Should Lewis have given Vitali a rematch?

[tri4ben2]

While I do think you are a racist bastard, I too am white and agree with you.

People still care what color the fighter is, and if 2004 had really gone the way it should have the 3 heavyweight title holders could have been Vitaly, Golata, and Wlad/Meehan. What a ruckus that would be.

However, with America's top athletes playing football and basketball, the champions of tomorrow are going to be coming from the old eastern european systems and africa, so there are going to be more Vitalys in the future.

The situation now with VK, is that if he fights Lewis and wins, his critics are going to say that he beat and old faded Lewis, and if, god forbid, he loses, they are going to say that he ****** all along and lost to an old LL. However, from a financial standpoint, it looks like LL is the best opportunity for VK to make some money.

The only thing VK can do right now is put together a ten or so fight win streak against the Rahmans, Bryds, etc of the world and maybe the critics will say he was the best 2000-2010.

[hollister]

I'm sorry, I don't care if he was the champ when he retired, I don't share Lewis' or his fans perception of him as a fighter, as a champion. He was a large fighter with decent skills, who was able to make good use of his size and strength, but he was also a dirty fighter, who lost to two journeymen by one-punch knockouts, and then "avenged" his losses against both of them in return matches where one fighter had a nervous breakdown in the ring and refused to fight him, and the other showed up, but sure as hell didn't appear to have any intentions of fighting. The fact that he retired as champ doesn't change that, nor does it change my perception of him as a fighter and a person. He acted like he was really ready to fight VK again, and wasted everyone's time, teasing them with the possibility of a rematch, and then ran with the title. And is it coincidence that it was after the only fight I can recall that he was behind on points and showing no signs of being able to turn the tide? Against McCall and Rahman, his losses came as the result of punches that basically came out of nowhere, in fights where he basically appeared to be holding his own, if not in complete control, whereas against VK, he was losing rounds, had been hurt, and was never able to take control of the fight. What I'm saying is he was losing in a way that can't be argued, you can say he was old, he didn't train, or whatever, but you can't say he wasn't losing. My problem isn't with VK losing the fight, it's with the way LL was still arrogant afterwards, shamelessly claiming the win and eventually refusing to fight VK again by retiring, while still basically talking **** about VK from the sidelines, and refusing to back it up.

[Pno]

that's the only thing that made me dislike Lewis.. his arrogance.
I just could NOT stand it.
it seemed to almost HURT him to give other boxers credit.

[Neuraxis]

Should Vitor Belfort have given Randy Couture a rematch?

[hollister]

Sorry, didn't see that one. I also think that Wlad should have given Williamson a rematch, not because it would be a great fight, but because it seems cowardly not to.

[PBDS]

I'm sure I'll be hated and prolly sound like a little ***** after this post, but I just can't help speaking my mind...

-as far as the cut and how it was caused, whether to go to the score cards etc... It WAS a punch that caused it, but if you watch the tape closely (and if my eye sight was right and I'm correct) It was NOT the fair scoring area of the glove, rather the tape at the base of the glove, which would make it an accidental cut, like if it were an elbow that caused it, hence going to the scorecards. I'm sure this sounds nit-picky (can't believe I actually used that phrase), but IF a champion CAN loose a belt from an accidental cut going to the cards, it does hold SOME relivance. But I have been wrong before.. wouldn't be the first time, wouldn't be the last.

-something else to consider.. (DISCLAIMER: don't get me wrong at all. I'm not a racist. I have love for all people. If anything, I have a problem accepting and loving ignorant people that have too much pride for themselves and hate for others.)
When was the last white HW champion in boxing? IF Lenox did give VK a rematch and VK won, there could have been a chance that he would be remembered as the HW champ that lost the belt to a white boxer instead of being known for the legacy that he created and the acheivements that he succeeded in (I couldn't stand Lenox, but he does deserve credit for his boxing career.) Being that he retired and VK got the belt from a match with Sanders, Lenox was not to blame.

just something to think about... it may have crossed his mind at some point.

...It not only crossed his mind he actually stated that he didn't want to lose to a white heavyweight. His comments have been brought up in this forum on more than a few occasions.

[Pno]

...It not only crossed his mind he actually stated that he didn't want to lose to a white heavyweight. His comments have been brought up in this forum on more than a few occasions.

well if that's the case, then the case is closed. He knew he wouldn't win and he knew he would be loosing to a white HW. If he really didn't want to loose to a white HW and didn't give the rematch after SAYING he would, then the situation is quite obvious..

a shame that it's even thought of that way... but then again the media has these sayings like 'great white hype' and 'always bet on the black guy' etc..

[jswa17]

i think in the first fight, lewis was starting to dominate with his power and accuracy when the fight was stopped...so my opinion is if the fight went on, lewis would have KOed Klitchko...

[SonnyG8R]

He should have if he said he was going to. But he was smart not too because he would have gotten his ass beat.

[jswa17]

He should have if he said he was going to. But he was smart not too because he would have gotten his ass beat.

totally disagree...Klitchko was gettin his ass handed to Lewis as the fight progressed...