How shot was Lennox Lewis when he steelfisted Vitali

[jaded]

He was looking at retirement, trained easier for what he thought would be a routine title defence until the opponent switch, was heavier and slower than ever....yet he still busted Vitali's face and stopped him.

That pretty much sums it up...he thought he was going to fight Kirk Johnson until he tore his pectoral and wasn't training for a hard fight whereas Vitali had been preparing for Lewis for 2 years. Vitali had toughness and stamina but not much defense. I also thought Vitali was probably pretty jacked-up for that fight.

I think a better prepared Lewis would have had a much easier time than he did that night although having said that...I've never seen a boxer's face open up wider in my life and it was the longest I have ever seen a boxing match continue under that circumstance.

[Weltschmerz]

According to Lewis himself, he was like fine wine getting better with age at the time.

[Daddy T]

He obviously wasn't shot but he was past his best and out of shape.

[K-DOGG]

I do not think Lennox was "shot", per say; but he was definitely on the "was" side of his career.

He looked slower, his timing was off, and he was off balance quite a bit. However, one must keep in mind that he hadn't fought in a year at that point, he had " trained" to fight Kirk Johnson and didn,t look as though he had trained that hard, took the Klitschko fight on a week or two's notice....so he definitely wasn't prepared for Vital I, and he'd never fought an opponent that tall before. Also, Vital I was just plain old awkward.

I do think it bespeaks Lewis's greatness that he was able to overcome all of these obstacles and end his career on a high note; but I don't think it should detract from Vitali's performance.

[Weltschmerz]

I do not think Lennox was "shot", per say; but he was definitely on the "was" side of his career.

He looked slower, his timing was off, and he was off balance quite a bit. However, one must keep in mind that he hadn't fought in a year at that point, he had " trained" to fight Kirk Johnson and didn,t look as though he had trained that hard, took the Klitschko fight on a week or two's notice....so he definitely wasn't prepared for Vital I, and he'd never fought an opponent that tall before. Also, Vital I was just plain old awkward.

I do think it bespeaks Lewis's greatness that he was able to overcome all of these obstacles and end his career on a high note; but I don't think it should detract from Vitali's performance.

Lewis obviously underestimated Vitali and got in for a bit of a shocker. Hence his retirement rather than the much warranted rematch.

[badnewsbrown]

Lewis was unprepared and unmotivated

[K-DOGG]

He definitely underestimated Vitali and it nearly.cost him.

[badnewsbrown]

Still beat the **** out of Vitali and would've stopped him anyway.

[K-DOGG]

That was my opinion as well......that Lewis was mounting an offensive and was probably going to win; but one never knows.

Both took a beating in that fight.

[IMDAZED]

I don't think he was shot but well past his prime and no longer hungry. He got everything he wanted in that Tyson fight. Wise decision to retire after the Klitschko and a nice finale to close out his career on.