BRAMA, Jun 22, 2003, 9:00 am ET
Was He Robbed or Was He Saved?
— by Max Pyziur
File photo 12/10/02
Vitaly Klitschko
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The much watched ascension of the Klitschko brothers
in the boxing world moved up another notch on Saturday.
After rising to the top of the less-acclaimed World
Boxing Organization (WBO), Vitali Klitschko's next step
was to prove his worth contesting the heavyweight title
holder of World Boxing Association/World Boxing Council
(WBA/WBC) Heavyweight crown. That would be no one other
than Lennox Lewis.
Lewis, who a year ago having won decisively against Mike Tyson,
has waivered in accepting the challenge from the Klitschkos.
In one moment he is mulling retirement, in another he is
determined to continue his career believing in his ability
to be unvanquished. In one instance a tentative fight
date is set, in another all bets are off - Lewis deeming the
Klitschkos as unworthy of a contest. Would it be Volodymyr
entering the ring or would it be Vitali?
Finally, after delays and scheduling changes Vitali Klitschko
got the chance to prove his mettle. Because of an injury
to Canada's Kirk Johnson, Lewis's scheduled opponent,
Vitali, at that time slated for one of the opening matches of
the evening, was rebooked to take on the defending champion.
Though not generating the buzz of the Lewis-Tyson contest,
boxing fans nevertheless approached this fight with excitement.
Just prior to the start cameras focused on arriving celebrities
(Sylvester Stallone, Magic Johnson, Rick Fox and David Duchovny
among others) and cheering spectators waving flags in the stands
(one poor rendition of a Union Jack and three full fledged Blue-and-Golds)
Even HBO's veteran boxing analyst Larry Merchant invoked his
Ukrainian ancestry to stir the mix.
With the opening bell it was clear that
this would not be a high speed ballet of gladiators. Rather,
it would be one which exhibited Vitali's pedantry and stoic
determination working against Lennox's less-than-great preparedness
exhibited by his grimly but staggering persistence. Lewis never got
to land his legendary high speed right, while Vitali stuck to his
strategy of taking the fight into the late rounds
and wearing Lennox down along the way solidly connecting.
Scheduled to go twelve rounds the fight was stopped after six on
an anti-climactic note. Vitali had won four of the rounds and
was leading in points cast by all three judges decisively landing his
punches and progressively weakening his opponent. However, in the
third round Lennox had opened a cut above Vitali's left eye which
worsened in the subsequent ones. Court physicians examined
Vitali at each break and at the end of six deemed that the injury
was too great for the fight to continue, consequently giving the
decision to Lennox.
In disbelief on hearing the news Vitali jumped out of his corner. He
beat his heart and raised his arm to the crowds earning him their
cheers. In the end Vitali Klitschko got respect from the boxing analysts
and journalists, the affection of the fans, and less trauma to
his left eye, but Lennox Lewis got to keep his title.
Talk of a rematch is in the works.
Slava Sprotsmenam Ukrayiny!
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