Sonnyboy's Lennox Lewis appreciation thread.

[sonnyboyx2]

I discovered Lennox as a kid back in 2000 from Mike Tyson's "Praise be to Allah" speech. I was curious about the children MTyson planned on eating and I nearly shat my pants when I saw it was a 6'6 boxer with dreads who beat Holyfield twice! Had Tyson gone mad?

Some people, Americans mostly, felt relief when Lennox lost to Rahman in 2001, and thought maybe Tyson had a shot. But when I saw Lennox avenge that defeat within a matter of months by devastating ko I knew Tyson was fahckD!

That's how events actually played out. Tyson vs Lewis was a heated and highly debated topic up until the opening bell. It was fight of the Century. Only retroactively do we see it as a foregone one-sided affair.

In 2002, the last time anyone saw Tyson on his back was 1990! While Lennox was sprawled on the canvas just a year before. Reading Sonny's post you'd never know just How close this match was leading up.

You are the most delusional person i have ever came across. You also have a very "vivid imagination" and are prone to exaggeration... You are claiming Lennox Lewis to be 6'6'' tall.. Yet in the Lewis vs McCall (1) fight program printed by Lewis promotional company, they list Lewis as being 6'4'' and one-half-inch tall..

You talk about being a kid back in 2000.. Well that shows that you are very new to the sport of boxing and know nothing or very little of it's history.. Lewis was unfortunate to only get a draw in his first fight with Holyfield, yet Holyfield was Robbed of his titles in their rematch... You talk of Lewis avenging his loss to Hasim Rahman. But Rahman was nothing but a journeyman/trailhorse, he is without doubt the worst fighter in boxing history to hold the heavyweight title. Lewis was odds of 1/33 to defeat Rahman first fight and odds of 1/20 to win their second fight. Which shows just how limited Rahman was, but also it shows how limited Lewis was to be knocked out by a fighter as limited as Rahman.

What you repeatedly refuse to accept under any circumstances whatsoever, is that Mike Tyson from 1999 to 2005 was addicted to prescription anti-depressants, alcohol, ******* & cannabis. Tyson was imprisoned during that period for drug offences... Yet you claim the fight was "Close".. The fact of the matter was the fight was a "Total Farce"... it is impossible for any human being to partake in a prizefight under the influence of Anti-Depressants as well as recreation drugs, alcohol, ******* and cannabis.. It would take years for drugs of that naure to leave a persons system, once their addiction was ended... Yet you talk of the fight as "Fight of the Century"...

You need to open your eyes to the reality of what actually happened.

[joeandthebums]

As you are responding to posts;

What specific tests were Canadian boxers required to take circa 1989+? Were these part of their yearly check-up, pre/post-fight or took form of a 365 day Olympic style testing?

Do the UK not test their own licensed boxers in any form?

Any information you have I am interested in.

[Joeyzagz]

You are the most delusional person i have ever came across. You also have a very "vivid imagination" and are prone to exaggeration... You are claiming Lennox Lewis to be 6'6'' tall.. Yet in the Lewis vs McCall (1) fight program printed by Lewis promotional company, they list Lewis as being 6'4'' and one-half-inch tall..

You talk about being a kid back in 2000.. Well that shows that you are very new to the sport of boxing and know nothing or very little of it's history.. Lewis was unfortunate to only get a draw in his first fight with Holyfield, yet Holyfield was Robbed of his titles in their rematch... You talk of Lewis avenging his loss to Hasim Rahman. But Rahman was nothing but a journeyman/trailhorse, he is without doubt the worst fighter in boxing history to hold the heavyweight title. Lewis was odds of 1/33 to defeat Rahman first fight and odds of 1/20 to win their second fight. Which shows just how limited Rahman was, but also it shows how limited Lewis was to be knocked out by a fighter as limited as Rahman.

What you repeatedly refuse to accept under any circumstances whatsoever, is that Mike Tyson from 1999 to 2005 was addicted to prescription anti-depressants, alcohol, ******* & cannabis. Tyson was imprisoned during that period for drug offences... Yet you claim the fight was "Close".. The fact of the matter was the fight was a "Total Farce"... it is impossible for any human being to partake in a prizefight under the influence of Anti-Depressants as well as recreation drugs, alcohol, ******* and cannabis.. It would take years for drugs of that naure to leave a persons system, once their addiction was ended... Yet you talk of the fight as "Fight of the Century"...

You need to open your eyes to the reality of what actually happened.

Tyson may have looked sub par in the 1st Holyfield fight, but other than that no one had seen him get destroyed in over a decade. If anything his aura of invincibility had been restored with the biting, antics and spending time in prison. He was a scary Psycho Hannibal lecter in trunks. A guy who would take you out if he couldn't knock you out.

Lennox, on the other hand was seen as soft in comparison after losing by ko in 2001, getting mauled by Rahman in a press conference, and getting mauled yet again by Tyson in a press conference.

No one was calling Mike "old" or slow till after the final result. Tyson was considered by all to be at least better than Rahman, and that's what sold the fight.

[sonnyboyx2]

Tyson may have looked sub par in the 1st Holyfield fight, but other than that no one had seen him get destroyed in over a decade. If anything his aura of invincibility had been restored with the biting, antics and spending time in prison. He was a scary Psycho Hannibal lecter in trunks. A guy who would take you out if he couldn't knock you out.

