Boxing: Klitschko's cut results in downfall for heavyweight crown

It was a 3" by 1/2" gash, unofficial, not CompuBox numbers, on Vitali Klitschko's left eye that ended his upset bid of Lennox Lewis for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.

The fight was halted in the sixth round by ringside doctor Paul Wallace who determined that the condition of the Ukrainian Klitschko's eye was far too bad for him to continue the fight.

So, a TKO victory for Lewis, a lucky victory indeed for a fighter who showed up looking out of shape, ill prepared and who also trailed on three ringside judges scorecards at the end of the fight.

Lewis was supposed to fight mandatory number one challenger Canadian Kirk Johnson, but Johnson withdrew for the fight with a shoulder injury weeks before they were supposed to square-off. Lewis then settled for Klitschko, a matchup that he definitely underestimated.

Prior to the fight, Klitschko was laughed and scoffed at by many boxing experts because he quit in a fight with two rounds to go versus Chris Byrd due to a hand injury. The Byrd fight had been the toughest fight in his career until the Lewis bout. That and his younger brother, Wladimir, who seemed to be on a faster track towards a heavyweight title than his older brother, but was knocked out by South African Corrie Sanders last month. So, his motivation was definitely to save family pride in this bout.

Lewis was staggered by Klitschko from the second round on. The 6'7" challenger's reach in the ferocity of the second round had Lewis teetering like a drunk during Mardi Gras. But, Lewis was able to return enough hard rights to avoid getting knocked out in the round.

The next round would be costly for Klitschko, as a Lewis right hand would rip apart the skin just above the eye. During the round, it looked to just be a heavily bleeding cut. But, for anyone watching the fight on HBO, after the third round, the camera in Klitschko's corner showed that his eye was burgeoning red sea.

Klitschko's corner delayed the fight between rounds to work on the cut until the fight was halted in the sixth. Dr. Wallace said that Klitschko couldn't see straight ahead when he examined him and that it was not the blood necessarily that resulted in his decision to halt the fight in the sixth.

Lewis said he had a hard time because of Klitschko's European style and the mere two weeks he had to prepare for it. However, Lewis is also European, claiming England as his homeland. Plus, he has fought numerous other European in his career. So, the usually honest and poignant Lewis did not want to give Klitschko the credit he deserved for leading on all scorecards. In his two losses versus Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman, he admitted to being outboxed.

This was bravado, unforeseen by one of the classiest athletes in the world. A post-fight fight by the two fighters and there entourages didn't paint a pretty picture either.

Lewis felt that he would eventually knock out Klitschko had the fight continued. This is something that might have happened due to Klitschko's eye, but had his eye not become a gusher of blood, the fight probably would've resulted in decision to Klitschko.

Both fighters were deservedly tired, more so Lewis, but Klitschko was landing more punches. Klitschko landed 116 of his 346 to Lewis' 85 of 181. However, those extra punches seemingly got weaker as the fight grew on. Lewis left himself wide open to be tagged, but Klitschko landed hard jabs, but didn't seem to want to throw any over hand punches to knock the champion out.

Klitschko has now won over skeptics and a rematch is imminent, but Lewis has many other options other than a rematch. This fight might have been a farewell fight for Lewis had it not resulted the way it did. He also can fight Roy Jones Jr. or Mike Tyson for amounts of cash so large that he could swim in them like Scrooge McDuck.

For Klitschko, whom they call "Dr. Iron Fist" because he has a Ph.D., he now has to wait for the skin above his left eye to regenerate before he thinks of a rematch or fighting anyone else.

A possible rematch with Byrd, a fight with Johnson, Evander Holyfield, David Ruiz, Corrie Sanders, or if hell were to freeze over, his brother, are likely options if he can't have a rematch with Lewis in the near future.

But for now, boxing fans can all rejoice cause there is now parody and competition at the top of the heavyweight class.