Phil Jackson : "Wladimir Klitschko hits harder than Lennow Lewis"

[damuttz112]

I think holistically, Rahman II was his most complete and dominant performance, his performance against Holyfield in the first bout was my favourite overall performance against a great (and lineal) fighter.

A better showing of his boxing ability was his performance against Evander Holyfield the first time they met in ring combat. The judges’ verdict that night (a draw) was a disgrace, as Lewis had surely won ten of the twelve rounds, nine at the very least, and was the victim of an outright robbery. Of course it must be said that a most complacent and unintelligent version of Holyfield showed up that night (not to mention that Holyfield, 36 then, has been on an almost unremitting dip in form ever since), but the way Lewis handled a still multi-dimensional fighter that night was without question his most impressive moment. It was not a perfect performance - Lewis’s over-cautiousness crept in in the 5th round when he had Holyfield on the ropes and failed to fully open up, wary of Holyfield’s legendary ability to battle back from the brink - but is was a commanding one.

[damuttz112]

This is a good documentary which covers the first Holyfield-Lewis bout and the controversy surrounding it. It's bloody funny watching the snake King trying to sign Lewis at every opportunity. Lewis ended up winning every law suit against Don King in the end.

[Cutthroat]

Enter the later WK, where his skills+range+athleticism affords him the best defence ever put together in professional boxing.

I don't get it, where is his inside defense? How can a fighter with the best defense ever put together have a great defense when their only inside defense is to illegally hold?

There is a reason he does it every single fight he has no plan b, that IS his defense, and without that he's got nothing. Take it away and he's ****ed.

And against what great offensive fighters? Haye was the most gifted, yet he has struggled heavily against tall opponents, couldn't even get his offense off on Valuev. Stand still punching bags like Thompson, Wach, Pianeta, etc.?

[damuttz112]

You could argue that Toney was the best defensive Heavyweight, or Ezzard Charles, Walcott etc. Although Toney was pretty in the pocket throwing counters, I don't believe it was his optimum weight class. Joe Louis was pretty damned skilled as well and very efficient with his punches. A lot of these guys moved up from lower weight classes and were able to survive against the giants due to their skill proficiency.

[Weltschmerz]

You could argue that Toney was the best defensive Heavyweight, or Ezzard Charles, Walcott etc. Although Toney was pretty in the pocket throwing counters, I don't believe it was his optimum weight class. Joe Louis was pretty damned skilled as well and very efficient with his punches. A lot of these guys moved up from lower weight classes and were able to survive against the giants due to their skill proficiency.

If you have Louis win over Carnera in mind, Carnera was a big, unskilled bum.

[Elroy1]

I don't know how anybody can be taken seriously who bashes WK's defence.

His holding is within the rules of boxing, you cannot have boxing without clinching, and many other boxers did it. Povetkin fight was too much, he should have been punished earlier, but this was still a dominant performance.

You completely neglected WK's evasive qualities as well and countering skills, all part of the defence.

I guess you are pointing to his duck/weave type defence, WK is 6'6" tall, it is no surprise that he doesn't use this.

As for infighting, that's a sign that he cannot keep his opponent at bay. WK proved that type of boxing obsolete for a technical giant!