Did Vitali Klitschko "dominate" Lennox Lewis?

[DreamFighter]

And I would strongly favor Vitali in the rematch.

course you would, why even type that. No need to underline your failure to see the fight as it was.

[ELPacman]

I thought Vitali was doing a nice offensive job but unfortunately he got caught and the rest was history after his face fell apart. On the other end, I do believe Lennox was out of shape and on his way out anyway so it wouldn't have been a crazy remarkable win if Vitali did infact get the W.

[gmc_rfc_06]

I couldn't disagree more.
Vitali was WINNING the fight by the time of stoppage. That just doesn't come together with you theory of 'blitzkrieg'. He was fighting exactly like every other fight prior to Lennox.

I can't see your point about punch accumulation when even in 6th round Vitali was landing more or same (at the worst). Lennox was getting more hit throughout the fight.

It's not Lennox who lacked the experience but Vitali. And I would strongly favor Vitali in the rematch.

Really?

Lewis who showed up in terrible condition still bust Vitali's face up. Had a rematch been required I'm sure he would have showed up in shape, an in shape Lewis stops Vitali. He stopped him first time, Vitali would have cut even easier in a rematch.

[Simurgh]

course you would, why even type that.

I wouldn't favor Vitali prime for prime. There goes your theory

Mate, I am not hardcore Klitschko fan. I love Lennox. My only objection is when people start to talk nonsense. Why can't it be enough for you that Lennox won that fight but you need to insist on 'Lennox is better in every department' when that's obviously not true.

[Simurgh]

Really?

Lewis who showed up in terrible condition still bust Vitali's face up. Had a rematch been required I'm sure he would have showed up in shape, an in shape Lewis stops Vitali. He stopped him first time, Vitali would have cut even easier in a rematch.

I don't know if you can base the tactics around cutting the opponent. Doesn't look too good to me.

Lets be honest... Nobody walks from 40 million pay if he thinks he can 'easily' take other guy out. Demand for the fight was huge. Questions of the first fight were coming from everywhere - even from Lennox's own trainer.

“I told Lennox after the fight: I feel like we owe Vitali a rematch. Lennox agreed with me. Even after a year since Lennox left boxing, we talked about that fight.... If Vitali and him were able to secure a rematch, it would be very intriguing.”

[gmc_rfc_06]

I don't know if you can base the tactics around cutting the opponent. Doesn't look too good for me.

Lets be honest... Nobody walks from 40 million pay if he thinks he can 'easily' take other guy out. Demand for the fight was huge. Questions of the first fight were coming from every possible way - even from Lennox's own trainer.

“I told Lennox after the fight: I feel like we owe Vitali a rematch. Lennox agreed with me. Even after a year since Lennox left boxing, we talked about that fight.... If Vitali and him were able to secure a rematch, it would be very intriguing.”

Cutting Vitali wouldn't be the tactics, it would be a result of the tactics. Lewis was landing in the fight despite having no energy, his problem was that he didn't show up in shape and in turn was slow. Even with those problems, he still demolished Vitali's face.

Lewis had been through a long career and he was an old fighter, he beat Vitali at his absolute worst. He had clearly lost motivation for the sport, spent the previous year talking about retirement...there's no point of a rematch between a hungry opponent and one who has long lost his motivation for the sport.

[Simurgh]

Cutting Vitali wouldn't be the tactics, it would be a result of the tactics. Lewis was landing in the fight despite having no energy, his problem was that he didn't show up in shape and in turn was slow. Even with those problems, he still demolished Vitali's face.

Lewis had been through a long career and he was an old fighter, he beat Vitali at his absolute worst. He had clearly lost motivation for the sport, spent the previous year talking about retirement...there's no point of a rematch between a hungry opponent and one who has long lost his motivation for the sport.

Vitali was landing more. That's my point. Maybe Vitali's skin is bad enough to be badly cut again but we can't count on that. It might be just the angle or edge of the glove that cut it.

