Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted January 27, 2004 LONDON — Since heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis seems reluctant to make a decision about his future — will he retire or grant Vitali Klitschko a rematch? — the WBC is going to force the issue. The WBC, whose title Lewis holds, announced Sunday that it will strip him of the belt if he lets pass a March 15 deadline to sign for a rematch with Klitschko, the mandatory contender whom Lewis beat in a memorable June brawl. Klitschko was leading Lewis but lost when the fight was stopped after six rounds because of a severe cut. In December, Klitschko drilled Kirk Johnson in two rounds to again become the mandatory. If Lewis is stripped, Klitschko will fight for the vacant title, possibly against Corrie Sanders, who defeated Klitschko's younger brother Wladimir last March in one of the biggest upsets of 2003 Yanked from here. Goody gumdrops. I'm tired of Lewis pussyfooting when the fight is RIGHT THERE. I think he'll fight Vitali, and pass the torch. I'm glad the lightweight and welterweight divisions have been so damn good lately, or else I'd be pretty sick of boxing by this point. Gatti/Branco was a fun one to watch. Gatti/Ward III was the fight of the year. Kostya Tszyu is rapidly building himself a little dynasty, with TONS of competition out there. Got to love the bloodbaths between the quick skinny fuckers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lightning Flik 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 He'll retire. It's stupid and tarnish everything he has done (if it already wasn't), but I think he'll do the one thing he hates, just because he doesn't want to go down to Vit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Youth N Asia 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 He'll lose if he fights again...I couldn't see him taking a rematch unless they threw a record amount of money at him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 I hope he keeps fighting, because god help us if he retires and vacates the title. We'll never see a true world heavyweight champion again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 Ho wouldn't be the first person to drop the title without losing it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
starvenger 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 Lewis tends to do a lot better in fights when he's motivated and training for that specific opponent, so I can see him beating Klitschko. But at this point it's all about the money for him, so he's just gonna retire. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 I think they could survive his exit if he retires and Klitschko wins the belt. People think he's the uncrowned champion anyway...and it'll really look like Lewis ducked him (which...he would have done) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 The problem is that you'll have three different organizations, percieved as legitimate, holding fights, all three claiming to crown a new champion. Hopefully the Ring Magazine/USA Today rankings would quell that a bit, but you'd still have some doubt. Fans seem unwilling to ignore the alphabet organizations, unfortunately. As for the lineage, its been broken clearly only twice in boxing history. Around 1930, Gene Tunney retired, and a tournament was organized to crown a new champion, which Max Schmeling won. Late 1950s, Rocky Marciano retires, and Floyd Patterson wins a tournament. Otherwise, the linear champion has always been defeated at some point. I have doubts that the current powers of boxing could put together one single method of crowning a new champion. Besides, Lewis losing would make alot of people happy, and makes things a heck of alot easier. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Your Paragon of Virtue 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 Ahem: Real Fighting Sorry, just had to get that out of the way. As for the topic at hand, Lennox Lewis will probably retire and pussy it out. He doesn't seem to have the passion that he once had when he wanted to have a go at Holyfield after the first screwy decision. There are some major parallels between this fight and that one, and just imagine how pissed off Lennox would be had Holyfield retired after their "draw". Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted January 27, 2004 Who is left in the heavyweight division besides the Klitschko brothers? Could Roy Jones move up in weight to challenge Vitali? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
EVIL~! alkeiper 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Chris Byrd is about all there is outside of the Klitschko duo. He's not an exciting fighter, but he's a solid boxer. James Toney is experiencing a career resurgence, but he needs another fight or two to convince me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snuffbox 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Gatti/Ward III was the fight of the year. I thought Jirov-Toney and Pemberton-Sheika 1 were both better, but not by a lot. The Ward-Gatti Trilogy would make for a nice dvd. oh, and i picked LL to rematch klit, and lose. Im not sure about this result but I do think it will happen...this year. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mole 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Heavyweight boxing is a joke anyway. I could care less what happens. Nascar, now that's a sport.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 "The Ward-Gatti Trilogy would make for a nice dvd." Hell yes. Pay anything. Must have now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Wait, Heavyweight boxing still exists? Only thing I watch anymore is the lower weights since they are just more fun. The upper weight class is just boring and takes about 3 years between a title fight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Youth N Asia 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Nascar, now that's a sport.... *Kick to the nuts* Sorry, but even as a joke I don't want to hear that. I wish he would fight Byrd, I know the guy's not that exciting to watch, but Lewis says he's beaten everyone when he hasn't...plus Byrd's hometown. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes Report post Posted January 29, 2004 Time for a Mike Tyson return!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
razazteca 0 Report post Posted January 29, 2004 "The Ward-Gatti Trilogy would make for a nice dvd." Hell yes. Pay anything. Must have now. Do boxing dvds even exit? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Youth N Asia 0 Report post Posted January 29, 2004 Lewis would humiliate Tyson if they fought. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted January 29, 2004 I still contend they should just strip the title from him and Set up a 8 Man Year Long tourny... 7 of the top boxers and Mike Tyson. Have all Eight sign a deal that they will fight no matter what with predetermined payments and locations (I.E 2 Fights in Memphis and Atlantic city for found one and then the semi’s will be in Mandalay and MGM and the Championship match goes to the MECCA in MSG)…It’ll make great money and revive interest… Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted January 29, 2004 Yeah, he would, but Tyson could still beat almost anyone else. Tyson/Byrd..now THAT would be fun to watch. Ol' duck'n cover pissing his drawers at the relentless greasy fast psychopath in front of him. A Gatti/Ward dvd? I'm fucking THERE if that happens. Could Roy Jones move up in weight to challenge Vitali? I wouldn't bet on that. Vitali is naturally MUCH larger than Jones, who had to seemingly pack on more muscle than he's comfortable with to fight John Ruiz (who doesn't even compare to Klitschko or Lewis). They're in the same weight class, so technically it could happen, but the size difference is so extreme that it would be a bad career move for Jones to take that fight. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoCalMike 0 Report post Posted January 29, 2004 Vitali did take some big shots from Lewis in the later rounds before the stoppage. Vitali basically walked through Lewis's jab, albeit taking full impact at the same time. It seemed that everytime Vitali connected with Lewis, Lewis got rocked. I dunno, I can feel a passing of the torch if they fight again, but at this point, unless Lewis has been training this past year, he is just going to get stripped of the title, and then retire. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
