And it's over. I guess the doctor stopped the fight because he didn't want to see an eyeball fly out of the ring.
But, Lewis looked very much out of shape and lethargic, and if it weren't for the cut he opened up early, he would've been in a lot of trouble because he was taking a lot of hard shots as well.
It was slightly comical to watch Klitschko yammer on about a rematch and about how he could go on with the fight, regardless of his left eye, all the while the insides of his mouth was shredded and he was spitting out bits of the insides of his mouth, peppering Larry Merchant inadvertently, as he tried to spit out as much as his English would carry him in the after-fight interview.
I do think Lewis would have finished Klitschko off in 3 more rounds or less.
But you have to be impressed by the amount of action and all out haymakers each boxer was throwing. It was like watching those lightweight boxers, only 100 pounds heavier each, with mayhem stamped on each punch thown.
That was the best fight I have ever seen Lennox Lewis fight. Maybe not technically, but the most entertaining. He absolutely pummeled Tyson and a few others but to see him going toe to toe was pretty spectacular. Great effort by both fighters; overall a courageous and gutty performance by each. I guess the only downside is now the rematch is going to cost $59.95 or some ridiculous price.
This just proves to me how Lennox Lewis is the most overrated heavyweight in recent boxing history.
Lewis was out of shape and couldn't make it much longer against a good boxer. VK was fighting a good plan and despite it being a bad cut it didn't seem to be impairing his vision that much. Lewis knew he was in trouble and was grinding his head into the cut as much as possible to worsen it. Lewis needed a stoppage or he would have lost.
The heavyweight division is the most pathetic division in boxing. Probably the best boxer in the heavyweight division is way past his prime now and has proved that the past few fights (Holyfield) and the fact that Roy Jones Jr. (as gifted a athelete that he is) can even compete in the heavyweight division proves how bad it really is.
Lewis is nothing more than marketing a big guy in a bad time for heavyweights.
I couldn't believe Lummox Lewis was still not giving credit to Vatali after he was beating him for most of the fight. Larry Merchant was all over him b/c of it.
How many more fights will Lummox come into out of shape and not prepared? Once, OK, but two and three? C'mon.
There will not be a rematch b/c VK eye will not be healed before Lummox retires. What kind of permanent vision damage would a cut like that cause? I don't see how it will screw up his vision long term. This was a Heavyweight Title fight and VK will probably never have that good of an opportunity to be Heavyweight Champion of the world ever again; I think they should of let the fight continue. VK would of risked losing the eye to be the Heavyweight Champion of the world.
Anyone catch the post-fight newsconference on ESPN? Lewis just confirmed (as if there was any doubt left during the merchant interview) that he is just an egotistical arse who's more concerned with chasing money than anything else.
Both Lennox and Emmanuel were in such denial that I think they were watching a different match than the rest of the world. Both claimng that Lennox was just getting his second wind and that he was never tired to begin with . He was so disrespectful of Klitschko and his group I was hoping one of them would go over and pummel him senseless.
Now had the fight continued, I think the match could have gone either way, Vitili was certainly hurting Lewis. Overall it was a good fight, until of course it was stopped.
There was another boxer out in the audience (can't recall who) who called Lennox out asking him for a bout. It was pretty hilarious.
Anyone know why Lewis didn't even get warmed up before the fight back in his dressing room? It's like just he just woke up and they sent him into the ring.
Arrogance. Plain and simple. And disrespect. I can't see Lewis winning that fight, and I used to be a fan of his. He was exhausted. Second wind my @$$, he was getting stomped. I was over a friends house, and we all agreed that Lennox was definitely not ready for this fight. Even my wife said so, and she's not even a fan. IMO, If they hadn't stopped the fight, we'd have a new champ ...
I was watching the fight at a friend's house. He has a Sony 51" Hi-def TV and digital cable. I now see that there is a down-side to Hi-def. That eye, YUK !!
Lewis is just way overrated. He has weak legs and a glass jaw. If VK wouldn't have been cut he would have KO'd Lewis.
The fact that Lewis is saying he was dominate is only because he knows how badly he was hurt and there will be no big money fights in his future for a horrible performance like that.
I think Lewis is the stongest heavy weight of all time. It took Tyson 8 rounds to take out Botha, Lewis hit him with a 3 punch combo that nearly sent the guy out of the ring - I couldnt believe it when I saw it.Bothas a big dude.
He put down Golota (who retired Bowe) in the first round when he was in shape,hungry and serious.
Lewis is lazy though and his size saves him every time. If he was 6'1 instead he would be a mediocre or poor boxer at best.
I think the relative size of the 2 big/tall fighters minimize the perceived impact of their punching power. These guys were hitting each other extremely hard (when the punches landed). But since they looked closer in size, it didn't seem like the punches were having the detrimental effect that they were. I think people are short-changing Lewis's punching power.
Besides being a bit on the lazy side, Lewis's other flaw is that he can be put down with a good shot on his chin.
BTW, Klitschko required 60 stitches to close up those 2 cuts (above and below his left eye).