The Greatness of Wladimir Klitschko

[LacedUp]

Vitali was mandatory for Lummox's alphabet belt for a very very long time.

But he didn't get Tyson again did he?

Basically we can now agree that your statement of
Is incorrect.

No. You said:
Which implies that Lummox was perceiving Klitschko as a bigger threat than Johnson. So which is it?

Ah come on. Vitali was offered the fight in 2003, but turned it down based on TV rights. Lewis wasn't ducking anyone.

I was referring to the first Tyson fight. He did try to get Tyson again, then that fell through, he then offered Klitschko a fight, then that fell through and then Johnson was offered a fight.

I was clearly elaborating on the statement, saying that Klitschko wasn't held in high regard, but still was held in higher regard than Kirk Johnson.

Clearly Klitschko was a bigger threat, yet Lennox still thought he'd fold under pressure which is the reason for him being willing to take the fight on 2 weeks notice despite there being a lot of stuff going on constantly.

The very fact that Lennox fought Vitali on 2 weeks notice, proves that he would fight anyone.

[PainfromUkraine]

I don't understand this notion of Vitali somehow preparing specifically for Lennox Lewis like he was following some sort of handbook on how to fight Lewis 'for a long time'. You don't go into training camps looking forward to a fight that might happen in the future and neglect your opponents that are scheduled for you. Vitali was improving as a boxer and growing into his prime, but gym work alone would not necessarily prepare him completely to fighting Lennox, a much better fighter than Vitali had ever fought before that point.

Lennox, being the much more seasoned and experienced fighter at the time, in my opinion evened out any real advantages Vitali might have had. Vitali stepped up to a level he'd never been before at short notice. Lennox had been there and done that, and being slightly heavier than usual does not prove that Vitali was somehow much more prepared or at a great advantage.

Both men were disadvantaged. Yet still, we got a great fight. All that proves to me is that a proper rematch with both guys motivated and prepared, and free of freak injuries, would be even better.

[Weltschmerz]

I don't understand this notion of Vitali somehow preparing specifically for Lennox Lewis like he was following some sort of handbook on how to fight Lewis 'for a long time'. You don't go into training camps looking forward to a fight that might happen in the future and neglect your opponents that are scheduled for you. Vitali was improving as a boxer and growing into his prime, but gym work alone would not necessarily prepare him completely to fighting Lennox, a much better fighter than Vitali had ever fought before that point.

Lennox, being the much more seasoned and experienced fighter at the time, in my opinion evened out any real advantages Vitali might have had. Vitali stepped up to a level he'd never been before at short notice. Lennox had been there and done that, and being slightly heavier than usual does not prove that Vitali was somehow much more prepared or at a great advantage.

Both men were disadvantaged. Yet still, we got a great fight. All that proves to me is that a proper rematch with both guys motivated and prepared, and free of freak injuries, would be even better.

Which is why Lennox retired. He wanted no more Klitschko trouble.

[LacedUp]

I don't understand this notion of Vitali somehow preparing specifically for Lennox Lewis like he was following some sort of handbook on how to fight Lewis 'for a long time'. You don't go into training camps looking forward to a fight that might happen in the future and neglect your opponents that are scheduled for you. Vitali was improving as a boxer and growing into his prime, but gym work alone would not necessarily prepare him completely to fighting Lennox, a much better fighter than Vitali had ever fought before that point.

Lennox, being the much more seasoned and experienced fighter at the time, in my opinion evened out any real advantages Vitali might have had. Vitali stepped up to a level he'd never been before at short notice. Lennox had been there and done that, and being slightly heavier than usual does not prove that Vitali was somehow much more prepared or at a great advantage.

Both men were disadvantaged. Yet still, we got a great fight. All that proves to me is that a proper rematch with both guys motivated and prepared, and free of freak injuries, would be even better.

Lennox was the champ in Vitali's era - he started out as a pro with a burning desire to beat Lewis - just as Frazier had with Ali in '65 or Lennox had with Tyson in '89.

Lewis hadn't been training properly in the build up to the fight whereas Vitali was in the gym daily with the challengers mentality.

He'd been training for Lennox since the day he turned pro.

[BattlingNelson]

Ah come on. Vitali was offered the fight in 2003, but turned it down based on TV rights. Lewis wasn't ducking anyone.

I was referring to the first Tyson fight. He did try to get Tyson again, then that fell through, he then offered Klitschko a fight, then that fell through and then Johnson was offered a fight.

So the fight fell through because of télévision Rights and yet it got made anyway with 10 days notice?

I was clearly elaborating on the statement, saying that Klitschko wasn't held in high regard, but still was held in higher regard than Kirk Johnson.

Clearly Klitschko was a bigger threat, yet Lennox still thought he'd fold under pressure which is the reason for him being willing to take the fight on 2 weeks notice despite there being a lot of stuff going on constantly.

The very fact that Lennox fought Vitali on 2 weeks notice, proves that he would fight anyone.

what a spin!

Listen. He gave Vitali the fight because he felt that the fact that Vitali would only have a long week to prepare for the biggest title in sports. The deck was CLEARLY stacked against Vitali.

Incredible spin you made there though! Ha!

[LacedUp]

Which is why Lennox retired. He wanted no more Klitschko trouble.

[Weltschmerz]

Lennox was the champ in Vitali's era - he started out as a pro with a burning desire to beat Lewis - just as Frazier had with Ali in '65 or Lennox had with Tyson in '89.

Lewis hadn't been training properly in the build up to the fight whereas Vitali was in the gym daily with the challengers mentality.

He'd been training for Lennox since the day he turned pro.

And it makes Lewis stand out performance even more impressive

[LacedUp]

So the fight fell through because of télévision Rights and yet it got made anyway with 10 days notice?

what a spin!

Listen. He gave Vitali the fight because he felt that the fact that Vitali would only have a long week to prepare for the biggest title in sports. The deck was CLEARLY stacked against Vitali.

Incredible spin you made there though! Ha!

It did fall through because of television rights. http://articles.latimes.com/2003/jun...ts/sp-boxing10

I don't disagree - but with information we have gathered since the fight and the worry about Lewis' shape (not in hindsight but at the weigh-in and what was also mentioned by commentary before the fight) was that if Vitali ever had a chance, tonight was the night.

[LacedUp]

And it makes Lewis stand out performance even more impressive

Sorry, not following - elaborate.

[Godsfly]

i don't get the argument.............vitali just 1 fight after lewis beat sanders (he was 30 fights in & was prime when he fought lewis) I am really confused by the "although vitali was 30 fights in he wasn't prime yet"

prime is what ever you want to make it to fit your agenda these days (has nothing to do with realty though) the realty is vitali was well into his prime when he fought lewis.