Lennox Lewis v Vitali Klitschko (HD Highlights)

[@luiscortez3817]

How he survived that uppercut was inexplicable

[@hjembrentkent6181]

Murderous uppercut

[@TonyEnglandUK]

It's also inexplicable how the referee just stood and watched twelve holding-and-hitting punches at 3:00

[@paddigan]

That was an absolute bomb. No wonder Klitschko was upset it was stopped. His eye was a mess but his legs were 100%

[@umarrazvi]

@@paddiganwouldnt say his legs were 100% he was tired

[@hitmanfromjapan]

If two guys are on the inside holding and one is throwing it’s called working on the inside despite how crude it looks. That’s why you don’t see any complaints from Vitali he knows he should be throwing back or tying him up more effectively.

[@pughy79]

3:36 “ohhh what an uppercut!” Brilliant.

[@gregbester3855]

One of my favourite fights of all time with two of my favourite fighters.

[@KingBartista]

That uppercut @ 03:34.... sick! how can you stand this? Normal people would wake up at the hospital. (if they are lucky)

[@Andris_Krievs]

A lucky escape for Lennox Lewis.

[@jorrgfromage9929]

the police should have investigated that uppercut - that's how brutal it was

[@hazbutt1488]

Its ironic how that same punch was thrown by a big black man knocking everyone out (AJ) to the other klitschko

[@spacesaver3656]

Was very similar to the Joshua uppercut on vlad. Don't think aj would've withstood the shots Lewis took in this fight tho, took only 1 heavy shot from vlad to drop him.

[@daniellenogales5452]

Андрис Криевс klitschko would have went blind ending his career early. Lewis won quit crying it was stopped

[@jackhandma1011]

Too bad Vitali's era was just starting and Lennox's career was ending. There could've been a great rematch, or even a trilogy.

[@andrewskalidron1403]

Yea but Lennox scared and retire

[@piusecweru8423]

Those upper cuts by lewis were savage

[@cjohnson9211]

This was the right call, Vitali could've suffered career ending damage to his eye, especially when there were 6 whole rounds left for Lewis to inflict more damage.

[@Broodkast8]

@user-si4nt5gt9b It could have been, but we will never know. It could have been that Vitali's eyesight got worse and Lewis picked him apart, we will never know. Anyways, that was the last great heavyweight title fight for sure.

[@Desanton]

​@@Broodkast8а как же бой Владимира Кличко против Энтони Джошуа?

[@Broodkast8]

@@Desanton Well, Wlad and Joshua are/were really good fighters, but Joshua was not of the calibre of Lewis or the Klitshko's in my opinion.

[@Rex69Rutherford]

Lennox was arguably one of the heaviest hitters of all time.... if you take into account the sheer volume of heavy punches he landed in a typical fight

[@alphawolfadventures1470]

Vitali grossly underrated.. never knocked down his entire career. AS A HEAVYWEIGHT that’s amazing

[@Dima-mc9ue]

Greetings from Kiev, bro. That Klitchko era was amazing. I was a kid in 00s and watched every fight. So sad that both of them become ordinary and greedy politicians.

[@sybersecurity277]

He got kicked out twice in 1992 and 1994 as a kickboxer. Vitali was not invincible.

[@ralphcervera5404]

To all the guys who are saying that Vitali could have won it. The cut over the eye, was a legal punch not a headbutt. So the TKO is the right result. If the fight would have continued, Vitali might have been blind on one eye for the rest of his life. Additionally, he would have lost the fight by KO in the later rounds because he wouldn't have seen anything anymore. so how on earth can an almost blind guy win a fight of such an intensity? I think the answer is clear.

