Lennox Lewis to retire

[King Kamala 0]

I'm a big fan of da whities and I'm holding hope that Mesi will beat a name contender. Sure he looked like shit in his MSG debut but Muhammed Ali almost lost to Doug Jones in his Madison Square Garden debut. I just don't think he can compete though.

[TheFranchise 0]

I didn't expect anything more from Lennox.

 

What a fucking asshole.

Lewis > You.

[Guest NaturalBornThriller4:20]

Chump...

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

Lewis DID beat Klitchsko so what more can you ask of the guy? He may have been behind on points, but he still won. He really doesn't have much to prove and there's always going to be someone who wants a shot at him. The question is, when do you stop answering the call? There's nothing wrong with going out on top, but I wish he didn't have to be the arrogant peice of shit that he is. How do you call yourself a standard bearer for the past decade of boxing?

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

There's nothing wrong with going out on top.

 

Technically.

 

There is a certain question of manhood when you walk away ducking a rematch with a guy that everyone watched KICK YOUR ASS and lose on a ref decision.

 

In the books...he's avenged every loss and gone out as champ.

 

But those books aren't read for decades when someone is looking up stats.

 

Right now...he's a chump.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The last two vacanies in the heavyweight crown were filled by a single bout. Schmeling/Sharkey and Patterson/Moore. So if you could pick two fighters to compete for the championship, who would they be?

 

I selected what I think are the top 15 fighters in the heavyweight division, added Lennox Lewis, and compiled their records against one another. The 15 I selected are Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir Klitschko, Roy Jones, James Toney, David Tua, Hasim Rahman, Corrie Sanders, Fres Oquendo, John Ruiz, Jameel McCline, Dominick Guinn, Mike Tyson, Kirk Johnson, Joe Mesi and Chris Byrd.

 

Guinn and Mesi haven't fought a top 15 guy yet, so they're out. Toney, McCline, and Tyson are 0-1, and Oquendo and Johnson are 0-2, so lets take them out. That leaves us 8 guys. Sanders, Tua, Rahman, Byrd, Jones, Ruiz, and the Klitschko Brothers.

 

Vitali Klitschko took the measure of Lennox Lewis, but lost. He holds a KO win over Kirk Johnson, but he's on the bottom of the list. Meanwhile, he lost by TKO to Chris Byrd. Still, he's in the top in the court of public opinion.

 

Chris Byrd has the most impressive record, at 3-1. His only loss came against Wladimir Klitschko via decision. Meanwhile, he beat Vitali, Fres Oquendo, and David Tua. His credentials are the best in the group.

 

Wladimir Klitschko, until his loss to Sanders, was considered the class of the division. He does have the win over Byrd however, and he beat Jameel McCline.

 

Corrie Sanders beat Klitschko, but hasn't fought since. He's fought only five times since 2000, and he lost to Hasim Rahman, the only other ranked fighter he faced. Sanders would need to prove more to earn a title shot.

 

Hasim Rahman's the only other fighter to beat Lewis. He was knocked out in convincing fashion, however, in the rematch. In fact, Rahman has wet to win a bout since the Louis fight. He's lost to Ruiz, Lewis, and fought to a draw against Tua. Ruiz is in this group, and there's no way you can justify picking Rahman over Ruiz. Thumbs down.

 

John Ruiz. Ah, my favorite fighter. Ok, maybe not. But lets give him a fair look. 2-2 against this group. One of those losses came in 1996. He beat Rahman and Kirk Johnson. However, he lost to Roy Jones Jr. Hard to say. He's just never impressed me.

 

Roy Jones Jr. He beat Ruiz. He also beat James Toney, but that was almost 10 years ago (damn I'm getting old). Its hard to give him a shot based on a single fight. Nay.

 

David Tua. Of his three wins, two came before the Lewis fight in 2000. I think he needs to fight a higher class of opponents to earn a shot.

