Did Lennox Lewis kill boxing as a majority interest?

[Guest]

I know there's a lot of interest in the lower weights, but the heavyweight situation is probably the direst it's been in its history at present.

With Lennox not only did he dominate almost exclusively, but he was also quite dull to watch and didn't attract much publicity.

I remember the mid 90s... the bouts between Chris Eubank/Nigel Benn would be shown on TV in bars, something that would never happen nowadays. We had Prince Naseem, and everyone was talking about Frank Bruno, no matter how useless he was. Everyone knew Frank wasn't a fraction of the boxer Lennox was, but he was loved in a way that Lennox never could be.

But it's not just with the UK scene... Tyson was electric at this time, and you had newer guys like Tony Tubbs to go along with Foreman and Holmes.

I just had a conversation with someone in my kitchen who was excitedly reeling off all these names and memories but had to be told who the current champs are.

[simeraksou]

I know there's a lot of interest in the lower weights, but the heavyweight situation is probably the direst it's been in its history at present.

With Lennox not only did he dominate almost exclusively, but he was also quite dull to watch and didn't attract much publicity.

I remember the mid 90s... the bouts between Chris Eubank/Nigel Benn would be shown on TV in bars, something that would never happen nowadays. We had Prince Naseem, and everyone was talking about Frank Bruno, no matter how useless he was. Everyone knew Frank wasn't a fraction of the boxer Lennox was, but he was loved in a way that Lennox never could be.

But it's not just with the UK scene... Tyson was electric at this time, and you had newer guys like Tony Tubbs to go along with Foreman and Holmes.

I just had a conversation with someone in my kitchen who was excitedly reeling off all these names and memories but had to be told who the current champs are.

not all of lennox's fights were dull. one of the best heavyweight fights was lewis vs. briggs that was amazing. also lewis rahman 1 and 2 were exciting, as was his blowouts of michael grant and golota

[Sir_Jose]

I know there's a lot of interest in the lower weights, but the heavyweight situation is probably the direst it's been in its history at present.

With Lennox not only did he dominate almost exclusively, but he was also quite dull to watch and didn't attract much publicity.

I remember the mid 90s... the bouts between Chris Eubank/Nigel Benn would be shown on TV in bars, something that would never happen nowadays. We had Prince Naseem, and everyone was talking about Frank Bruno, no matter how useless he was. Everyone knew Frank wasn't a fraction of the boxer Lennox was, but he was loved in a way that Lennox never could be.

But it's not just with the UK scene... Tyson was electric at this time, and you had newer guys like Tony Tubbs to go along with Foreman and Holmes.

I just had a conversation with someone in my kitchen who was excitedly reeling off all these names and memories but had to be told who the current champs are.

If any one man has killed boxing its Don King

[RobbieD]

Remember this - Lennox Lewis fought on Sky early in his career while it was still getting off the floor and later on PPV. Not only that, since he fought a lot in the States, most of his fights aired at like 4am here. Benn, Eubank, Naz, Bruno spent their best years fighting on free TV (Naz made his name before going to Sky once it was huge) as well as in prime time slots.

[.::|ULTIMATE|::.]

There has been a lot of champs recently who fight once a year some even less and in my opinion that hurts boxing. And yes Lewis was one of them.

[Fat Shamz]

If any one man has killed boxing its Don King

That is so true. Think about the fights we would be seeing if it wasnt for him. Hell, for all we know, we could have different champs right now.

[tri4ben2]

Lewis did not ruin boxing.

Boxing only become a top teir sport when there is someone exciting that knocks guys out. It is just the way that it is.

Vitaly is starting to get some non boxing sports interest and if he had an arch rival like Lewis, boxing would be in the news more.

In america, sports fans put too much of their energy into Football Basketball and Baseball, and if there was an American Champion fighing on Network TV for free, it would get the fans interested.

Watching Lewis jab and win rounds is not going to put boxing on the next level. A Holyfeild Bowe 2 type fight with one Heavyweight Champion every 3-4 months will bring boxing to prosperity.

[leff]

No its not because of Lewis, its because of Don King, corruption,
fixed fights, boring fighters like Byrd and Ruiz, to many belts,
championship fights to seldom, lazy boxers who showes upp out off shape, whining and excuses and the heavy divison which is supposed to be the big donut not good.

[tri4ben2]

Yeah, but how is that different than the other team sports that I mentioned.

[bchynn]

Lennox Lewis was always boring. I did enjoy his fight against Briggs, but that was is.


I wouldn't say that Don King has killed boxing, in fact, he is bringing us some of the better fights. The other promotions suck. Hopefully Golden Boy changes that.