Lennox denied

[forcefraser]

I have been watching a fair bit of Lewis's career recently. Can't helping thinking that was an early stoppage against McCall.

He was the Champion.

[Covfefe]

There are refs that wouldn't have stopped him, but he was definitely badly hurt.

[stujones]

It always reminds me of Khan vs Prescott - first KD, he beat the 10 seconds no problems.... probably got up too fast, but he legs were gone. Perhaps not as bad as the Khan KD, but look at his legs dip when he protests.

Personally always thought it was spot on... yes, perhaps it should have gone on a bit longer - but I fear Lennox could have been seriously injured had he continued.

In terms of controversial stoppages (either two long or two short) - it is probably bang in the middle between Khan vs Prescott (one shot too many) and Groves vs Froch (too soon).... so for me spot on.

Edit - Infact - after the standing 8 count Lewis is clearly in no position to defend himself.... he is all over the place, practically leaning on the ref to keep himself upright.... there is NO WAY that fight could continue. Seeing it again for the first time in a while - he was as bad as Khan was vs Prescott the first time.... worse in fact.

[Covfefe]

It always reminds me of Khan vs Prescott - first KD, he beat the 10 seconds no problems.... probably got up too fast, but he legs were gone. Perhaps not as bad as the Khan KD, but look at his legs dip when he protests.

Personally always thought it was spot on... yes, perhaps it should have gone on a bit longer - but I fear Lennox could have been seriously injured had he continued.

In terms of controversial stoppages (either two long or two short) - it is probably bang in the middle between Khan vs Prescott (one shot too many) and Groves vs Froch (too soon).... so for me spot on.

Edit - Infact - after the standing 8 count Lewis is clearly in no position to defend himself.... he is all over the place, practically leaning on the ref to keep himself upright.... there is NO WAY that fight could continue. Seeing it again for the first time in a while - he was as bad as Khan was vs Prescott the first time.... worse in fact.

An arguable stoppage, though I have issues with it, and a win in the return is much better for his career than what would probably have been a definitive KO had he continued.

[stujones]

It always reminds me of Khan vs Prescott - first KD, he beat the 10 seconds no problems.... probably got up too fast, but he legs were gone. Perhaps not as bad as the Khan KD, but look at his legs dip when he protests.

Personally always thought it was spot on... yes, perhaps it should have gone on a bit longer - but I fear Lennox could have been seriously injured had he continued.

In terms of controversial stoppages (either two long or two short) - it is probably bang in the middle between Khan vs Prescott (one shot too many) and Groves vs Froch (too soon).... so for me spot on.

Edit - Infact - after the standing 8 count Lewis is clearly in no position to defend himself.... he is all over the place, practically leaning on the ref to keep himself upright.... there is NO WAY that fight could continue. Seeing it again for the first time in a while - he was as bad as Khan was vs Prescott the first time.... worse in fact.

An arguable stoppage, though I have issues with it, and a win in the return is much better for his career than what would probably have been a definitive KO had he continued.

There is no way Lennox is in a position to defend himself 10 seconds after he is down. He is staggering all over the place with his hands down after 10 seconds. I actually used to think Khan was more badly hurt in the first KD vs Prescott, but viewing it again - he was more ready to continue after 10 seconds than Lewis was.

Ref had no choice, absolutely none viewing it again. It was over 10 seconds after the KD and Lewis was in such a state he could have been on the floor for his "position to defend himself".

Viewing it again, I think there is actually more of a case to say should Daniel van Der Weile allowed Lewis those extra 2 seconds to see if he would have risen and got in a position to defend himself against Rahman. Van Der Weilse waved it off after 8 second as Lewis was trying to rise.

In reality Van Der Wiele got it spot on (as there was no way he would have in 2 seconds), as I feel did so did the ref vs McCall (as Lewis was in no position to defend himself). I didn't realise how long he gave Lewis to try to get himself back into fighting stance and Lewis' legs were just constantly disaobeying him. Eyes were clear, legs weren't.

[jessica91]

We've seen boxers in far worse condition come back to win. But most of the time they continue and suffer more damage. But if given the chance to get up and win like Larry Holmes did on numerous occasions, then it would have added to his legacy. He showed good powers of recovery in the Briggs fight, so it's not out of the question.