[@rickross8083]

How do you know, He said He saw everything in the Fight

[@marccee569]

@@rickross8083 he saw everything and got punched non stop lool

[@primesuspect8198]

Vitali thought He could Conquer The World. But Boxers like Lewis or mike tyson in his Prime were just NEXT LEVEL Boxers...they could knock people out immidiately

[@freddymyres8718]

⁠@user-si4nt5gt9b Those boxers lewis too had were stronger and vital was starting to lose while the opposite was for Lennox

[@MWG-qv2hq]

​@user-si4nt5gt9bno chance. Vitali's face was a complete mess. Now imagine it after a few more bombs from Lewis. Lewis was coming into the fight more

[@giorgisilagadze5849]

You can clearly see Lewis is out of shape mainly because age. He's slow and gassed out very quick. But with his huge fighting arsenal and warrior spirit still managed to get W. Vicious uppercuts and left hands through a fight were totally amazing.Vitali's chin was just IRON. these uppercuts could put down almost everyone, including Wlad. But Vitali took it without problem. Probably the best heavyweight fight ever, if we take in notice size and level of two boxers.

[@khayree7929]

Bruh what? He won by luck. If it went to the decision Vitali would’ve won unanimously.

[@dmrsibs27]

It did not go to decision by luck mate there is no luck in boxing every punch counts

[@paulastoney958]

Couldn’t have put it better myself 💯🥊.

[@hitmanfromjapan]

@@khayree7929Won by luck look at the guys face 😂 As important as points are not letting your eye getting battered into a hamburger is equally important.

[@khayree7929]

@@hitmanfromjapan it wasn’t battered it was cut

[@davepangolin4996]

Lennox was superb ... not afraid to throw a shot and get stuck in ...

[@zenmar2415]

To be fair lewis showed his toughness in this fight. Dude would never get up when he gets dropped, but in this fight he ate alot of punches that should have dropped him, but he fought through it.

[@MWG-qv2hq]

​@user-si4nt5gt9bno

[@nbagoats4819]

Lewis got up both fights where he was dropped. Refs just waived it off but he was on his feet both times. I def think he could have fully recovered from Oliver McCall if the ref allowed it to continue.

[@jorrgfromage9929]

2:06 - he could not see shots coming from his blinded eye. the fight had to be stopped.

[@jameschilders7423]

I totally disagree

[@bossplayermfs5972]

Yea, Lennox Lewis knocked his eyebrow off his face all you saw was bloody flesh.

[@Rex69Rutherford]

Naw, Lennox just exploded into that very unexpectedly. It would have caught most fighters drifting, as VK was at the moment

[@carrastealth]

Going into the 7th round. Vitali was only up by 2. Lewis was starting to land more frequently and Vitali was starting to hold more. Which was allowing Lewis to consistently get his uppercut off which was knocking Vitali's head back each time. So as much as some like to go "Oh Vitali could have won this..." I am not so sure he'd have been able to take the constant punishment to his head and to his eye that Lewis would have dished out over the next 5 rounds. Vitali likely would have been stopped on his feet somewhere around round 10 or 11.

[@SoftBank47]

Didn’t Vitali at the beginning of his career have a hard time with stamina? I think he gassed out quite often, and one of them was looking like they could keel over just as the ref stopped it.

[@aswinastro]

True, worse, Lewis could have permanently injured Vitali's eye and denied him a career. I am not sure how people often miss the fact on how badly damaged Vitali's eye was. And why they don't credit Lewis's power. They simply wish to harp on the "ifs and buts" on how Lewis should have rematched or how he was "lucky" to have got the TKO. To be honest, if anyone was lucky, it was Vitali on how he managed to exit the fight with his eye undamaged.

[@thegreatestfinesser2338]

@@SoftBank47 That’s Wladimir you’re thinking of in the Lamon Brewster fight

[@stefandusan9629]

Vitali would of broke him Lennox was exhausted

[@jakedonnely4094]

@@stefandusan9629 defo

[@pughy79]

That uppercut at 3:34 was incredible. Surprised Vitali’s head didn’t come off 😂

[@ihorcherepakha9525]

he has never been in KO, no wonder.

[@_youucantstopme_9922]

Klitschko may be winning on points but he would lost this anyways. He was gassed and his face was a mess

[@RB5ster]

Great fight, from memory Lewis was supposed to fight Johnson but he pulled out due to injury and Klitschko stepped up as he was fighting on the same card, would loved to have seen a rematch with both given right time to prepare.

