is Lennox Lewis overrated on boxing forums

[LacedUp]

Cowardize is a bit harsh and he is not the only one being stripped for failing to fullfill mandatory obligations. It happened to L. Spinks as well.

Well Ruiz wasn't even the mandatory! Akinwande was. How is that just getting slipped under the carpet?

[joseph5620]

Yes. Let's forget that Lewis actually went to court with the WBA because he had already signed to fight Grant who HBO wanted him to fight.

He was more than happy to fight Ruiz after the Grant fight (when WBA came up with a mysterious mandatory), but Ruiz didn't want Lewis - he wanted a belt.

With regards to Byrd, it's common knowledge that Don King paid Lewis step aside money.

Once again, the thought of Lewis ducking the likes of Ruiz and Byrd to fight guys like Tyson or Grant or Klitschko is just ridiculous.

THEY ducked Lewis (Don King), not the other way around. King knew Lewis would smack those guys around like ragdolls, and safely kept his "champions" away from him (byrd) or wanted to get his fighter (holyfield) to fight for a vacant title against Ruiz.

That's exactly how I remember it.

[joeandthebums]

Lewis is the only champion in boxing history to be stripped for cowardice. "FACT"

I wouldn't label a professional boxer a coward... boxers, even champions in the majority of cases have very little say in their opponents - and those that do will always go for the most money least risk.

I doubt Lewis would have been stripped in the manner he was if he fought in a previous age.

[LacedUp]

And also Sonny, wasn't Tyson stripped in 1996 or so for refusing to fight Lennox?

Guess he wasn't the only coward.

[BattlingNelson]

Not really.

So? It's not like Valuev was special either. Chagaev was dead average at his absolute peak. Klitschko has plenty of better wins.

Call it what you want. He took Valuev's zero. I don't really care about your 'dead average' opinions.

[LacedUp]

Call it what you want. He took Valuev's zero. I don't really care about your 'dead average' opinions.

But he literally was dead average. Which was shown all the way through his career where he fought journeymen 95% of the time and never looked impressive.

[BattlingNelson]

Well Ruiz wasn't even the mandatory! Akinwande was. How is that just getting slipped under the carpet?

Here it says that Lewis was stripped because he failed to fullfill his mandatory obligations:

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/WB...eight_Champion

[joeandthebums]

Well Ruiz wasn't even the mandatory! Akinwande was. How is that just getting slipped under the carpet?

From older post --

Lewis had issues with the WBA because he initially signed to fight Michael Grant, not Henry Akinwande the #1 contender.

Akinwande who was suffering from hepatitis, was replaced at #1 by Ruiz (both were Don King promoted fighters.)

The WBA threatened to strip Lewis, but decided against it as long as Lewis agreed to meet Ruiz after the Grant contest.

King however had different ideas and took Lewis to court as he had Lewis' signature on a contract which stated he would defend his title against the #1 WBA contender.

The court ruled in favour of King and that Lewis could not fight Grant unless he vacated his WBA title.

[LacedUp]

Here it says that Lewis was stripped because he failed to fullfill his mandatory obligations:

http://boxrec.com/media/index.php/WB...eight_Champion

Look at the initial court proceedings I posted. Akinwande was the mandatory when Lewis signed to face grant. Suddenly it was Ruiz.

I'm not saying King had anything to do with this mysterious mandatory, but the again, that's exactly what I'm saying.

[beez721]

Call it what you want. He took Valuev's zero. I don't really care about your 'dead average' opinions.

chageav was an outstanding amateur fighter and looked like a good pro until he contacted that hep c. seems like after that he went downhill. maybe it was just a coincidence but he really regressed after the valuev and ruiz victories and went even further downhill after the wlad beating. good fundamentals and strong chin but lacked speed and big power