[Noxy]

I've seen worse stoppages that that one. I thought it was a fair call.

[gilgamesh]

I didn't think it was too bad. He was stumbling, and when the referee stops it, and Lennox holds his arms out in disgust like giving one of those "What the hell!" kinda looks. He's still stumbling

[Tuan_Jim]

His legs are giving in even as he's protesting the decision. If the referee hadn't been holding him up he'd have been down again from the same shot, Tyson/Berbick style.

Glyn Leach at ringside said it was a correct stoppage, a view which was apparently unanimous in the press row.

McCall could really punch, he beat Lewis fair and square.

[Jackson328]

I felt similarly at the time and also whilst watching some old boxing vids on youtube recently but it was probably due to Lennox holding his arms outstretched and complaining to the ref that he was ok to continue. His legs were rubbery and his eyes glazed just like they were after the Rahman ko too so good stoppages both times I think, although it would not have surprised me had he been allowed to carry on if he had won both fights eventually, he was that good. Ultimately it looks arguably as good on his resume that he avenged both career losses without any fuss in the rematches, it seems no heavyweight highlight reel is complete without that thunderbolt right hand he chopped down Rahman with!

[gilgamesh]

I felt similarly at the time and also whilst watching some old boxing vids on youtube recently but it was probably due to Lennox holding his arms outstretched and complaining to the ref that he was ok to continue. His legs were rubbery and his eyes glazed just like they were after the Rahman ko too so good stoppages both times I think, although it would not have surprised me had he been allowed to carry on if he had won both fights eventually, he was that good. Ultimately it looks arguably as good on his resume that he avenged both career losses without any fuss in the rematches, it seems no heavyweight highlight reel is complete without that thunderbolt right hand he chopped down Rahman with!

There was no question at all about the Rahman finish. I don't think Lennox even beat the count on that one.

Returned the favor though. When he dropped Rahman in the rematch, Rahman stands up at like 8 or 9, and then falls right back down

[Tony1244]

Just watched it - again.

Fight stopped way too early. McCall probably would have won by KO, but LL deserved more of a chance than that.

[jessica91]

It's such fine margins. If the ref sees Larry Holmes try and get up and faceplant the corner of the ring against Snipes he could easily have stopped it. Then Holmes goes from being 3-5 on the heavyweight all time list, to that guy that was stopped by Renaldo Snipes and doesn't trouble anyones top 10.

Although the loss to McCall arguably made Lewis a better fighter.

[asdfjkl]

Lennox could do whatever he wanted, he simply couldn't KO McCall, even when McCall didn't fight back at all for several rounds in a row.

[handsofstone]

Ive heard people including Lewis of course mention it was a premature stoppage, I thought there was no doubt the ref made the right call, Lewis's legs were gone

[Taansend]

I've always felt it was an early stoppage but not outrageously so.

[handsofstone]

I've always felt it was an early stoppage but not outrageously so.

Khan was a lot more hurt after the 1st KD of the Prescott fight, both I thought should've been stopped

[Nightmare Roy]

I'm a big Lewis fan, but he was fcuked there, good stoppage

[ewenhay]

I've seen many given a chance to go on in that condition especially if they're the home fighter but it normally ends in a quick defeat. I think it was the right call, can't have much complaint.

[Coco]

I have been watching a fair bit of Lewis's career recently. Can't helping thinking that was an early stoppage against McCall.

He was the Champion.

McCall was crying! He deserved to be stopped champion or not

[boxingknockout]

It's such fine margins. If the ref sees Larry Holmes try and get up and faceplant the corner of the ring against Snipes he could easily have stopped it. Then Holmes goes from being 3-5 on the heavyweight all time list, to that guy that was stopped by Renaldo Snipes and doesn't trouble anyones top 10.

Although the loss to McCall arguably made Lewis a better fighter.

That's a great point

[tobyh5]

I was in the venue and thought it was spot on. Lewis was knocked bandy and when he got up, was all over the place which I never feel the TV clips show properly as it does not show his whole body and the whole picture which when viewed live, painted a slightly different picture. He was wobbling like feck when it was waved off and stumbled straight after and was not walking too well on his way out of the ring and he had to come right by us to get to the changing rooms. To me, he was heavily concussed looking, certainly his balance seemed heavily affected.