Although Lennox wasn't in his best shape he managed to land his very best punch and Vitali didn't blink.
Lennox had his reasons not to rematch Vitali at that point and I don't buy lack of motivation story. At least 'it would be very intriguing' as Manny said.

[gmc_rfc_06]

Vitali was landing more. That's my point. Maybe Vitali's skin is bad enough to be badly cut again but we can't count on that. It might be just the angle or edge of the glove that cut it.

Although Lennox wasn't in his best shape he managed to land his very best punch and Vitali didn't blink.
Lennox had his reasons not to rematch Vitali at that point and I don't buy lack of motivation story. At least 'it would be very intriguing' as Manny said.

Of course he was landing more, but his punches weren't having the impact Lewis' were. That was basically a prime Vitali (physically) against the worst version of Lewis to ever step in a ring and Lewis still won. Lewis in shape would be faster, would in turn hit harder and also wouldn't get hit as often.

I don't see why Lewis would have the motivation. He had already been wanting to retire for over a year, what would motivate him to go through yet another grueling training camp to fight someone he had already beaten? I just don't see it. Had he lost then motivation would have been there, but at that age, it would be very hard to do all of that to beat someone again.

[Simurgh]

Of course he was landing more, but his punches weren't having the impact Lewis' were. That was basically a prime Vitali (physically) against the worst version of Lewis to ever step in a ring and Lewis still won. Lewis in shape would be faster, would in turn hit harder and also wouldn't get hit as often.

I don't see why Lewis would have the motivation. He had already been wanting to retire for over a year, what would motivate him to go through yet another grueling training camp to fight someone he had already beaten? I just don't see it. Had he lost then motivation would have been there, but at that age, it would be very hard to do all of that to beat someone again.

Whatever Vitali had in that fight he didn't have EXPERIENCE. Something that value highly in HW. I don't agree about that Lennox lost his power at that point. He was 37, not that old for HW to lose the power. Foreman didn't lose his power by age of 45.

Lennox had every possible reason and motivation to rematch Vitali.

Even now he is talking more about that fight than any other fight, he is 'consulting' other fighters how to beat Klitschkos, he said Vitali was a real challenge, he was called out by everyone to give Vitali a rematch, he himself admitted he owe Vitali a rematch, he would get one of the biggest payoffs in his career, he would do much for his legacy if he won more convincingly - not on doctor stoppage. Even now he is 'joking' he has unfinished job with Vitali...
Lennox realized that at that point he would hardly beat Vitali. Don't put in on lack of motivation. Anyhow he was past prime so I don't blame him...

[gmc_rfc_06]

Whatever Vitali had in that fight he didn't have EXPERIENCE. Something that value highly in HW. I don't agree about that Lennox lost his power at that point. He was 37, not that old for HW to lose the power. Foreman didn't lose his power by age of 45.

Lennox had every possible reason and motivation to rematch Vitali.

Even now he is talking more about that fight than any other fight, he is 'consulting' other fighters how to beat Klitschkos, he said Vitali was a real challenge, he was called out by everyone to give Vitali a rematch, he himself admitted he owe Vitali a rematch, he would get one of the biggest payoffs in his career, he would do much for his legacy if he won more convincingly - not on doctor stoppage. Even now he is 'joking' he has unfinished job with Vitali...
Lennox realized that at that point he would hardly beat Vitali. Don't put in on lack of motivation. Anyhow he was past prime so I don't blame him...

I never said he had lost his power. I said he was slower, which in turn took a little something off his punches.

It's simple; Force=Mass x Acceleration - a faster Lewis is a harder hitting Lewis.

Talking about a fight, even liking the idea of a fight, doesn't mean he had the motivation to go through another long, grueling camp. Clearly he didn't. He liked the idea of a rematch, but not enough to motivate him into another training camp...he didn't even put in the work for what was very much his farewell fight.