Tweet
"Meanwhile, Lewis' forays into generic boxing misbehavior seem forced. Lewis may be several times the fighter Mike Tyson is, but when it comes to sociopathic antics, he'll always run a distant second to Iron Mike. Much as Larry Holmes was castigated for Not Being Ali, Lennox gets static for Not Being Tyson. As both men discovered, demolishing their respective bêtes noirs in the ring did little to change that notion.
Boxing is a sport where misanthropy is more necessity than vice, and introspective types are seldom embraced by fans. Floyd Patterson and Archie Moore valued intelligence in and out of the ring but wound up being pitied as much as lauded. In an era when only hard-edged athletes cut through the media haze, Lewis sips tea and plays chess. Without plentiful tattoos or a penitentiary stare, he doesn't have a prayer."
Excerpts from an article about Lewis from 2003 (not sure if I'm allowed to post the link).
These days Wlad gets castigated for the same reasons Lewis did...plus now for not being Lewis. The next dominant heavyweight champion is most likely gonna be compared to everyone before him. Nostalgia is often blinding. It's a never ending cycle and the grass is always greener on the other side.
Boxing is a sport where misanthropy is more necessity than vice, and introspective types are seldom embraced by fans. Floyd Patterson and Archie Moore valued intelligence in and out of the ring but wound up being pitied as much as lauded. In an era when only hard-edged athletes cut through the media haze, Lewis sips tea and plays chess. Without plentiful tattoos or a penitentiary stare, he doesn't have a prayer."
Excerpts from an article about Lewis from 2003 (not sure if I'm allowed to post the link).
These days Wlad gets castigated for the same reasons Lewis did...plus now for not being Lewis. The next dominant heavyweight champion is most likely gonna be compared to everyone before him. Nostalgia is often blinding. It's a never ending cycle and the grass is always greener on the other side.
Comment