Lennox Lewis has defined why he retired after combating Vitali Klitschko.
Of their sole assembly, the bout was stopped on the finish of the sixth spherical after Lewis inflicted a deep reduce over Klitschko’s eye.
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The choice sparked debate, as many believed Klitschko was forward on the scorecards earlier than the stoppage occurred in 2003.
Followers by no means received to see them settle the rating in a rematch, as Lewis hung up his gloves after efficiently retaining his WBC, IBO and The Ring heavyweight titles in opposition to Klitschko.
His retirement marked the primary time since Rocky Marciano in 1956 {that a} boxer stepped away because the reigning heavyweight champion.
A courageous fan on social media dared to accuse Lewis of ducking a rematch in opposition to the Ukrainian icon.
It prompted Lewis to supply a clarification on his combating future on the time of his bout in opposition to Klitschko.
He mentioned: “Let me clear this up for you. Vitali was all the time presupposed to be my final battle, however it received moved up. I took it on 10 days’ discover. No champ has ever taken on a #1 contender on such brief discover.”
When Lewis retired, he held the excellence of being the final undisputed heavyweight champion, a title he solely relinquished in 2024 when Oleksandr Usyk defeated Tyson Fury.
Finally Lewis’ precedence turned his private objectives as an alternative of boxing as he felt the attraction of a balanced life outweighed one other battle.
He defined: “I appeared ahead to the second of beginning a household and no extra camps. I critically thought-about a rematch however, ultimately, determined to go along with the unique plan.”
He additionally acknowledged issues about his age, as he would have been 38 in a rematch had they fought in 2004, factored into his determination to retire.
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“Vitali went on to be an incredible champion in his personal proper. I used to be additionally conscious that Father Time was not in my nook,” he concluded.
What occurred to Vitali Klitschko after combating Lennox Lewis?
Following his loss to Lewis, Klitschko went on to win his subsequent 13 bouts.
In his retirement bout Klitschko swiftly beat German challenger Manuel Charr with a fourth-round stoppage in Moscow, with blood pouring from a reduce above his proper eye.
His last bout led to an analogous option to Lewis’ as each heavyweight greats inflicted their last opponents with a battle stopping reduce.
After the forty fifth win of his 47 battle profession, Klitschko then vacated his WBC heavyweight title to give attention to his political profession in his dwelling nation.
The previous heavyweight champion is now the mayor of Kyiv.