-5, as big, as strong, the best of boxing’s marquee weight class.
They never fought.
Klitschko and Lewis shared the ring only for “Ocean’s Eleven,” a remake of the classic casino caper. They briefly tussled on the big screen in 2001. Two years later, Klitschko was rebuilding after a two-round destruction at the hands of a semi-retired fighter named Corrie Sanders. Lewis had thrown his last punches as a professional prizefighter, six rounds of heavy trading against Klitschko’s older brother, Vitali.
Though Lewis won that night, it was still Vitali, not Wladimir, who would be considered the rightful heir to Lewis’ throne.
Vitali only fought three times before injuries forced him into retirement. Supremacy was Wladimir’s to win or lose.
A year after the knockout loss to Sanders, Wladimir suffered another devastating defeat, the third of his career, this one against Lamon Brewster. By the time his brother retired, Wladimir was three victories into remolding himself into a winning form. [details]
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