Lewis vs. Klitschko

HBO Championship Boxing

This Saturday nights fight between WBC Champion Lennox Lewis (40-2-1, 31 KO’s) and number one

contender Vitali Klitschko (32-1, 31 KO’s) on HBO brings back memories of  the “Marvelous” Marvin

Hagler vs. John “The Beast” Mugabi fight that took place back in March of 1986. 

Mugabi came into the championship middleweight bout undefeated at 25-0 with an impressive 25 knock

outs and ranked number one by all three organizations at the time. 

Hagler, the reigning middleweight champion, was coming off a huge three round knock out of Tommy

Hearns and had a record of 61-2-2, 52 KO’s. 

See any similarities?

If Klitschko (not to be confused with his brother Wladimir, also a heavyweight boxer) had not torn his

rotator cuff during his fight with Chris Byrd and forced to retire in the ninth round, he would probably still be

undefeated, especially since Klitschko was ahead on all the judges’ scorecards.

Mugabi, though, hadn’t fought anyone of substance at the time and that was the knock on him. Eventually,

the class of Hagler showed and Mugabi was stopped in the 11^th round.

And I’ve heard similar ramblings about Klitschko’s opponents just like Mugabi’s. But if you think I’m about

to say the Klitschko, a late substitution for Kirk Johnson (34-1-1, 25 KO's), is going to lose, you’re wrong. 

The knock I have on Lennox Lewis is what I call the Evander Holyfeld syndrome. Please, no e-mails that

state I hate Holyfield. Holyfield is one of my favorite fighters of all time but it seems to me that he always

fights at his opponents skill level. Holyfield was the best boxer/puncher I ever saw when he decided to let

himself be himself. But the problem was that when he fought a boxer, all he did was box. When he fought a

puncher, then all he did was go head hunting - i.e. Riddick Bowe fights number one and three.  If Holyfield

would have just stuck to what he knows, rather than playing into his opponents game, he would probably be

undefeated. The same goes for Lewis.

I know, I know - would’a, could’a, should’a, but didn’t.

So I’m wondering which Lewis will show up. The boxer/puncher Lewis that knocked out Mike Tyson (his

last fight) or the complacent Lewis that fought Hasim Rahman (the first bout where Lewis was knocked

out).

Will the fight end in a boring 12 round decision that no doubt, Lewis will win or it will end in a knock out?

My predication – Both men will be looking to land the one hay maker at first but I think somewhere between

rounds two and four, both will settle down and box. My guess is that Lewis will probably establish the jab

first because of his speed advantage and will have the advantage through out the opening rounds. But I think

this is where Lewis will start to revert to the Holyfield syndrome. Lewis can definitely box and punch but

when he decides to revert only to one, he’s not that impressive and he gets careless. Klitschko’s last three

fights have gone past 10 rounds so I think he’ll settle in for the long haul.  So Lewis will choose to box and

box only. He’ll get complacent and drop his hands and BAM!  Lewis goes down and he's out. He gets

caught just like he did with Hasim Rahman and Oliver McCall.

I see the end coming betweens round seven and nine. It will be called an upset but it will be much more

than that because it will put an end to the rumors that have Lewis fighting the WBA champ for a huge, huge

payday. 

Who is the WBA heavyweight champion you ask? 

None other than former undisputed middleweight champion, light heavyweight champion Roy Jones jr. 

And while I would like to see Lewis win, there's something about this fight that just bothers me.  And when 

I get that feeling, usually the fighter I want to win, loses.

That’s my two cents,

Steve

(6/20/03)