Who was the greatest Heavyweight Post- Ali era?

[joseph5620]

You do realise Rahman took a standing count in that fight and still rates Sanders as the hardest puncher he ever faced, which includes Mr Lewis who he knocked out cold one fight later. As for your sly, pathetic dig at Wlad, LOL. But credit to Sanders. He produced the HW upset of the past decade and schooled the guy who is now the #1 HW on the planet with ten straight defences. That feat alone makes him way more dangerous than the likes of Bruno or Ruddock, supposed Lewis best wins outside Vitali. Sanders also gave Vitali more trouble than Lewis did. Lewis never had Vitali in any trouble aside from the cut opened by a hit and hold tactic.

The fact remains that Sanders didn't KO Rahman. Lewis did and so did Maskaev. Bert Cooper forced a standing 8 on Holyfield Doesn't change the fact that Holyfield beat the hell out Cooper as Rahman did to Sanders. If Sanders was the legendary punches you claim he was he would have more than just one win over a top heavyweight.

[nomadman]

Sanders was a joke. Pierre Coetzer redux.

I think it's pretty easy to categorise Sanders. He was a talented underachiever who could have done great things had he taken his career seriously. The talent was there, the speed and power were there, sometimes even the desire was there which was when he was truly dangerous. But he half-assed it too much, and made too many mistakes to ever be more than a occasional dangerman.

[Money Shot]

The fact remains that Sanders didn't KO Rahman Lewis did and so did Maskaev. Berth Cooper forced a standing 8 on Cornfield. Doesn't change the fact that Cornfield beat the he'll out Cooper as Rahman did to Sanders. If Sanders was the legendary punches you claim he was he would have more than just one win over a top heavyweight.

He didn't beat the hell out Sanders at all you mug, it could have went either way and if not for the standing count Sanders would likely have finished him off and then knocked out the same lacklustre Lewis in Vegas as Rahman did next. He'd then have two ATG wins under his belt and be the only man to ever floor Vitali Klitschko. Not bad for a guy who was never in great condition and didn't train.

[nomadman]

You do realise Rahman took a standing count in that fight and still rates Sanders as the hardest puncher he ever faced, which includes Mr Lewis who he knocked out cold one fight later. As for your sly, pathetic dig at Wlad, LOL. But credit to Sanders. He produced the HW upset of the past decade and schooled the guy who is now the #1 HW on the planet with ten straight defences. That feat alone makes him way more dangerous than the likes of Bruno or Ruddock, supposed Lewis best wins outside Vitali. Sanders also gave Vitali more trouble than Lewis did. Lewis never had Vitali in any trouble aside from the cut opened by a hit and hold tactic.

I tend not to take what any fighter says about another fighter that seriously, especially when it doesn't correlate with the truth, but I'm not surprised Rahman thought that way. Sanders had a really sharp left hand that hurt and knocked down more than a few very sturdy fighters. But Lewis hit Rahman harder in that fight, no question.

And he hurt Vit much worse than Sanders did as well, obviously, though over a longer period of time and with a larger number of punches. Sanders pretty much hurt Vitali with one shot.

[nomadman]

He didn't beat the hell out Sanders at all you mug, it could have went either way and if not for the standing count Sanders would likely have finished him off and then knocked out the same lacklustre Lewis in Vegas as Rahman did next. He'd then have two ATG wins under his belt and be the only man to ever floor Vitali Klitschko. Not bad for a guy who was never in great condition and didn't train.

That's quite a supposition. Rahman beat Sanders by outboxing him and because Sanders was too gassed out to really fight back (quelle surprise). The early rounds were on a knife edge, but after that it was a matter of time IMO. Wasn't exactly Kelly Hamed.

The Lewis stuff is an even bigger supposition. Besides, I doubt Sanders would have got to Lewis the same way Rahman did. His best shot was a left hook thrown in short with an upward motion, Rahman's was an overhand right and it had more concussive force IMO, though it was the slower and more easily avoided punch. Lewis was definitely not on form that night, though, so anything could have happened.

[joseph5620]

He didn't beat the hell out Sanders at all you mug, it could have went either way and if not for the standing count Sanders would likely have finished him off and then knocked out the same lacklustre Lewis in Vegas as Rahman did next. He'd then have two ATG wins under his belt and be the only man to ever floor Vitali Klitschko. Not bad for a guy who was never in great condition and didn't train.

Ok so why did they stop the fight after numerous blows to Sanders head? What was Rahman doing to Sanders? Playing checkers?


I hate to burst your bubble but Sanders doesn't get credit for fantasy fights that never happened.



And Lewis didnt loses to Rahman in Vegas. If you're going to fantasize at least get your facts straight.

[Money Shot]

I tend not to take what any fighter says about another fighter that seriously, especially when it doesn't correlate with the truth, but I'm not surprised Rahman thought that way. Sanders had a really sharp left hand that hurt and knocked down more than a few very sturdy fighters. But Lewis hit Rahman harder in that fight, no question.

And he hurt Vit much worse than Sanders did as well, obviously, though over a longer period of time and with a larger number of punches. Sanders pretty much hurt Vitali with one shot.

No doubt you won't agree with Shannon Briggs appraisal of VK's power vis a vis Lewis either then. Sanders gave Vitali the hardest round of his entire career, round two, that isn't in question.

[nomadman]

The fact remains that Sanders didn't KO Rahman. Lewis did and so did Maskaev. Bert Cooper forced a standing 8 on Holyfield Doesn't change the fact that Holyfield beat the he'll out Cooper as Rahman did to Sanders. If Sanders was the legendary punches you claim he was he would have more than just one win over a top heavyweight.

I think there's very little doubt that Sanders was a very hard puncher. For a start he also beat Cooper, only he did it with one punch that knocked Cooper down and forced him to quit. This is the same Cooper that a few fights before took seven rounds of uppercuts from Holyfield before succumbing. He also rocked Vitali worse than anyone had ever done and again he did it with one shot. And of course he KOed Wlad who, despite not having the best chin in the world, was utterly destroyed in that fight like at no other time of his career. Sanders: not a great fighter but a very hard puncher.

[nomadman]

No doubt you won't agree with Shannon Briggs appraisal of VK's power vis a vis Lewis either then. Sanders gave Vitali the hardest round of his entire career, round two, that isn't in question.

No I don't and I explained why in the "Earnie Shavers' punching power is overrated" thread a while back. If you wanna know my thoughts on the matter (which remain consistent regardless of whether it's Briggs or Ali speaking) then read that thread.

[Money Shot]

That's quite a supposition. Rahman beat Sanders by outboxing him and because Sanders was too gassed out to really fight back (quelle surprise). The early rounds were on a knife edge, but after that it was a matter of time IMO. Wasn't exactly Kelly Hamed.

The Lewis stuff is an even bigger supposition. Besides, I doubt Sanders would have got to Lewis the same way Rahman did. His best shot was a left hook thrown in short with an upward motion, Rahman's was an overhand right and it had more concussive force IMO, though it was the slower and more easily avoided punch. Lewis was definitely not on form that night, though, so anything could have happened.

Sanders did gas himself going for the kill vs Rahman and was unlucky not to get it. If he'd been in the shape he should have he might have had the cardio to get through it and get the Lewis fight.

Lewis was completely lacklustre that night, as he could be on occasion, and I've no doubt the same Sanders who destroyed the young Wlad in Hannover would have unhinged Lewis on that form. That left hand would have landed. Lewis took Rahman too lightly and he would have likely have done the same with Sanders. That said, I've no doubt an A game Lewis would have defeated Sanders.