Comments Thread For: Lennox Lewis Shreds Klitschkos' Opponent, Heavyweights

[Superflo777]

No, he simply told the fans before he left the ring that he would be back to get his title. So instead of going after it he let little brother have it and than continued to avoid Byrd for several more years even though Chris was calling him out. Do you see the difference? One man retired to live life in the lap of luxury. The other avoided a guy he quit against while remaining active. And please don't give me the same old song and dance about how there was no need for a rematch. The German fans were cheering Byrd when he was backing up Vitaly and when they announced him the new champion. The fight would have been huge in Germany with Klit looking to prove he wasn't a disgraceful quitter and avenging the loss.

Here's the video for confirmation of EVERYTHING I just said.

Just watched it, so it can't really be said Vitali promised a rematch to Byrd and naturally he wouldn't get the title back when Wlad held it.

I can agree to Jim Lampley though: "Byrd's wife overcome with joy and excitement at the gift, which has just been given to her husband."

[BattlingNelson]

But its not redundant because i havent heard an explanation for why Vitali didnt rematch Byrd.

So what you're saying is that Vitali waited for Rahman to lose to come back?

Everybody knew who'd have won a rematch. I don't really see the importance of that issue. Plenty of HOF'ers has failed to rematch a fight they lost.

[Jedi Vader]

Just watched it, so it can't really be said Vitali promised a rematch to Byrd and naturally he wouldn't get the title back when Wlad held it.

I can agree to Jim Lampley though: "Byrd's wife overcome with joy and excitement at the gift, which has just been given to her husband."

Is that all you can come back with??

Hanging on Lampley's breath rather than the actual outcome of the fight??

[Superflo777]

Is that all you can come back with??

Hanging on Lampley's breath rather than the actual outcome of the fight??

Coming back for what? He claimed Vitali promised Byrd a rematch just as Lennox did, I said I couldn't recall that. He told me "no", Vitali didn't do that, he only said he would get back his title. Point taken. Can you write something actually related to boxing for a change or is flaming and smiley posting all you can do?

[BattlingNelson]

And why didn't Lummox give rematches to Rahman and McCall? It seems to me the score is 1-1 on both counts.

[JAB5239]

Just watched it, so it can't really be said Vitali promised a rematch to Byrd and naturally he wouldn't get the title back when Wlad held it.

I can agree to Jim Lampley though: "Byrd's wife overcome with joy and excitement at the gift, which has just been given to her husband."

So why did he promise his fans he'd get it back and let Wlad fight him instead? It's not like he was rehabbing his shoulder and couldn't have fought Byrd since he fought just a month later. Why didn't he fight Byrd after he had gotten tko'd by Lewis and they were the number 1 and 2 contenders?

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Th..._Ratings:_2003

Did he ever get that WBO title back? No. Did he ever avenge his loss? No. Was he being called out? Yes. So you have in fact again applied a double standard. The only difference is Lewis actually won his fight and didn't bother with a rematch.

As far as Lampley calling it a gift? I've never claimed Byrd was winning the fight so that means nothing to me.

"I couldn't believe my ears" -Jim Lampley

"He doesn't have the heart of a warrior" -Larry Merchant

Both commenting on Vitaly quitting.

I notice you haven't commented on the crowd cheering Byrd, Im curious why? Do you not think this rematch had it happened would have been successful in Germany? Or maybe Vitaly just thought it to dangerous given that Byrd took the fight in 10 days notice?

[Superflo777]

So why did he promise his fans he'd get it back and let Wlad fight him instead? It's not like he was rehabbing his shoulder and couldn't have fought Byrd since he fought just a month later. Why didn't he fight Byrd after he had gotten tko'd by Lewis and they were the number 1 and 2 contenders?

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/Th..._Ratings:_2003

Did he ever get that WBO title back? No. Did he ever avenge his loss? No. Was he being called out? Yes. So you have in fact again applied a double standard. The only difference is Lewis actually won his fight and didn't bother with a rematch.

As far as Lampley calling it a gift? I've never claimed Byrd was winning the fight so that means nothing to me.

"I couldn't believe my ears" -Jim Lampley

"He doesn't have the heart of a warrior" -Larry Merchant

Both commenting on Vitaly quitting.

I notice you haven't commented on the crowd cheering Byrd, Im curious why? Do you not think this rematch had it happened would have been successful in Germany? Or maybe Vitaly just thought it to dangerous given that Byrd took the fight in 10 days notice?

Do you know when the fight with Wlad was arranged? Was it before or after Vitali's full rehabilitation and do you even know the exact date Vitali was fully recovered? Naturally he couldn't get the title back since he wouldn't ever fight his brother, and as far as you told me he never promised to rematch Byrd.

Oh, and I'm pretty sure Mr. Merchant changed his opinion of Vitali's heart after witnessing him fighting Lewis.

[JAB5239]

And why didn't Lummox give rematches to Rahman and McCall? It seems to me the score is 1-1 on both counts.

McCall fell out of the top 10 and was relegated to fighting journeyman. And while Rahman was still an active top 10 fighter, Lewis showed how much more dominant he was than him when he came to fight focused and in shape. He than took on the WBC's #1 contender Tyson, and than Vitaly. Thats why no rematches.

[JAB5239]

Do you know when the fight with Wlad was arranged? Was it before or after Vitali's full rehabilitation and do you even know the exact date Vitali was fully recovered? Naturally he couldn't get the title back since he wouldn't ever fight his brother, and as far as you told me he never promised to rematch Byrd.

He fought a month after his brother and Byrd so obviously he didn't need that much rehabilitation. all he had to do was tell his brither that was his title and he wanted it back. They're brothers, are you saying Wlad wouldn't have stepped aside for him?

Oh, and I'm pretty sure Mr. Merchant changed his opinion of Vitali's heart after witnessing him fighting Lewis.

Three and a half years of shame and ridicule cast upon him by the boxing community because he gave up in a fight he was winning.

[RubenSonny]

Everybody knew who'd have won a rematch. I don't really see the importance of that issue. Plenty of HOF'ers has failed to rematch a fight they lost.

How does everyone know who would've won a rematch? Simply being a favourite against someone doesn't mean you automatically win, this was pretty evident in their actual fight. He should've went after a rematch and it's not like he took on more challenging competition instead.

And why didn't Lummox give rematches to Rahman and McCall? It seems to me the score is 1-1 on both counts.

He did give them rematches and won, that's certainly better than no rematches at all.