[@tariqjoseph3562]

That’s even more impressive considering Vitali ended up being one of the best heavyweights ever, a shame he didn’t want to box for many years the same his brother did.

[@fufu3539]

2:50 thrilled guy in crowd.

[@Rex69Rutherford]

Not everyone caught that lightning uppercut

[@fufu3539]

@@Rex69Rutherford it went into the audience apparently.

[@adamwaddoups7811]

Anyone else see the jack in the box go off at 2:51 😂 fucking classic

[@Rex69Rutherford]

I couldn't believe how little VK's head moved

[@MultiPrincelove]

blackjack in white suit

[@wakstar1]

The hairs are up watching this epic encounter again. Watched it live at the time and it was BRUTAL. Tyson Fury had his hands full with either of these warriors…

[@PaulWK1972]

Tyson Fury - as much as I like him - would have more than his hands full with these two. He's not in the same league in my opinion. They were both elite boxers in a golden era packed with talent.

[@jonskitch8082]

Lewis hits very hard!

[@jesuscampos8136]

Klitschko is the real Rocky 💪💥😵

[@eryk1714]

rather is the real idiot

[@bruda_osas6040]

This is my favorite fight of all time

[@sdrewe99]

Top fight.There should have been a rematch.

[@sdrewe99]

@꧁Sindano Negongo꧂ agree.

[@nomecognome8737]

Lewis retired right after the fight

[@thegreatestfinesser2338]

@꧁Sindano Negongo꧂ Klitschko lost deal with it Lewis was rocking him with uppercuts all night who gives af who was winning on points it’s a twelve round fight not six

[@Cat2024MZ]

@@thegreatestfinesser2338 he's saying he would've lost if there was a rematch ffs. Also you're saying klitshxmo was rocked all night did you watch the second round I don't think klitschko was the only one getting rocked

[@prowannab]

@@Cat2024MZ Lewis LOST, He retired because he was flat out scared for a rematch! Sad but true!

[@daveceaser13]

Lewis was landing more and better shots towards the end. Hed have stopped him anyway

[@Scott-lr2dy]

Before rhe cut it wasn't the case..bady cut and was correct decision

[@demonyodemonyo3248]

If wasn't for that cut it would be a 12 rounds war

[@bkn4]

Klitchko was gonna get knocked out eventually but he really put it on Lewis for a bit

[@tashawnsnardon3661]

Both of them men earned their money that night.

[@Scott-lr2dy]

Klitchko was having him until the cut.

[@teknix314]

He was out on his feet after that uppercut

[@erickjuma7643]

C'moon Vitali, if that fight was left to continue Lewis could have gorged your eye out. Be a man accept defeat, you didn't come to the ring with a cut in your eye.

[@sickathanyouraverage4404]

That why fighters need a corner to make the best decision to save their healthy and lives.

[@SuperDetroit9]

@Eric Juma;Still,if a man is able to fight and clearly dominating,let him go ON!!

[@matthewabraham4408]

Well he did accept defeat after a while but never got the rematch he deserved

[@chrishansen2100]

Then they shouldve stopped Fury vs Wallin

[@marccee569]

@@matthewabraham4408 lol so a fighter who planned to retire should not retire because a young fighter "deserves" a rematch

[@francescogotto4533]

Vitali is much stronger than Wladimir.

[@aspiknf]

Correct, but Lennox is the king (even though Vitali would've beat Lennox in a rematch, Prime Lennox would beat Prime Vitali, the Lennox here is out of his prime)

[@cormacmcquillan828]

@@aspiknf He wasn't out of his prime, prime isn't really altogether dependent on age, he had ring rust and was slightly out of shape. Any fight between Lewis and VK would've been entertaining, but Lewis would've definitely won. He was fundamentally a better boxer and more dedicated to the sport than Vitali.

[@jackw4031]

No he’s not stronger than Wladimir lol. He has a stronger chin and better boxing ability yes. But Wladimir is definitely stronger and hits harder than Vitali

[@cormacmcquillan828]

@@jackw4031 I think he means overall strength as a fighter. Yes, it's been confirmed Wlad hit far harder.

[@chrishansen2100]

You got that shite from Chris Byrd.

