Boxing

Lewis Escapes with Title with Sixth Round TKO over Klitschko


Photo © NAOKI FUKUDA

By Kent Appel

22.06 - Vitali Klitschko, of Los Angeles, California by way of Hamburg, Germany and Kiev, Ukraine, came to the Los Angeles Staples Center a somewhat unknown commodity here in the United States and despite losing the fight against heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis of London, England by way of TKO at the end of the sixth round because of a severe eye cut over his left eye, he won the hearts of many of the fans in attendance as well as those watching on nationwide HBO television with his valiant effort to wrest the title from Lewis' hands.

The fight, a Lion Promotions production in association with Universum Promotions, took place on Saturday, June 21, 2003 instead of Lewis' proposed match up with Kirk Johnson of Canada that was canceled due to an injury in training suffered by Johnson.

Klitschko, 248 pounds, was leading on all three judges' scorecards at the end of six rounds by identical scorecards of 58 to 56, four rounds for Klitschko and two rounds for Lewis, 256 ½ pounds, but referee Lou Moret stopped the contest at this point on the advice of ringside doctor Paul Wallace due to the severity of the cut, actually one of two cuts around Klitschko’s left eye, the second one being below his eye. It was a necessary but unfortunate stoppage as the one cut in question was in a dangerous spot above the fighter's eye, which can hamper his ability to see punches coming. The cut, which had been caused by a Lewis right hand, had been flowing off and on since the third round but continuously so in the fifth and sixth rounds. Klitschko's corner, despite fine efforts to stem its flow, was unable to do so.

I saw the fight by the score of 58 to 57 for Klitschko after six rounds, three rounds for Klitschko, two rounds for Lewis, and one round even. The fight was close and Lewis' title was in danger of changing hands because of Klitschko's effective use of the right had throughout and Lewis' seemingly unwillingness or inability to fight in anything more than spurts. Maybe it was because Lewis had some ring rust after a year outside of the ring or maybe it was because father time has finally began to take its toll on yet another great champion. It also could have been because Lewis was at least six pounds above his best fighting weight. But for whatever reason, Lewis was just not as sharp as usual and he may have been ready to be taken, if not for the cut.

The fight started out as a sloppy effort with a lot of holding for much of the opening round with Klitschko having a slight edge on the basis of two hard right hands at the midpoint of the round and a good right hand near the end of the round. Lewis for his part began to find the range with his left jab late in the round and also by landing a hard right uppercut near round's end.

The action picked up in the second round with Klitschko scoring effectively with rights and lefts early in the round and with effective use of the right hand lead that stunned Lewis in the middle of the round. Lewis stormed back with a hard left jab with about a minute left in the round and the two fighters exchanged hard punches at the end of the round with Klitschko getting the better of the exchanges. Lewis returned to his corner on somewhat unsteady feet.

Lewis started the third round with a hard left/right combination and he opened up a cut above Klitschko's left eye by landing a right hand at about the thirty-second mark of the round. Lewis' jab continued to find the mark in the rest of the round but Klitschko landed some hard combinations of this own as the two traded power punches late in the round. It was Lewis' round as he got the better of the exchanges.

The action slowed up somewhat in round number four, particularly in the second half of the round, and neither fighter had a clear edge. Both exchanged power shots early in the round with the advantage going to Lewis, while Klitschko had the advantage in the second half of the round by scoring with the right hand lead. The cut above Klitschko's left eye seemed to be under control at this point.

Round five belonged to Klitschko on the basis of landing more punches throughout the round including, good right hands and good combinations in the middle and at the end of the round. Lewis scored well with right uppercuts and a good left hook early in the round and he scored with hard right hands late in the round. Klitschko won the round but Lewis landed enough to again start the flow of blood from the cut above Klitschko's left eye.

The sixth round started with some right leads and left hands by Klitschko but his momentum was slowed by a hard right uppercut early in the round by Lewis and a hard left hook by Lewis at mid round. Lewis was busier this round and the blood flowed from Klitschko's cut and I gave the nod to Lewis. The score of the fight would prove to be academic as it was after this sixth round that the fight was stopped and the win awarded to Lewis. With the win, Lewis, improves his record to 41-2-1, 32 by knockout while Klistchko falls to 32-2, 31 by knockout.

What is next for these two fighters? Since there was some doubt as to who the eventual winner would have been had the cut not occurred, there should be a rematch as soon as possible. Lewis may want to take on other challenges such as WBA heavyweight champion Roy Jones Junior but until he proves he can clearly defeat Vitali Klitschko, such fights should be put on hold.

Vitali Klitschko sure put to rest any doubts about his heart against Lewis that people may have had when he was unable to continue in his only other loss to Chris Byrd in 2000 due to a shoulder injury. I look forward to a rematch against Lewis as soon as his cut has healed and the ink has dried on the contracts.

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