WBC Countdown to #FuryWhyte Greatest Heavyweight Fights by OPUS: #LewisKlitshcko

An epic slugfest between aging WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis and former heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko.  Lennox had taken one year off after knocking out Mike Tyson, and the ring rust had leached deep into his thirty seven year old body.  He was supposed to fight Kirk Johnson, who pulled out due to a chest injury. So tall Vitali stepped in on short notice and gave Lennox the fight of his life, living up to his nickname of: “Dr Ironfist!” With his wide stance, Vitali dominated round one landing fast combinations. One minute forty-five seconds into round two, Vitali landed a power driving right to Lennox`s chin, wobbling him badly, and following up with cascade of punches. 

The nature of the fight changed in the first seconds of round three,  when Lennox connected with a long left jab and then landed a pinpoint corkscrew right on Vitali`s left eye, cutting the eyelid very, very badly.  Vitali fought on as if nothing had happened, but Lennox was now targeting the eye, which also had a nasty cut underneath it.  In round four they fell to the canvass together.  Thirty-seven-year-old Lennox who looked very tired, kept landing punches on the blooded eye. 

Thirty one year old Vitali never gave up. But after round six, Ring Doctor Paul Wallace, who´s a renowned plastic surgeon, advised Referee Lou Moret to stop the fight.  Dr Wallace said: “Vitali´s upper lid covered his field of vision. If he had to move his head to see me, there was no way he could defend himself against a punch. At the time of the stoppage Vitali was ahead on all the Judges´ scorecards. It needed sixty stitches to close that terrible wound. Lennox retired after this fight. 

In 2018 the World Boxing Council held its annual Convention in Kiev. Vitali who was and is the Mayor, greeted everyone, especially Lennox.  We currently live in troubled times. Vitali and Wladimir are now bravely helping to defend their country. Russia is at war with it. Tough times don`t last…tough people do!