Lennox Lewis was going to retire after Tyson

[Jedi Vader]

That quote was from his Ringside special interview. (I think)

You were saying?

End thread.

[joseph5620]

If he was washed up Vitali would have koed him, I didn't say Lewis was in his prime I said he was at least near his prime. People wanna be haters and not give credit to Vitali so they make things up but Lewis himself implied he was at least near his best.

He was not near his prime. Nearly 38, highest weight of his career. Common sense.

[Skittlez]

If he was washed up Vitali would have koed him, I didn't say Lewis was in his prime I said he was at least near his prime. People wanna be haters and not give credit to Vitali so they make things up but Lewis himself implied he was at least near his best.

Lewis was NO WHERE near Prime.

Is that a joke?

The best Lennox Lewis time line of his Prime and Age is right here:


Understand 'Physical Prime' and 'Boxing Prime'

I hope I don't have to explain it.

Lennox Lewis Timeline:

1989-1992 (Debut to Ruddock) Elite Status. Ruddock peak. Heading towards what many thought was going to be an early prime.

Bowe Ducking him had a lot to do with his mental collapse. Lack of motivation.Regression

1992-94 Continued regression fight by fight. Still elite, but no longer focused and showed many errors.


95-99
Physical Prime and boxing Prime. Morrison to Golota.
Got better with each fight. The Lewis that fought Holyfield I would have 10-0 the Mercer that fought 95 Lewis.


2000:
Still in boxing prime, but past physical prime. Fully Motivated.

2001:
Past Boxing Prime, way past physical prime. Zero Motivation.

Rahman II- Past Boxing Prime, way past Physical Prime: Fully Motivated

Tyson- Way past boxing prime, way past Physical Prime: Fully Motivated

2003- Heading towards shot status- zero motivation.

[Skittlez]

It's like Dog years for a boxer after 36.

That's why David Haye is waiting.

Wlad is going to be 37 when Haye is 32.

Wlad will be 38, when Haye is 33.

People have to understand Wladimir can literally collapse at any moment now within the next 1-2 years.

[Simurgh]

Lewis was NO WHERE near Prime.

Is that a joke?

The best Lennox Lewis time line of his Prime and Age is right here:


Understand 'Physical Prime' and 'Boxing Prime'

I hope I don't have to explain it.

Lennox Lewis Timeline:

1989-1992 (Debut to Ruddock) Elite Status. Ruddock peak. Heading towards what many thought was going to be an early prime.

Bowe Ducking him had a lot to do with his mental collapse. Lack of motivation.Regression

1992-94 Continued regression fight by fight. Still elite, but no longer focused and showed many errors.


95-99
Physical Prime and boxing Prime. Morrison to Golota.
Got better with each fight. The Lewis that fought Holyfield I would have 10-0 the Mercer that fought 95 Lewis.


2000:
Still in boxing prime, but past physical prime. Fully Motivated.

2001:
Past Boxing Prime, way past physical prime. Zero Motivation.

Rahman II- Past Boxing Prime, way past Physical Prime: Fully Motivated

Tyson- Way past boxing prime, way past Physical Prime: Fully Motivated

2003- Heading towards shot status- zero motivation.

Dude, you made it rocket science, lol! =))

No need to justify Lennox's 'bad performances' with the lack of some 'prime'...

[yoz]

A fully motivated Lewis beats any HW, IMO; but i'm biased.

Vitali put up a good fight and was, as you say, ahead on the scorecards. I do think that he requires a career 'defining' victory, though. It's just a shame that the present crop of contenders are either scared or self-centred douche-bags unworthy of a title shot.

It sucks. We'd be talking up the HW division if the top 10 were fighting each other, to earn a title shot. Unfortunately, their lack of ambition reflects badly on the K-bros.

[edgarg]

who said he was still prime vs Vit?
see a lotta bitching about the stoppage, but not claims Lewis was prime
and he only fought on after Tyson since Wlad was coming up
turns out he got Vit instead when Kirk checked out
Lewis was clearly on the way out when he fought Vit

Lewis ddin't "get" anyone. The Klitschko fight was a 10 day notice for Klitschko, becuase things were held up by Lewis squeezing an extra $4 mill out of the promoters. And, whether prime or not, he was "definitely" intending to fight on for a couple more years. He said, on his pompous, foolish pre-fight interview that he was "still learning" and had no intention of retiring yet. He was "like wine, getting better as I'm getting older"...."I'll have one Klitschko foor breakfast and the other for dinner"...... "I'm a specialist, a pugilist(ic) specialist" ...."I'm a real world champion because I've fought in other countries'..(I think he fought in Canada, England and the US (I won't even bother to look it up as it's tryical Lewis Bumpf) He said a few other things.

For those who don't know, Lewis knew that he had a magical escape in the Klitschko fight. His Larry Merchant interview after the fight, and the one a couple of days later show this...clearly. He wouldn't give Klitschko any credit at all, like a little child whose toy had nearly been grabbed away. it could clearly be seen that he was upset, and still shaking.

The return was set for Dec 10th of that year. And Lewis was constantly appearing on TV boasting and predicting what would happen. Nobody seems to recall that he actually made Klitschko attend to Lewises doctor in London just "to make sure the fans won't be cheated" when he splits Klitschko's face again... K appeared on TV 10 days after the fight showing that the cut was stitches out, closed and invisible, and that it had never been serious.

Lewis still wouldn't fight, so Klitschko half killed Kirk Johnson (Lewis's original opponent) in a round and a half,on Dec.10th. The WBC gave Lewis 90 days, or be stripped, and Lewis waited until the morning of the last day and then retired.....

Malice and jealousy were his main characteristics, and he personally telephoned every opponent either Klitschko was fighting, and gave them advice on how to beat them. He had no success.

I'd say that his Klitschko win-even if flawed- will be worth more historically, because of Klitschko's age, later longevity and dominance.

[edgarg]

I agree with the first few lines.

Lewis was, however, out of shape. The scales don't lie... i'm pretty sure he came in at a career heavy weight (256lbs?)

I always forget to mention that in an interview he said said that he came in a few lbs heavier because of Klitschko's size.

[Skittlez]

I always forget to mention that in an interview he said said that he came in a few lbs heavier because of Klitschko's size.

He came in unofficially at 260.

Officially at 257..

He gained 15 pounds over a few weeks span.. not because he wanted to be 'heavier' against Vitali

but because he was doing laps around Home Town Buffet..

[Someone88]

You do realise that Vitali took a four-year break from boxing?

Yes I realize that.