 

So that gives us Byrd vs. either Vitali, Wladimir, or John Ruiz. Since the fans like Vitali, we'll give him the shot. Chris Byrd vs. Vitali Klitschko for the title. Anyone agree?

[Brush with Greatness 0]

Randy Couture... still going strong at 40.

Lenox Lewis... taking the low road out at 38.

 

One of many reasons why MMA is greater than boxing.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I'll take your Coulture and raise you a George Foreman.

[snuffbox 0]

its official...congratulations to Lennox Lewis for a great career and providing some memorable moments...and hes retiring with all his faculties intact, he will be able to represent boxing respectably unlike Riddick Bowe, Evander Holyfield, and Mike Tyson.

 

http://www.fightnews.com/holland19.htm

[Lightning Flik 0]

its official...congratulations to Lennox Lewis for a great career and providing some memorable moments...and hes retiring with all his faculties intact, he will be able to represent boxing respectably unlike Riddick Bowe, Evander Holyfield, and Mike Tyson.

 

http://www.fightnews.com/holland19.htm

 

RESPECTABLY??? What respect is that? The guy wouldn't give the one man who had him beat a rematch.

 

That'll tarnish any respect the guy has. Shit, I had respect for the guy up until he said "I'm retiring and my fight against Vlad was my last."

 

He wanted respect for his career? Have the rematch against Vlad, either beat his ass or lose and THEN you retire having settled everything.

 

He pussied out. A guy who pussies out, deserves NO respect.

 

Edit: snuffbox, I'm not trying to start up something. I'm just stating my opinion. I apologize if this comes off as me trying to start something.

Edited February 7, 2004 by Lightning Flik

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I don't see that as a strike against Lennox. Sure, it'd be nice to see the fight, but from Lennox's perspective, he's 38, losing interest and financially secure. Why should he risk his health on a fight he doesn't need? Especially when the record book already says "TKO 6 Vitali Klitschko".

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

I don't see that as a strike against Lennox. Sure, it'd be nice to see the fight, but from Lennox's perspective, he's 38, losing interest and financially secure. Why should he risk his health on a fight he doesn't need? Especially when the record book already says "TKO 6 Vitali Klitschko".

...because he's not a girl?

 

Seriously...that's what I've got.

 

A man wouldn't retire like this. Not with how his last fight went down. There's what the books say...then there's what really happened.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

Everyone will always want a rematch, that's the nature of being on top. Even if he were to decisively win a rematch, someone would still say that they should get a shot.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

That's easy to say...but this is quite the special case.

 

Is he retiring with the title? Yes.

 

Is he retiring where the last image of him is a guy too gased to get off the stool after the fight he was losing was stopped? Yes.

 

That's how he'll be remembered by everyone who watched it.

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

Was Lewis busted open though?

[Guest thetrendsetter]

its official...congratulations to Lennox Lewis for a great career and providing some memorable moments...and hes retiring with all his faculties intact, he will be able to represent boxing respectably unlike Riddick Bowe, Evander Holyfield, and Mike Tyson.

 

http://www.fightnews.com/holland19.htm

 

RESPECTABLY??? What respect is that? The guy wouldn't give the one man who had him beat a rematch.

 

That'll tarnish any respect the guy has. Shit, I had respect for the guy up until he said "I'm retiring and my fight against Vlad was my last."

 

He wanted respect for his career? Have the rematch against Vlad, either beat his ass or lose and THEN you retire having settled everything.

 

He pussied out. A guy who pussies out, deserves NO respect.

 

Edit: snuffbox, I'm not trying to start up something. I'm just stating my opinion. I apologize if this comes off as me trying to start something.

Lennox Lewis is the greatest heavyweight of our era, and possibly one of the 10 of all time. Olympic Gold Medallist, 41-2-1 (31KO's). He's beaten every good and great fighter of his era. His only two loses against former sparring partner, Oliver McCall on what many deem a lucky punch (Who he beat in a rematch, which if memory serves me correctly, ended with McCall constantly turning away from Lewis, and crying in the ring) his other loss, against Rahman, which was quickly rectified in a rematch. He was a Multi-Time World Champion, and the first British World Champion in 100 years and considered by many to hold every Heavyweight Title that matters.

