Lennox denies Vitali's claim that his mom told him no rematch: I beat him at my worst

[ussy]

Prime for prime it’s a 50/50 fight. Without that cut Lewis was losing that fight. Obviously he landed the punch to cause that cut but still.... you know what I mean.

[elfag]

I saw the fight and rewatched it a few times. To me the eye cut is the only reason Lewis won. Lewis won fair and square because he cut Vitali's eye with legal punches. Had Vitali not been cut I am sure he would have won by KO within the next 1 to 3 rounds. Lewis was badly gassed and fading fast. Vitali was strong and coming on and hurting Lewis. I think Vitali would have KOed Lewis in a rematch. Lewis was much older and past prime and Vitali had an iron jaw that could take Lewis's best punches. Lewis could not take Vitali's best punches.

He actually cut it while holding and hitting, an illegal punch.

[Larry the boss]

Without the Cut it would have been a SD for Vitali. Lennox can say that he didn't train for this fight but it would still have been and L.

Just because Tyson took Douglas lightly and was too busy partying to care doesn't mean the L was any less a loss.

and you know this how? the fight had a long way to go..and the cut came from a punch

[QueensburyRules]

I saw the fight and rewatched it a few times. To me the eye cut is the only reason Lewis won. Lewis won fair and square because he cut Vitali's eye with legal punches. Had Vitali not been cut I am sure he would have won by KO within the next 1 to 3 rounds. Lewis was badly gassed and fading fast. Vitali was strong and coming on and hurting Lewis. I think Vitali would have KOed Lewis in a rematch. Lewis was much older and past prime and Vitali had an iron jaw that could take Lewis's best punches. Lewis could not take Vitali's best punches.

--- HBO ran the footage to isolate the first cut on a missed punch with loose tape trailing.

In the last rd he pulled Vitali head down in a clinch and delivered a half dozen uppercuts to seal the cuts stoppage.

Moreover he had an 8 wk training camp plus a precamp session in UK with Stewart the month before. Stated he was in for 5 more fights.

Vitali brought in as an emergency undercard 10 rd replacement, upgraded to Lewis a week later.

Bottomline: Light in the Loafers Lenny didn't favor his largest career purse and 4 more fights. Retired a week before the WBC due to strip him, and of course he sold his IBF/WBA belts to DKing mandatories Byrd and Ruiz for millions.

Vitali has a better record than Lenny and never soiled himself like Lenny.

[////]

are you sure his worst wasn't when he got cold ****ed by hasim rahbum

[FinitoxDinamita]

Lewis would have ruined Vitali had the fight continued and he would have made necessary adjustments had there been a rematch. Lewis is a proven clutch fighter in rematches and Vitali would have been no different.

Those of you who think Vitali would have won the first fight doesnt understand the flow and the momentum of the fight. Vitali had blood pouring and fatigue was definitely kicking in when fight was stopped. That stoppage was actually a blessing because it saved his career.

Lewis was on his way to knocking Vitali the **** out

[Marchegiano]

Lennox beat the dog **** out of Vitali.

[fourtheboys96]

No rematch simply because:

1) Vitaly si long and awkward and was actually outboxing Lewis.
2) Vitaly has power.
3) Most importantly, Vitaly has the chin which the most powerful punch of Lennox cannot crack.

IMO, Lennox would been KOed if the fight continued even with the cut. He just could not hurt Vitaly and was gassing.

But Lennox won fair and square.

What's unfair is Lewis him not giving Vitaly the rematch when he was given the rematch against his two losses. IMO, there still a lot of interest in the rematch because the scorecards at the time of stoppage.

[Toffee]

This is one fight I never understand the debate about.

Lewis was an absolute champion. In a tough fight, at the end of his career he cut a guy's face in two with punches. It's as legitimate as any other stoppage. If it was a KO or the ref stepped in people wouldn't question it.

We don't know what would have happened in the next few rounds, because Lennox didn't let it get there.

[D4thincarnation]

Lennox was a Mummy's boy, his mother was very protective of him and wanted him to stop.

I believe Vitali's story as it fits with the known facts.