Comments Thread For: Lennox Lewis recalls his Rumble in the Jungle inspiration

[BoxingUpdates]

Heavyweight great Lennox Lewis was so inspired by the Rumble in the Jungle, he went about his own way trying to emulate it. Muhammad Ali famously toppled the previously-indestructible George Foreman in Zaire, Africa, 50 years ago today.
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[BrankoB]

One think that I really appreciated about Lennox was that he avenged his KO losses - he was not scared to fight McCall and Rahman again, came prepared the second time and won convincingly. He also knew when to retire. He avoided Vitali for a while and when he finally met him in the ring he knew he had finally met his physical match. He was lucky to get the fight stopped on cuts and he was wise to retire and not rematch Vitali because that would have ended his career badly.

[Cyborg Fangerloo]

One think that I really appreciated about Lennox was that he avenged his KO losses - he was not scared to fight McCall and Rahman again, came prepared the second time and won convincingly. He also knew when to retire. He avoided Vitali for a while and when he finally met him in the ring he knew he had finally met his physical match. He was lucky to get the fight stopped on cuts and he was wise to retire and not rematch Vitali because that would have ended his career badly.

There are two fights that I can recall where I simply feel like I am taking crazy pills when I hear others talk about them. The first is anyone thinking that Canelo beat GGG in the first. I was absolutely dumbfounded. The second was anyone who thinks anything other than what you said about Lewis and Vitali. Lewis has an absolutely legendary résumé and should be respected amongst the greats, but Vitali owned him at the time of stoppage and I believe that Lewis wanted no part in that rematch. I firmly believe he knew he had no shot at knocking out Vitali and knew that winning on the cards in a rematch or somehow winning on blood would be a long shot.

[Liondw]

I don't think Foreman was great as an analyst and commentator, but for sure, probably the biggest puncher in heavyweight history.

[BrankoB]

There are two fights that I can recall where I simply feel like I am taking crazy pills when I hear others talk about them. The first is anyone thinking that Canelo beat GGG in the first. I was absolutely dumbfounded. The second was anyone who thinks anything other than what you said about Lewis and Vitali. Lewis has an absolutely legendary résumé and should be respected amongst the greats, but Vitali owned him at the time of stoppage and I believe that Lewis wanted no part in that rematch. I firmly believe he knew he had no shot at knocking out Vitali and knew that winning on the cards in a rematch or somehow winning on blood would be a long shot.

I agree with you on both fights. GGG beat Canelo clearly in the first fight and Vitali owned Lennox because Lennox could not hurt him but Vitali was hurting Lennox. If it wasn't for that nasty gash it was only a matter of time ...

[PRINCEKOOL]

There are two fights that I can recall where I simply feel like I am taking crazy pills when I hear others talk about them. The first is anyone thinking that Canelo beat GGG in the first. I was absolutely dumbfounded. The second was anyone who thinks anything other than what you said about Lewis and Vitali. Lewis has an absolutely legendary résumé and should be respected amongst the greats, but Vitali owned him at the time of stoppage and I believe that Lewis wanted no part in that rematch. I firmly believe he knew he had no shot at knocking out Vitali and knew that winning on the cards in a rematch or somehow winning on blood would be a long shot.

Lennox Lewis was 256 pounds vs Vitali Kiltschko 'Which was Lennox Lewis's career heaviest, now? A fighter's condition is not just a number, but when those statistics are accompanied by decreased athletic and boxing attributes, then this indicates that Lennox Lewis should of really been in better condition for this fight'.

The longer the fight continued, the more Lennox Lewis was turning the fight around 'And inflicting the most damage on Vitali Kiltschko'.

Lennox Lewis was not optimally prepared for his fight vs Vitali Kiltschko 'But he still found a way to win. Those factors really don't bode well for Kiltschko, if there would of ever been a rematch. Vitali Kiltschko had his opportunity, against a Lennox Lewis who had clearly been complacent and did not beat him'.

George Foreman during the HBO Commentary stated during the fight 'Lennox Lewis is just not in shape. He entered the fight, not in good shape'.

Jim Lampley stated that 'A complacent Lennox Lewis once again, but he is fighting his way into the fight'.

Those statements were both made during round 3, which was the round when Lennox Lewis started to inflict serious damage upon Vitali Kiltschko.

Note: After round 3, Vitali Kiltschko really never had Lennox Lewis seriously hurt 'Lewis was battling his own complacency, which was surfacing in the fight as fatigue. But while fighting through this fatigue he was still in my opinion, physically in terms of brute strength? The stronger fighter. All of Lewis's punches were physically moving Kiltschko, and inflicting damage'.

Lewis seemed to have a increased invulnerability to Kiltschko's power, which suggested the fight 'If it was allowed to continue, would of been a distance fight'.

I actually don't like World title fights, being stopped 'Especially when a fighter is still trying to win. I never agreed with the stoppage of Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury II. You should never pull a power puncher out of a fight, no matter how futile their efforts may seem. I understand from a compassionate perspective why Deontay Wilder was pulled out of his second fight with Tyson Fury'.

To conclude: But really? Once upon a time boxers used to fight under the 'London Prize Fighting rules 1838' which consisted of a potential unlimited number of rounds that could be fought during the fight.

During those fighting era's, fighters and people knew unequivocally who the victor of the fight was 'Because the only way a fighter could win and be declared, is if one opponent was unable ether get up off the deck and return to the centre scratch line of the ring.

Even when the 'Marquess Of Queensberry Rules 1867' were introduced into boxing, the most amount of rounds that a fight could last was 45 rounds 'Fighters would be fighting for a duration of over 2 hours potentially'.

Deontay Wilder as a modern day fighter 'Was still a fighter, competing under those old school fundamental rules. That is why he did not accept, the manner in which his second fight vs Tyson Fury concluded'.

And I suppose Vitali Kiltschko could of fought on vs Lennox Lewis. But at what consequence? Vitali Kiltschko had already acquired masses of credit for his efforts 'And how the fight was stopped, actually was the rebuilding of his legacy' etc.