 

You Can Say that Lewis didn't fight anybody important, however, he fought every top challenger that came through to challenge him, and if you're going to use that arguement, there are other great boxers who that argument could be used against (Marciano off the top of my head). Although Tyson refused to fight him while Tyson was champion in 96, vacating the title, rather than fight Lewis.

 

He's considered by many as a top pound-for-pound fighter, an honor usually reserved for Super Middleweights and Below. He has a great reach, and a great style, which although doesn't promote huge amounts of excitement, led to many enjoyable fights for boxing fanatics.

 

It always gets to me when people say that Lewis was overrated, or not a good boxer. What really gets to me, is that people say Lewis is chickenshit, or not a man.

 

A man wouldn't retire like this. Not with how his last fight went down. There's what the books say...then there's what really happened.

 

How the fuck would you want him to retire numbnuts, a drooling gimp like Holyfield, how about he stick around till he's in his mid 50's, selling grill's on late night infomercials huh? At least you won't have to worry about him coming out of prison after a rape conviction, to pray on the Peter McNelly's of the world, because he's a better repersenative of the sport than that.

 

The man is walking away from the sport at the age of 38. He's walking away having beaten every major challenge put in his way. He's almost as good as Marciano, in the fact that there's not a boxer that hold's a win over him that he hasn't gotten back. Nobody hold's a winning record over him.

 

He beat Kilitscho, and in the record books it'lls say Lewis TKO6 Klitischo, He busted open Kilitscho enough that the doctor stepped in for his own safety, say what you want about points, Lewis must have done something right to cause Klitischo enough damage to have the Doctor throw in the towel.

 

I guess it is true that nice guys finish last. Lewis is an ambassador to the sport, always a gentleman, media darling, leaving the sport he dominated for close to a decade to move on to the next stage of his life.

 

So, rather than fight at Age 38, he's decided to give it up and move onto the next challenge of his life. It's not Klitchsko is some sort of great fighting machine that will absolutely annilihate him, as he has losses to both Lewis and Chris Byrd on his record. Say what you want about the man, after this little 'outrage' about him walking away from the sport settles, he'll be remembered as one of the sports greatest ever.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

Fine.

 

If being a stand up and classy guy is retiring after getting booed out of the arena and having your manhood questioned by everyone associated with the sport...

 

Cheers to him.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Fine.

 

If being a stand up and classy guy is retiring after getting booed out of the arena and having your manhood questioned by everyone associated with the sport...

 

Cheers to him.

Well, not to defend Lewis here, but isn't a part of manhood having the courage to walk away?

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

What courage is involved in walking away here?

 

Had he walked away before the fight (which was heavily rumored) no one would have said anything other than "Great career", "Great Fighter", "Division is screwed".

 

The fight did happen, and boxing fans everywhere cried foul.

 

It would have been like Holyfield retiring after the first Lewis fight...when everyone knew he wasn't the man.

[Brush with Greatness 0]

Exactly. But even Holyfield had the balls to step up and give the deserving man a rematch. Now it's Lewis' turn to do the deed.

 

As for the cut, cutting a guy is meaningless in regards to control of fight. It is the same as getting a fluke punch that KO's a guy. So if we are going to say that McCall's win was lucky then Lewis' was without a doubt lucky.

 

Take a look at the Couture-Belfort fight. Couture lost after Belfort cut him with a punch. But apart from technically speaking, no one can say that Belfort "won" that fight.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

All I'm saying is...there is no way even the biggest Lewis fan can tell me that while he's walking away...he should feel that he was the better man.

 

That's not my definition of "champion" regardless of what it says in the papers.

