Not long now...

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 19 Jan 2004, 12:37

The WBC have given Lennox Lewis till the end of this month to decide whether he fights Vitali Klitschko again or not. If not, he'll be stripped. My tip? He will return...but against someone easier than Klitschko. He wants to go out on a convincing win.
All the speculation will soon be answered.

knockout · Post by **knockout** » 19 Jan 2004, 12:38

what are the WBC rules??? does he have to face someone in their top 15???

1. Vitali Klitschko
2. Corrie Sanders
3. David Tua
4. Joe Mesi
5. Mike Tyson
6. Juan Carlos Gomez
7. Fres Oquendo
8. James Toney
9. Wladimir Klitschko
10. Lamon Brewster
11. Jamel McCline
12. Dominick Guinn
13. Faruq Saleem
14. Eliecer Castillo
15. Hasim Rahman

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 19 Jan 2004, 12:40

Really Lewis shouldn't have to face Klitchko because he beat him (as a mandatory) less than 12 months ago.

I agree with Bennie's tip and the fighter I think who will be in the opposite corner..... Baby Joe Mesi.

Loftgroov · Post by **Loftgroov** » 19 Jan 2004, 12:40

He has nobody to fight BUT Vitali though...

Who else?? Toney????? (mismatch)

EddieShredder · Post by **EddieShredder** » 19 Jan 2004, 12:42

stujones wrote:Really Lewis shouldn't have to face Klitchko because he beat him (as a mandatory) less than 12 months ago.

I agree with Bennie's tip and the fighter I think who will be in the opposite corner..... Baby Joe Mesi.

Not a bad tip. Mesi has been making a lot of noise calling out LL recently. He'd be gutted if his wish came true!!

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 19 Jan 2004, 12:42

Lewis must fight Klitschko again, plz KO klitschko :P :P

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 19 Jan 2004, 12:43

knockout wrote:what are the WBC rules??? does he have to face someone in their top 15???

1. Vitali Klitschko
2. Corrie Sanders
3. David Tua
4. Joe Mesi
5. Mike Tyson
6. Juan Carlos Gomez
7. Fres Oquendo
8. James Toney
9. Wladimir Klitschko
10. Lamon Brewster
11. Jamel McCline
12. Dominick Guinn
13. Faruq Saleem
14. Eliecer Castillo
15. Hasim Rahman

Not 100 per cent sure myself, but Dutch Windmill stated over the weekend that because Andre Thysse is ranked in the WBC top 15 he can challenge WBC super-middle champ Markus Beyer next month, so it must be what you say.
Mesi seems excessively high.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 19 Jan 2004, 12:43

knockout wrote:what are the WBC rules???

LOL! Excellent joke there knockout

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 19 Jan 2004, 12:43

Loftgroov, Lewis could always do a Barerra. He bloody shouldn't be forced into fighting Klitchko or be stripped. He beat him.

knockout · Post by **knockout** » 19 Jan 2004, 12:45

a) Voluntary Defense Obligations: All WBC recognized champions must defend their title at least three (3) times a year or twice, subject to the approval of the Board of Governors. The defenses must be against:

i) any of the top ten (10) rated contenders,
ii) a boxer rated from the No. 11 to 15 position, if special circumstances prevail and upon a majority vote of the Board of Governors;
iii) upon a 2/3 affirmative vote of the Board of Governors and subject to certification of unavailability of any contender rated in the first 15 positions, any boxer rated from 16 to 30 positions;
iv) Youth world champions, with the approval of 2/3 of the Board of Governors;
v) a champion or a rated boxer of another immediate lower or higher weight division, subject to the majority vote of the Board of Governors;
vi) a retired world champion or other boxer of great prestige, subject to a majority vote of the Board of Governors and after undergoing a complete physical examination acceptable to the WBC Medical Advisory Board.
vii) a champion of another boxing organization recognized by the WBC, may be authorized by a majority vote of the Board of Governors to contend for the WBC title in a voluntary defense.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 19 Jan 2004, 13:06

3 times a year! Who the bloody hell does that!

And yes, how can Lewis be ordered to fight Vitali again, there was no real controversy, seeing as the ringside doctor stopped it.

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 19 Jan 2004, 13:13

jamesmcdonnell wrote:3 times a year! Who the bloody hell does that!

And yes, how can Lewis be ordered to fight Vitali again, there was no real controversy, seeing as the ringside doctor stopped it.

Yes, Klitschko did a good job of turning an obvious defeat into a moral victory with his post-stoppage demonstration. He whipped up the non-boxing LA crowd (just a bunch of 'faces') and even Larry Merchant got caught up in it when he interviewed Lewis after the fight. Merchant was bang out of order with his tone of questioning IMO.