By Mike Indri
Retired Boxers Foundation
(NJ State representative)
June 21, 2003

Los Angeles, Ca. - Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis managed to retain his title with a 6th round TKO victory over #1 ranked contender, Vitali Klitschko. Lewis was trailing on all three judges scorecards, 58-56, when referee Lou Moret - on the advice of ringside physician Dr. Paul Wallace - stopped the fight due to severe cuts over Klitschko's left eye.

It was Klitschko who started the fight aggressive. Landing a big right hand, which slowed Lewis down, "Dr. Ironfist" kept up the pressure against the sluggish champ-much to the surprise of the 12,000 plus fans in attendance at the Staples Center.

Round 2 saw both Super Heavyweights trade power shots before Klitschko landed another big right hand, which stunned Lewis. Many more of Klitschko's heavy punches hurt Lewis and the champ wobbled back to his corner bruised and battered.

A confident Vitali Klitschko opens Round 3 landing shots with both hands against a stunned Lewis. Lewis fights back and a big right hand of his own opens a cut above Klitschko's left eye. In between rounds cutman Joe Souza works feverishly on the cut as the ring doctor takes a look. The champion sensing his opportunity looks to jab and hammer away at Klitschko's left eye. Lewis appears exhausted but digs down deep and forges ahead, establishing his jab and doing more damage to that eye.

Lewis begins Round 5 with two big uppercuts against a bleeding Klitschko. Vitali answers right back with numerous shots of his own. Lewis is tired and open mouthed, at 256 ½ lbs. - his heaviest fighting weight ever - it's obvious that Lewis took his opponent lightly and didn't come into this fight in proper condition or good shape. Klitschko's biggest threat now doesn't seem to be Lewis, it's the ring doctor who again looks in on him as the bell sounds ending the round.

Round 6 begins with Klitschko firing a strong right hand as Lewis answers with a big right uppercut. Klitschko is now bleeding profusely from the cuts on his left eye and also appears to have a bad cut in his mouth as well. Lewis can hardly move and looks exhausted yet this champion continues to jab away at his target.

The capacity crowd jumps to its feet and belts out a chorus of "boos" as referee Lou Moret leaves Klitschko's corner waving his hands in the air - signifying the fight is over! Klitschko is furious and needs to be restrained while Lewis is relieved and now has his sights fixed on Roy Jones. Klitschko states "I want a rematch, I want to show everyone I can beat Lewis."

During this exciting, tough battle Lennox Lewis was hurt on numerous occasions and physically exhausted, yet never gave up. He is a true champion and a winner. Vitali Klitschko's consolation is that while he lost the fight he won over the boxing public. The sell-out crowd and the millions of HBO viewers saw Klitscko fight like a warrior, and in the process shed his "no-heart" label which has plagued him since his loss to Chris Byrd in April of 2000.

With this victory Lewis improves his stellar professional record to 41-2-1 (32 KO's) while Klitschko slips to 32-2, with 31 KO's. Not since 1958 has Los Angeles hosted a Heavyweight Championship fight (Floyd Patterson TKO'd Roy Harris), the city of angels waited 45 years, but tonight Gary Shaw's Lion Promotions brought them a Heavyweight classic worth remembering.