Lennox, on the other hand was seen as soft in comparison after losing by ko in 2001, getting mauled by Rahman in a press conference, and getting mauled yet again by Tyson in a press conference.

No one was calling Mike "old" or slow till after the final result. Tyson was considered by all to be at least better than Rahman, and that's what sold the fight.

You are wrong... Lewis and his trainer Emmanuel Stewart were well aware of Tyson's drug addiction, which was very well documented in the press. They were aware he was addicted to anti-depressants... You need to watch their fight and after the opening round as both fighters go back to their corners, Stewart say's to Lewis, "You won't believe how bad he looks"... Tyson was a zombie...just like when he fought Danny Williams & Kevin McBride. His prizefighting day's were years gone by. Lewis only agreed to face Tyson knowing of his drug addiction..

As for Tyson being "Hannibal Lector in trunks".. you are joking, Tyson was a shell of the fighter he was 15yrs previous. i will not go into his private life and number the long list of tragedies he suffered, all which contributed to his downfall...

[billeau2]

Tyson may have looked sub par in the 1st Holyfield fight, but other than that no one had seen him get destroyed in over a decade. If anything his aura of invincibility had been restored with the biting, antics and spending time in prison. He was a scary Psycho Hannibal lecter in trunks. A guy who would take you out if he couldn't knock you out.

Lennox, on the other hand was seen as soft in comparison after losing by ko in 2001, getting mauled by Rahman in a press conference, and getting mauled yet again by Tyson in a press conference.

No one was calling Mike "old" or slow till after the final result. Tyson was considered by all to be at least better than Rahman, and that's what sold the fight.

Joey with all due respect: Nobody could seriously think the version of Tyson that fought Lewis was able. I don't remember the odds but most pundits more or less knew exactly how the Lewis Tyson fight would end.

[Joeyzagz]

The 2 million homes that bought the ppv tell a different story. The Public saw Lewis/Tyson as a fairly even fight and strongly demanded it.

After Lennox destroyed Tyson, Tyson's numbers/interest went into the toilet.

150k Danny Williams
250k mcbride

The Tyson who once generated a million against McNeely, died in the ring that night in Memphis.

[joeandthebums]

The 2 million homes that bought the ppv tell a different story. The Public saw Lewis/Tyson as a fairly even fight and strongly demanded it.

Mayweather-Pacquiao did 4.4 million and if Pacquiao won it would of been a big upset.

Public demand and expectation does not often align with the most competitive boxing contests.

Mayweather and Pacquiao could rematch and do huge figures again, but that does not make Pacquiao the most competitive opponent for Mayweather at 147lbs.

After Lennox destroyed Tyson, Tyson's numbers/interest went into the toilet.

150k Danny Williams
250k mcbride

Tyson prior to the Lewis contest;

2001 - Brian Nielsen - 40,000 buys
2000 - Andrew Golota - 400,000 buys
1999 - Frans Botha - 650,000 - 700,000 buys


Lewis prior to Tyson contest;

2001 - Rahman II - 460,000 buys
2000 - David Tua - 420,000 buys


2002 - Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson - 1.9 million buys

[billeau2]

You are wrong... Lewis and his trainer Emmanuel Stewart were well aware of Tyson's drug addiction, which was very well documented in the press. They were aware he was addicted to anti-depressants... You need to watch their fight and after the opening round as both fighters go back to their corners, Stewart say's to Lewis, "You won't believe how bad he looks"... Tyson was a zombie...just like when he fought Danny Williams & Kevin McBride. His prizefighting day's were years gone by. Lewis only agreed to face Tyson knowing of his drug addiction..

As for Tyson being "Hannibal Lector in trunks".. you are joking, Tyson was a shell of the fighter he was 15yrs previous. i will not go into his private life and number the long list of tragedies he suffered, all which contributed to his downfall...

So Sonny you were asking about how to make an argument for Lewis I just posted some information in your thread about the fitness of boxers.

In this post the information I am posting is actually quite contraversal: it says that using a technology and focusing on intensity are in fact the ways to get fit fast...and not doing many sets and reps. Knowing this I give some basic background info..

then I simply post a HTLM to a description of Nautilus training (for Nasa employees I believe).

This would be an example of giving some source material...I might be asked for more and I could, but at least there is some basic soure material for an idea that most people will not necessarily accept. Hope this helps.

[Avenge Myself]

Lewis to me is one of the greatest heavies of all time, up there with the likes of historical greats such as Louis, Ali, and Marciano!

[billeau2]

You are wrong... Lewis and his trainer Emmanuel Stewart were well aware of Tyson's drug addiction, which was very well documented in the press. They were aware he was addicted to anti-depressants... You need to watch their fight and after the opening round as both fighters go back to their corners, Stewart say's to Lewis, "You won't believe how bad he looks"... Tyson was a zombie...just like when he fought Danny Williams & Kevin McBride. His prizefighting day's were years gone by. Lewis only agreed to face Tyson knowing of his drug addiction..

As for Tyson being "Hannibal Lector in trunks".. you are joking, Tyson was a shell of the fighter he was 15yrs previous. i will not go into his private life and number the long list of tragedies he suffered, all which contributed to his downfall...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjunXZ30rKM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG2oj_MP71U