[@spacesaver3656]

Those continuous shots to the body at 3:00 😥

[@alternatifci]

A poor refree, i wonder if it was so hard for them to find such a little and rubbish refree for these two giants..

[@damreeds2360]

Vitali took similar ones against Shannon Briggs in the early stages of their fight

[@JorgeRojas-ut3wj]

@@alternatifci When the hands are free you can keep punching your way out of a clinch. Learn the rules before you judge something you know nothing about.

[@alternatifci]

@@JorgeRojas-ut3wj I meant the whole fight, you should understand the comments before you answer.

[@JorgeRojas-ut3wj]

@@alternatifci Don't try and cop out. I understood you just fine. You were commenting specifically on the body shots at 3:00 which were perfectly legal.

[@Nemesis04208]

God this was a great fight

[@chanimpresario4968]

When you get hit by a shot and man says "mmmm" you don't recover too well. The jabs from Vitali challenged, but you can't deny, the uppercuts from Lennox sent messages home.

[@tjadeadeyeye8630]

The only thing lewis did wrong was not to ensure a rematch 2 a very brave & worthy opponent,Klitcko deserved it but to say that klitcko won the fight if not 4 the eye cut is complete bullocks. Lewis had done more damage 2 klitcko than klitcko had done 2 him at that stage in the fight so a technical knockout win for lewis was definitely in order.

[@dvls442]

Klitschko was winning on points. Thats why it was a scam. Lewis was lucky with that cut on klitschko's eye otherwise he'd loose just as he'd loose in the rematch. He just chickened out of the bussiness. Thats why he became so disrespected after this fight.

[@supersecularboypants]

Klitschko was winning on points. And the amount of damage shown varies by person, it’s really not that simple. Some people swell and show damage with the slightest punches, some don’t. Complexion plays a big role as-well, after all, it’s much harder to see the amount of damage done with a darker skin.

[@johnwilliam9446]

@@supersecularboypants winning on points after 6 rounds ,in a 12 round fight ,vitali could of got career ending injurys if he was aloud to carry on Lewis was coming on strong them upper cuts were landing

[@supersecularboypants]

@@johnwilliam9446 That one uppercut that Lewis landed was brutal. But I agree, the fight had to be stopped because of the cut. It's a shame, really. I believe Klitschko had a chance of winning.

[@johnwilliam9446]

@@supersecularboypants he did but Lewis was at the end of his career and he wasn't supposed to fight vital till later that year ,there's a good Lewis interview done today by Tunde and Spencer fearon which goes in to detail about the Klitschko fight definitely worth a watch

[@4rct1c9Ic3m4n]

2:49 3:16 3:35[Almost took his head off] 3:57

[@ettoredalfarra2]

And no effect. Those punchs would have killed a bull, and they had no effect on Klitschko. Amazing.

[@HP23569]

Shame Lewis could'nt give Vitali more credit at the end of the fight, seemed very defensive and cocky with Larry Merchant, tough fight which both boxers deserved maximum credit, rematch would have been interesting.

[@nomecognome8737]

1:17 only Lennox's jab could do that to Vitali

[@williep1626]

This may be one of the most brutal heavyweight fights in the last 20 years.

[@aboubakarmansare7021]

Oh my, them punches in the rib cage 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@John-pl8fe]

Both these guys were tough dudes. Vitali was way tougher than Wlad!!

[@nbagoats4819]

Vitali was deteriorating rapidly. He started holding on to Lewis and basically hanging on to him in order to stay on his feet. He was a battered and spent fighter.

[@brendansmith3851]

Some great shots from Lewis but Vitali was winning all the way. One of my favourite fights of all time because its the last time that the heavyweight division was decent

[@Tdog2354]

I will always consider this a win for Vitali. Had his eye not been cut, he would have won.

[@leeboyy9763]

Lol

[@dmrsibs27]

The cut was not accidental so he wasn’t winning

[@teknix314]

He was out on his feet after that uppercut

[@zekeedwards7904]

His whole face looked like a butchers bin afterwards, Lewis more accurate with his punches

[@VangiwaNhambi]

Yes, vitali was good, he through quite a number more than Lenox but they were not as powerful as Lenox's, whose were powerful & damaging. In store, Lenox had a deadly letf hook (Bruno), plus that left right combination that dropped Briggs!!