[Highland 0]

its official...congratulations to Lennox Lewis for a great career and providing some memorable moments...and hes retiring with all his faculties intact, he will be able to represent boxing respectably unlike Riddick Bowe, Evander Holyfield, and Mike Tyson.

 

http://www.fightnews.com/holland19.htm

 

RESPECTABLY??? What respect is that? The guy wouldn't give the one man who had him beat a rematch.

 

That'll tarnish any respect the guy has. Shit, I had respect for the guy up until he said "I'm retiring and my fight against Vlad was my last."

 

He wanted respect for his career? Have the rematch against Vlad, either beat his ass or lose and THEN you retire having settled everything.

 

He pussied out. A guy who pussies out, deserves NO respect.

 

Edit: snuffbox, I'm not trying to start up something. I'm just stating my opinion. I apologize if this comes off as me trying to start something.

But a guy that commits rape and bites people's ears off is worthy of respect? I can't believe America still jerks off over Tyson. Lewis' only crime is not giving Klitchko a rematch and being an arrogant prick.

Yeah, god damn he's a pussy because he didn't want to spend his post boxing years as a punch drunk vegetable like Ali.

[snuffbox 0]

its official...congratulations to Lennox Lewis for a great career and providing some memorable moments...and hes retiring with all his faculties intact, he will be able to represent boxing respectably unlike Riddick Bowe, Evander Holyfield, and Mike Tyson.

 

http://www.fightnews.com/holland19.htm

 

RESPECTABLY??? What respect is that? The guy wouldn't give the one man who had him beat a rematch.

 

That'll tarnish any respect the guy has. Shit, I had respect for the guy up until he said "I'm retiring and my fight against Vlad was my last."

 

He wanted respect for his career? Have the rematch against Vlad, either beat his ass or lose and THEN you retire having settled everything.

 

He pussied out. A guy who pussies out, deserves NO respect.

 

Edit: snuffbox, I'm not trying to start up something. I'm just stating my opinion. I apologize if this comes off as me trying to start something.

no...its cool...i get what your saying.

 

but its also my opinion that lewis retiring and still able to speak and act with decency and intelligence is FAR more important to boxing than parading out the liks of holyfield(retarded man), tyson (black eye man), or the sad legacy of bowe(kidnap the wife/kids with a knife man).

 

and...Rocky Marciano retired with the title. His last fight was a come from behind stoppage of Archie Moore. Was he a pussy???

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

But who did Rocky have left to fight? Besides, with his style, he couldn't keep fighting forever.

[snuffbox 0]

But who did Rocky have left to fight? Besides, with his style, he couldn't keep fighting forever.

Moore again, Floyd Patterson, Sonny Liston, Eddie Machen, maybe a Ruiz-level guy like Tom McNeely.

[Guest thetrendsetter]

Fine.

 

If being a stand up and classy guy is retiring after getting booed out of the arena and having your manhood questioned by everyone associated with the sport...

 

Cheers to him.

I'm sure he'll be crushed that everyone thinks he's not a man, when he's still the greatest fighter of his era by leaps and bounds, and had two world champions, not retire, but in the prime of thier careers, vacate a title, rather than fight him as the #1 contender.

 

He'll take heat for it now, but when it's all said and done, nobody will really remember this, and in the record books it will say

 

Lewis TKO 6 Kilitschko

 

And If walking out makes him a pussy, so be it, he's still EASILY one of the top 10 heavyweights of all time

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

But who did Rocky have left to fight?  Besides, with his style, he couldn't keep fighting forever.

Moore again, Floyd Patterson, Sonny Liston, Eddie Machen, maybe a Ruiz-level guy like Tom McNeely.

Patterson and Liston weren't top contenders at that point in 1955. Patterson was competing at light heavyweight, and I have no reason to think Marciano wouldn't have beat him anyway. Eddie Machen debuted in 1955. And there was no point in giving Moore a rematch.

[snuffbox 0]

But who did Rocky have left to fight?  Besides, with his style, he couldn't keep fighting forever.

