is Lennox Lewis overrated on boxing forums

[BattlingNelson]

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.

I think the bottom line is that Lewis was stripped for failing to meet his mandatory right?

[LacedUp]

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.

As I said.

The thought of Lewis ducking Ruiz to fight grant is the same as Wlad ducking Steve Cunningham to fight Deontay Wilder.

Imagine if we 15 years from now would have to defend that decision for guys who didn't even follow boxing now

[LacedUp]

I think the bottom line is that Lewis was stripped for failing to meet his mandatory right?

Yes.

But he agreed to fight him after Grant. But king didn't want his fighters to fight Lewis.

[beez721]

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.

really doesn't matter. anyone who thinks lewis would avoid ruiz out of fear of getting beaten up or losing are delusional. lewis didn't want an ugly mauling fight which is why he didn't take it and I commend him for it. instead he took on guys that could punch and make it more exciting a fight. lewis would have eventually got thru with a huge right hand and knocked ruiz out within 8 rounds

[BattlingNelson]

Yes.

But he agreed to fight him after Grant. But king didn't want his fighters to fight Lewis.

I see. Do you have a source for those two things?

[sonnyboyx2]

How does it show that when he was in court before Ruiz was even mandatory? And he fought Grant as that fight was universally recognized as 1000 times better than a Ruiz, Byrd and Akinwande fight put together. plus he was higher ranked.

You are reaching.

Didn't he give up the IBF to fight Tyson too?

Just imagine what you'd be saying if Lewis had actually fought Byrd instead of talking.

Anyways. As I said, you clearly don't know anything about the situation and your trolling is getting old.

No one wanted to see Lewis fight the exposed Grant, Every boxing fan worldwide wanted to see Lewis fight the No1 contenders. John Ruiz went on and beat Evander Holyfield. He even put Holyfield on the canvas, something Lewis never came near to doing in 24rds.. Chris Byrd went on to fight Evander Holyfield, beating him far easier than what Lennox Lewis could. He also beat David Tua far easier than what Lewis did. John Ruiz went on to be a two-time Champion, which gives thought to just why Lewis wanted nothing to do with him and his "Grappling-Hook" Style.. Michael Grant went on to be KOd four more times in his career never beating anyone of worth.

[sonnyboyx2]

really doesn't matter. anyone who thinks lewis would avoid ruiz out of fear of getting beaten up or losing are delusional. lewis didn't want an ugly mauling fight which is why he didn't take it and I commend him for it. instead he took on guys that could punch and make it more exciting a fight. lewis would have eventually got thru with a huge right hand and knocked ruiz out within 8 rounds

Only in your dreams, certainly not in reality

[sonnyboyx2]

As I said.

The thought of Lewis ducking Ruiz to fight grant is the same as Wlad ducking Steve Cunningham to fight Deontay Wilder.

Imagine if we 15 years from now would have to defend that decision for guys who didn't even follow boxing now

Maybe you could do your case the world of good, by explaining to us who Michael Grant had beaten to deserve a World Title fight?... Had he fought and won an elimination?.. had he decisively beaten any Ranked contenders?... Or maybe he was just "Hand-Picked" by Lewis for harmlessness. So Lewis could avoid the No1 contenders.

[joeandthebums]

who Michael Grant had beaten to deserve a World Title fight?... Had he fought and won an elimination?

Grant had defeated Golota in an WBC title eliminator contest.

Grant was also considered #3 behind only Lewis and Holyfield by the Ring Magazine at the time of the Lewis-Grant fight - Ruiz was not considered to be in the top ten by the same publication.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

At the time, ruiz was best known for being blasted out in 20 seconds vs tua..

King maneuvered him into rankings, and King probably thought he would be easy work for evander in a vacant title fight.. King didn't expect holyfield to be so shot that he struggled with ruiz, and King basically got stuck with ruiz as a champ instead of the much more profitable and older holyfield.. If Holyfield had anything left in the tank, he would have beaten ruiz comfortably, and King would have been in position in 2001-02 to have titlist evander cash out in some lucrative fights like tyson 3, lennox 3, roy jones, etc..
But that never materialized since evander couldn't get past ruiz, and King was forced to ride the ruiz train...