[@wraynephew6838]

It is very rare for Lewis to fight a fighter with almost the same reach and length as him. Lewis could not simply dominate Klitscko as the others fighters he face. However, Lennox Lewis is one of the most disciplined heavyweight I have ever seen next to Muhammad Ali.

[@nirvana3887]

Vitali could've won this one. It's a shame Lewies avoided a rematch.

[@marccee569]

he retired??? 🤣🤣🤣 clearly he was on his last fight and still battered a young up n coming fighter

[@GAjjl]

The 2nd round bell saved Lewis. He was about to go down.

[@dimensionexo.]

👊🏽 Fortunately the fight was stopped : One more punch serious damage : Would have occurred ✦

[@thamessiahbg]

thanx!

[@williamlewis7243]

What a great champion LEWIS

[@lnaf]

Vitali was ahead on points

[@tobiasbentedelmann2079]

Im looking for a video klitschko vs lewis with the music of the used - let it bleed - anyone can help?

[@raymelpoche9415]

I get why the fight was stopped but damn I wanted it to keep going

[@ahmedhikmet1057]

Good job, Vitali 👍👍👍

[@jonskitch8082]

yeah for losing and weak defense!

[@kkx8268]

Klitschko did fight well but after this uppercut he was TKO. If the fight wasn't stopped Lennox would have KOd him.

[@jaysonpareja30]

Fun Fact: Klitschko was ahead 58-56 on the scorecards with two judges giving Lewis only rounds three and six and the other rounds five and six before the stoppage that's why Lennox Lewis ducked Vitali for a rematch coz he knows in his heart that he should've lost in this fight if not for the cut/Dr stoppage.

[@extraficalCO]

Stop with the nonsense. Lewis was extremely out of shape even in this fight. If we're going to be spouting stupid hypotheticals, then might I say if Lewis was in his prime he would've laid out Vitali. A Prime Vitali lost to an Old Lewis, let that be noted

[@jaysonpareja30]

@@extraficalCO Excuses.. excuses... excuses.. Then why did Lewis opt out from having a rematch against vitali and make sure he's in shape then??? You point is non sense...lol

[@extraficalCO]

@@jaysonpareja30 That's a bit ironic. You're making excuses for Vitali's loss, while simultaneously trying to argue an imaginary scenario. Vitali got beat by an old Lewis, plain and simple. Nothing to be ashamed of

[@teknix314]

Vadali lost because he didn't defend properly. Lewis was coming into it and was landing huge shots.

[@love_is_my_religion]

I think that Klitschko would have won the fight if it wouldn't have been stopped because of the state of his face. And as far as I remember Lewis said in an interview after the fight:"Look at the state of his face."

[@apurvaprathap434]

Wat a lion vitali is

[@walterpanesso721]

Gran combate.

[@johncare]

great great boxing

[@williamlewis7243]

Lewis beat the best. Thanx CHAMP!!!!!

[@ericezeokoli8800]

Vitali can score points but Stamina is NOT his property. Lennox has advantageous Stamina and STRONG Right Hand. Lennox can even go for 15 Rounds and still can throw the Hammer Right Hand. This was Round #6 , Vitali was almost exhausted not considering the Bruises on his Face. In the next TWO Rounds( 7 and 8 ), Lennox would have done his Right Hand Knock Down on Vitali.......Watch Lennox Lewis's Fights, at first he never threw serious jabs ( Rounds 1,2 and 3) but kept on with Confidence. See Bruno vs Lewis, Shannon Briggs vs Lewis, Grant vs Lewis, Biggs vs Lewis, even Rakham vs Lewis ( first fight) etc. When he finished his analysis of the opponent, he came with destructive strategy.

[@VangiwaNhambi]

That's the Lennox we know, if they had continued, Vitali was going to fall th Shanon Briggs way or th Ref was going to stop it after a repeat of a Bruno confuding left hook and a torrent of uppercuts!!

