Lennox Lewis vs. Vitali Klitschsko June 21

[bigdawg2003]

It's official
:D :D :D

Link (http://espn.go.com/boxing/news/2003/0609/1565489.html)

I rescind my previous comment that I'm done with the heavyweight division. This should be very interesting. I'm pulling for Vitali.

[sabotai]

Sweet. Hopefully it'll happen. Yeah, yeah "It's official". That's never been an "in stone" thing in boxing. :)

But anyway, I'm pulling for Vitali as well.

[Calis]

Wow, I might actually have to rescind my vow to not watch anymore boxing.

Anywho, I think Vitali has a pretty decent shot actually, should be a good fight.

[TroyF]

I hate to break it to all the people who hate Lennox's guts, but if he's ready for the fight, he'll destroy Vitali. I'd like to see Vitali win, if nothing else so there will be interest in the HW division. Yet, I've watched both him and Lewis box. Lewis is the superior fighter.

I think he'll win the fight with relative ease.

TroyF

[sabotai]

I haven't seen Vitali fight, but I have seen Wlad fight a few times, so if they fight the same as each other, I have a feeling Lewis would win.

But then again, which Lewis shows up? The one that showed up to fight Tyson, or the one that showed up at the first Rahman fight?

It's not that I hate Lewis, I hate how he's made a mockery out of the HW division but just letting two of the three top organizations in boxing take the titles from him by making poor excuses as to why he wouldn't fight certain opponents.

[TroyF]

Sab,

That's why I used the "if Lewis shows up part" The couple of fights he's lost in his career were fights he simply didn't bother to prepare properly for. (I don't count the Holyfield fight as a loss, we all know he won that fight easiliy)

He's a much better fighter than people give him credit for being. As I said, I expect him to tear apart Vitali. I'd love to be wrong.

TroyF

[bosshogg23]

Vitali isnt close to as good as Wlad is. I think Lewis should win pretty easily. At least this is better than Kirk Johnson though.

[bosshogg23]

As a side note, I wonder if HBO is gonna televise another undercard fight now? I would doubt it but gotta hope so.

[sabotai]

"(I don't count the Holyfield fight as a loss, we all know he won that fight easiliy) "

aye

And I hope they find a good replacement fight for the undercard. Lewis and Vitali are not the two most exciting boxers to watch. :)

[neofied]

Finally. I can't wait to see this fight. Is this going to be on HBO or PPV?

As for who to root for, I think I'm ready to see Lewis go down. But, I still think boxing is going to need some work to regain its former glory.

[bosshogg23]

Its HBO not PPV.

[neofied]

Cool. I'll be sure to watch this bad boy of a fight.

[Blackadar]

I'm going for Vitali. I think he'll lose, but I think Lewis screwed him earlier this year and it'd be just karma if he knocked Lewis on his ass.

[Bishop]

I don't really like Lewis but I don't see him losing this match, If Vitali fights anything like his brother this'll be a breeze for Lewis.


Lewis isn't as bad as some make him out to be, he's certainly not the best ever he'd be lucky to break top 15, but he deserves to be the champ right now because he is the best heavyweight currently boxing.

[sabotai]

Yeah, it really is down cycle for the heavyweight division right now.

[Frank of CCPB/JSB]

Lewis never lost to Holyfield, as much as I hoped he would.

Question
Does a prime Lewis beat a prime Tyson or a prime Holyfield?

As for Vitali - his brother is much better and he got destroyed his last time out.
Vitali has a rep as being light on heart and if it is true I think Kirk would have had a better chance

[Bishop]

Originally posted by Frank of CCPB/JSB
Question
Does a prime Lewis beat a prime Tyson or a prime Holyfield?

I don't know if anyone could really say for sure, but it'd definitely been a much better fight for both of them and more fun to watch.

I think both Tyson and Holyfield would of had a good chance at beating Lewis in there prime, but Lewis would still have a chance too.

[sabotai]

"Lewis never lost to Holyfield, as much as I hoped he would."

Brain fart...you're right. The first match between them ended in a draw (Lewis won it handily, though).

I'm not so sure a prime Lewis beats a prime Holyfield. True, Lewis did beat up Holyfield in their two fights, but it was a slow Holyfield. A younger Holyfield gets inside much better. IMO, a prime Holyfield would beat a prime Lewis.

Both would get killed by a prime (and focused) Mike Tyson. But that was always Mike's problem. Being focused. That is the only real Douglas was able to beat him.