Moore again, Floyd Patterson, Sonny Liston, Eddie Machen, maybe a Ruiz-level guy like Tom McNeely.

Patterson and Liston weren't top contenders at that point in 1955. Patterson was competing at light heavyweight, and I have no reason to think Marciano wouldn't have beat him anyway. Eddie Machen debuted in 1955. And there was no point in giving Moore a rematch.

the next fight for the heavy title was....Floyd vs. Archie. Floyd won.

 

Marciano nearly came out of retirement for Liston, but thankfully didnt.

 

Another he could have fought - Joey Maxim.

 

point - a fighter cant fight everyone, Lennox deserves a nice retirement.

[Lightning Flik 0]

no...its cool...i get what your saying.

 

but its also my opinion that lewis retiring and still able to speak and act with decency and intelligence is FAR more important to boxing than parading out the liks of holyfield(retarded man), tyson (black eye man), or the sad legacy of bowe(kidnap the wife/kids with a knife man).

 

and...Rocky Marciano retired with the title. His last fight was a come from behind stoppage of Archie Moore. Was he a pussy???

 

Ok, I was in due haste to your response and maybe I should correct myself. I don't think he's a pussy, per se, but that's not how it should be done. But that's just me.

 

I understand that him going out for those reasons and I mean, I'm totally fine with that. I just don't want anyone calling his legacy great if he lets his last match was where he gets whipped, has a stoppaged called, and then after waiting almost six months later to announce that "No, I'm not having a rematch" yet sort of go "Well, maybe". To me, that just isn't right and doesn't make you look like a great fighter or have a great legacy at all. A legacy yes. Great, no.

 

But that is more due to the fact that this is apart of who I am. If I have a 'match' with someone (not boxing, but you get what I mean) and I win, but pretty much get owned, I have a rematch to prove that I wasn't going to get my ass whipped if I hadn't caught a couple of breaks. It was just one of those things that became a part of myself when I grew up.

 

BTW, I'm not familiar with the Rocky Marciano and Archie Moore fight or post-match so I can't really comment. I just don't follow boxing as often as every other sport (due to I can't ever get PPV). Add in only 20 years of age for myself, and my boxing credentials are on thin ice due to my parents not being fans (hence no watching if ever). So please excuse a guy who just speaks his mind on a subject.

 

But a guy that commits rape and bites people's ears off is worthy of respect? I can't believe America still jerks off over Tyson. Lewis'  only crime is not giving Klitchko a rematch and being an arrogant prick.

Yeah, god damn he's a pussy because he didn't want to spend his post boxing years as a punch drunk vegetable like Ali.

 

Never ever quote two people and make it seem like both people speak the same thing. I don't apprecitate you sticking words in my mouth like "I jerk off to Tyson", because I never liked Tyson.

 

As I said previous, it is a personal reason that I don't care for Lewis and I don't respect him. I replied in due haste that made my post a little harsher than I had planned.

 

I understand about the veggi state thing, but from who I became, I can't stand someone backing out of what should be. I say should, because it will now never happen.

 

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

But who did Rocky have left to fight?  Besides, with his style, he couldn't keep fighting forever.

Moore again, Floyd Patterson, Sonny Liston, Eddie Machen, maybe a Ruiz-level guy like Tom McNeely.

Patterson and Liston weren't top contenders at that point in 1955. Patterson was competing at light heavyweight, and I have no reason to think Marciano wouldn't have beat him anyway. Eddie Machen debuted in 1955. And there was no point in giving Moore a rematch.

the next fight for the heavy title was....Floyd vs. Archie. Floyd won.

 

Marciano nearly came out of retirement for Liston, but thankfully didnt.

 

Another he could have fought - Joey Maxim.

 

point - a fighter cant fight everyone, Lennox deserves a nice retirement.

The difference is that Rocky didn't have a big fight looking him right in the face.

 

Its hard to fault Lewis, as ultimately this is the smart decision for him. But for fans of boxing, this is the worst possible scenario.