[@kanejohannesen7089]

Lewis was 38 ffs.And still won.6 years younger and he would of gave him a lesson

[@Josh-oj6jx]

Damn reffing so different now that woukda been stopped way before the distance they took it back then crazy

[@MarkLane-r5n]

Lennox never ducked a fight!

[@wakstar1]

The world was robbed a special ending to this one though… nowt but a scratch for Big V

[@MegaIanmc]

Ridiculous all the people saying oh but he was ahead on the scorecards. He was bust up and would of continued to get hit. If he was allowed to continue he might of been blind in the left eye now

[@thespecialone1405]

Klitschko still saying: no no no no

[@excluyousivite]

Imagine this fight was in Saudi. Dead atmosphere

[@sungerbob1786]

Crazy match

[@DJBIGCG]

God almighty, those two giants threw nonstop knock out punches. Wish klitschko won this fight though 👍🏿

[@silverfishimperitrix]

I don't get the criticism of Lewis. They both landed bombs and came back. Pretty close fight, but to stop it for a cut like that is not unusual.

[@SuperCrazyEstonian]

loved it

[@Bluemarlin2120]

One of the greatest fights ever. Vladimir was winning on all the score cards, respect to them both. To me, they are equals and both absolute warriors. This is what boxing is missing.

[@michaellacroix8029]

It's vit Vitali Klitschko not Vladimir

[@alaskanmalamute101]

Jeez no wonder lewis retired after this lol knocking 10 bells out each other!

[@kenweis7913]

Vitaly had no sense but could've been really great

[@MINHDUC-zt6qm]

Lewis number one

[@frankiekl87]

Always remember Lewis retired instead of fighting vitali again. Always remember this!

[@acetofresh1]

The biggest myth here, just like Vitali Byrd is that Vitali looked good and was still strong. Vitali looked gassed and his punches had no zip. He couldn’t handle the Olympic gold medal caliber boxing skills of Lennox.

[@hazbutt1488]

Vitali would've won this fight if it wasn't for his eye imo

[@daniellenogales5452]

Haz Butt no vitali would lose. He shouldn't let Lewis bash his face in so bad his eye was falling out. Lennox was better. Quit being prejudice.

[@alternatifci]

Haz Butt, not only a simple winning, i bet he would've destroyed him as he promised before the match.. Lewis was just lucky and even he fought someone who had only one eye during 4 rounds, he couldn't drop him, it's not so hard to guess what would happen if Lewis had the same eye..

[@eberkovich]

@@daniellenogales5452 Nah, Lewis had never hurt Vitali and Vitali had hurt Lewis. Plus, Vitali was still in the fighting shape, Lewis was nearly done

[@SuperDetroit9]

Why didn;t they go to the CARDS and ward Vitali the win?!?

[@eberkovich]

@@SuperDetroit9 This was a fortuitous injury stoppage of a fight Vitali was winning. Had the injury come due to clash of heads, this would have gone to cards.

[@Koroglu381]

Lennox LEWİS The Best

[@chinfuzzchet3616]

That uppercut would have dropped his brother

[@jonskitch8082]

and all American boxers!

[@craigevans3813]

Lewis was almost 38 here

[@bobbylongwitz6053]

Vitali had his best performance but lennox was 38 and on a decline

[@Ray-ru3pc]

lewis will forever be a coward instead of retiring as a great champion. He avoided the rematch because he knew the first fight was a gift.

[@nicholasclarke8182]

Oh please do SHUT UP! As Lewis absolutely demolished Klitschko for most of this fight although these highlights don't do him much justice. And I'm sure that if there ever were a rematch that Lewis would have beaten him again but even more convincingly

[@commandoazbo5266]

What a fight?

[@tenbroeck1958]

This was NOT the highlights, as it makes it appear that Lewis deserved the win, when in reality Klitschko was ahead 58-56 on the scorecards with two judges giving Lewis only rounds three and six and the other rounds five and six. Lewis was given the win, technically, but he was not winning. Otherwise, he would have honored the rematch clause. Instead, he smartly retired, to avoid losing. Much like Marciano retired, as not to fight Cashius Clay/Ali (My favorite ever).

