Klitschko-Lewis: The aftermath.

By James McDonnell

23.06 - This fight said more to me about Lewis' waning powers, than it does about Vitali's attributes as a fighter. Not to take any credit away from Vitali, who made a believer of me in the ring, but he hardly reinvented the wheel against Lewis. He was still predictable to a large extent, and quite simply it was the fact that Lewis lacked sharpness to a marked extent, that allowed Vitali to execute his own gameplan.

This was a worrying fight for Lewis fans, and I think it showed that at his advanced age, and with the lack of activity in his late career, Lewis is on the slide.

Lewis used to be able to dictate the pace of a fight with his thudding jab, a shot which even on it's own was able to cut Mike Tyson's face to ribbons. On this occasion, his jab never really landed with enough regularity for him to establish a settled gameplan. Without the jab, Lewis looked distinctly ordinary, as he waded forward throwing looping and wild shots, looking amateurishly wild as he gambled on an all-out aggression strategy.

Lewis was caught with too many shots in this fight in those six rounds, against an opponent who whilst strong and technically proficient, was hardly a fantastic combination puncher, and who surely would have struggled to out-jab and out-land Lewis with such regularity a year or two ago.

What now for Lewis?

Well, personally, I can think of only two satisfactory options for Lewis at this stage of his career. Either fight Vitali in a rematch, or retire.

If he refuses to fight Vitali, he is going to damage his legacy, and add weight to those who argue that Lewis isn't an all-time great. To avoid the rematch and fight Jones, would do more harm than good, and there would always be a lingering doubt as to whether Lewis really was the boss of Vitali.

In a rematch, there are no certainties. There are arguments to be made on either side. Some might say that Lewis took Vitali too lightly, and that he will come in in better shape in a rematch. This is quite possible, I certainly think Lewis would have benefited from having more speed of hand and foot, and he could afford to come in up to a stone heavier, against a slightly lighter man.

However, we have to ask ourselves, whether at 37 after almost two decades in the sport, Lewis is simply unable to put his body through the rigorous training regime necessary to enable a naturally huge man to fight 12 fast paced rounds.

Lewis hasn't fought a 12 round fight since 1999, when he last fought Holyfield, and for an athlete in their late 30's four years can produce a marked deterioration.

If it was a case that he had not trained hard enough, why not? Is it really possible he hadn't learnt his lesson after the Rahman debacle, caused by just that lackadaisical attitude? Lewis' stamina appeared so poor that even his original opponent Kirk Johnson, for whom the much more dangerous Vitali was a late sub, would surely have fancied his chances. Anyone who could have lasted past 6 rounds on Saturday night would have had a chance, against a badly faded Lewis, who looked like a four round fighter at times.

It's hard to see how Lewis can regain the sharpness he once displayed, he simply doesn't fight often enough, and his last two fights were relatively easy workouts, against opposition Lewis knew he had the beating of.

The counter argument for me also, is that 2nd time around, Vitali may start far less cautiously. He had a lot of success in the first two rounds, and would presumably come in again in tip-top shape, armed with the knowledge that he can live with Lewis at this level.

The fact is, it's an unknown, and this is precisely why I think the rematch should be made. Klitschko acquitted himself well enough to suggest that a second fight, cuts although again being a factor, could produce an more satisfactory and clear cut result.

Certainly for Lewis, time is of the essence, and if he is to fight Klitschko again, it should be before the end of the year, Lewis would benefit from spending as little time out of training camp as possible before his next fight. The one major problem with this is of course that Klitschko is going to be out of action for a considerable length of time with the facial injuries he sustained. His cuts will most likely require plastic surgery, followed by several months of healing time. By the time Klistchko is back in full training, it will probably be early next year, and it's hard to see a fight happening before February next year.

At Lewis' age such a lengthy layoff again, would be dangerous, and it is this which makes me wonder whether retirement wouldn't be the best option in the scheme of things.

A victory over Jones does little to enhance Lewis' resume, and historically it will just prove the old adage that a good big one beats a good little one. Even worse, with the evident deterioration in Lewis' reflexes, one cannot discount the possibility, however slim, that Jones would win. Prior to the Klitschko fight, I would have balked at such a suggestion, and I still have serious misgivings about Jones' chances, but now I find it possible, if not probable.

Lewis could have great difficulty chasing a skittering Jones Jr around the ring for 12 rounds, and Jones would have the stamina to keep moving, and the handspeed to tag Lewis. It's a slim chance, but it is possible, if not probable.

A loss to Jones Jr would dent his legacy to an extent, though of course at the age of 37, Lewis has already defied the ravages of time longer than the likes of Ali, Holmes and Louis, who were no longer champions at that age.

Lewis certainly looked fallible Saturday night against Klitschko, and only a more emphatic victory over his opponent in a rematch can possible redeem his standing in the eyes of his critics, otherwise, retirement seems to be the only option which will allow him to bow out of the sport with his dignity if
not his legacy intact.