[@Bonescratcher]

Strange that Klitschko never fought Holyfield

[@eoinmaguire860]

Klitschko was winning

[@maktubeyal4262]

Demoledor Lewis. Peleaba feo y se quedaba sin aire con frecuencia, pero era de concreto.

[@sanskartewatia4320]

These dudes out here defending all the jabs and punches with their faces like damn those are hard shits. Tyson fury would most probably do much better with his head movement

[@alexaav7225]

Grande Lennox L...

[@jameschilders7423]

They crapped my man on this fighr

[@goodmusc9608]

lewis king

[@Nikolai-r6b]

Vitali the best

[@SuparnoTasikmadu]

Hebat lenol lewis vladimyr klisco sampai hancur❤😮😅

[@ebbiesmith4469]

If that went to distance Vitali won that in my opinion

[@Enjoyyourselfnow]

HD highlights 😂😂😂

[@dmytrokopetskyy6981]

If Lewis would if gave him a rematch 6 months later, than klitschko would if knocked him out. He won the fight by points and he looked in a much better shape then Lewis. That’s why Lewis retired because he knew he would lose. If lose would if been a true champion then he would if gave klitschko a rematch. He is a chicken.

[@alaskanmalamute101]

Kinda agree lewis was 37 at this point too most likely wanted to retire on top though rather than what alot do and carry on until they lost 3 fights in a row

[@DoubleMonoLR]

It would be pretty stupid to take more punishment when his career was ending, at nearly 38 he was 7 years older than Klitschko. Yes, Klitschko was in better shape, not surprising considering where each was in their careers, this makes Lewis win more impressive not less. That he protected himself where possible is surely part of why his speech is perfectly fine, unlike a number of other former boxers unfortunately. Was Lewis meant to just keep getting older, slower, & weaker, and keep taking punishment until he lost? Also doesn't really make sense to claim he was a 'chicken' when a notoriously tough boxer was his last opponent. He fought a lot of top opponents through his career.

[@aswinastro]

Ok genius, so you think it is ok for Lewis, a 38-year old who was not even preparing to fight Vitali, but still took on a dangerous opponent on such short notice, and still managed to TKO him, to agree for a rematch when he was at the end of his career and was stayiing in it only for the money. Why? Of course, Vitali would have won the rematch, not becuase he was the better skilled boxer, but because Lewis had by this time was all out of motivation and couldn't train hard anymore. Remember, we are talking about a boxer who has fought all his life for rewards and recognition and earned it only late in his career, only to have one last opponent give a good fight and then he gets questioned again. Put yourself in the shoes of Lewis and tell me sincerely on whether you would have gone for the rematch, fully knowing you have no motivation or hunger to fight?

[@dmytrokopetskyy6981]

@@aswinastro lewis lost 2 fights in his career against Rahman and Mcall. Both of them gave him a rematch and therefore I believe he should if done the same. Vitali was more hungry for the heavyweight title. Lewis just didn’t want to retire as a loser. That’s why.

[@aswinastro]

@@dmytrokopetskyy6981 Seriously, Mccall didn't give Lewis a rematch, Lewis earned it after almost 2.5 years after getting defeated by him. Same with Rahman, Rahman's team made Lewis run pillar to post to get a rematch. Lewis had to take the legal route to get his rematch. Also, Lewis was wise enough to put an immediate rematch clause. Having said this, don't you think it is unfair to expect a 38-year old champ, who had lost his hunger and was in it only for the money, only to defend himself against a young and upcoming champ, especially after a storeyed career where he had put in hard work and defeated 14+ great champions in the best era of boxing. I think not. Lewis was right in refusing the rematch for 2 main reasons. A) He never had the hunger and he didn't want to end his career with a loss because he knew very well that the finnicky fans would lose all respect for him, despite his solid record and B) Lewis had everything to lose and nothing to gain. People who criticize Lewis should try to put themselves in his position and see if they would like to give a rematch fully knowing that one loss, no matter how unfair or evenly competed, will erase all the good work they did. I am sure many of us WON"T