Lennox Lewis - How good was he?

[gmc_rfc_06]

As evident, he apparently doesn't need much more now does he

Not against poor opposition, no.

Against ATG's? Yeah, he would.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

Before all of this. Lewis actually helped Sanders in preparation for Wladimir and went on record saying he was glad he never had to fight Sanders.

Again before this and when did Lewis ever fight Foreman? Lewis waited years and years until he knew he could beat Holyfield. He fought a heavily on the decline, drug using post car crash Holyfield.

There was many southpaws, world champions and the guys he opted for was not more lucrative they was the likes of 5ft10 steroid using journeyman Justin Fortune and Oliver McCall who had to be dragged out of a rehab clinic.

What? Lewis chased Holyfield and only when Don King and Evander were ready (to rob him) did the fight take place.

[Mitchell Kane]

What's your point? Purrity wasn't anybody who needed to be beaten to get into title contention or anything. It wasn't as if it was when Wlad was champ or anything. Only Sanders beat him and took his title.

The point being Wladimir never even tried to avenge some of his losses.

[Boxing Goat]

Why ruin a perfectly good thread with trolling?

That's not trolling, that's fact.

Before Vitali: Lewis - "I'm at the peak of my powers and will take many more fights".
- " I will eat Vitali for breakfast and his brother for dinner".

After Vitali: Lewis - "I will give you a rematch Vitali".
- "See an eye specialist".
- "I've done all I set out to do in boxing".
- "I'm retiring because my mum says to".

Lewis was not anywhere close to retiring until Vitali landed 156 punches on him in 6 rounds. That's more shots than he had ever taken in a 12 round full fight. Don't play dumb and deny it, everyone already knows.

[LacedUp]

The point being Wladimir never even tried to avenge some of his losses.

Look at what Vitali did straight after the fight was stopped against Sanders.

Straight into the ring, shouting at Sanders saying he'll smash him up and he'll get him etc.

Pretty much tells you what you need to know.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

That's not trolling, that's fact.

Before Vitali: Lewis - "I'm at the peak of my powers and will take many more fights".
- " I will eat Vitali for breakfast and his brother for dinner".

After Vitali: Lewis - "I will give you a rematch Vitali".
- "See an eye specialist".
- "I've done all I set out to do in boxing".
- "I'm retiring because my mum says to".

Lewis was not anywhere close to retiring until Vitali landed 156 punches on him in 6 rounds. That's more shots than he had ever taken in a 12 round full fight. Don't play dumb and deny it, everyone already knows.

So why was he out of the ring for a year after the Tyson fight and no one knew if he was coming back or not?

Klitschko fantards and their ridiculous revisionist history

[M Bison]

Not against poor opposition, no.

Against ATG's? Yeah, he would.

You're saying he'd (Wlad) would need more against the "ATG's" but exactly who are we talking about here?

I'd bet my house on it every day of the week that Wladimir Klitschko would hand Larry Holmes his ass on a platter.
Boxing IQ Wladimir is probably one of the smartest heavyweight boxers of all time.

[Boxing Goat]

It was a close fight between two prime, high tiered HW's and Lewis won. But thank you.

Right that's exactly it but that was no indicator of what you're original statement about the fight was implying.

[dan_cov]

I know he did. Remember Sanders saying in the post fight interview that Lennox had called him to say Wlad couldn't handle the pressure or something like that. They were friends.

Well.. That's just not fair. Lewis wanted to fight Holyfield, there's no denying that. He wanted to fight Tyson too, in 1996, but Tyson didn't want it - Tyson wanted Holyfield. So that meant both guys were tied up, Lewis fought Holyfield after Holyfield was done with Tyson, and if I remember correctly Don King was lowballing Lewis or something like that for a long time, whilst Lewis was fighting top ranked opponents like Golota. I just can't see any case for Lewis ducking Holyfield ever.

I'm pretty sure Foreman would have fought Lewis had he beaten Briggs, but he was robbed so Briggs got the fight. That was the deal.

With regards to Fortune, was that not right after he was just knocked out? Dont think Wlad's comeback fight against Fabio Eduardo Moli was more impressive. Do you?

There weren't many southpaws, there were one realistic one. And that was Moorer - but he too was knocked out and Lennox faced the winner.

I simply can't see any evidence that Lewis ducked anyone at all - I think he continuously showed he wanted to fight the best.

Good points especially with King but why didn't he fight him whilst waiting for Holyfield?
He avoided Moorer who was trained by Manny Steward and Steward didn't want that fight for Lewis, he advised Lewis to stay clear.

I just don't think there is any excuse for him never fighting a southpaw throughout his career when there certainly was some very good southpaws around and a few holding world titles.
Instead of fighting them he was fighting the likes of Tyson, McCall, Fortune, Holyfield, Ruddock, all of which was not only past prime but drug addicts.
I mean fans look at this names and its like wow he beat Holyfield, he beat Tyson and avenged his loss, Ruddock wasn't a bad fighter either. Holyfield bounced back so it deserves credit but its undeniable he waited and caught a lot of guys at the right time. For whatever reason(s) he didn't fight most his resume when they was anywhere near close to their peek. He got out of the game at the right time. IMO he was a very good, a great HW but a very careful one who always knew his limits.

There was a lot of shady **** with King but I will always have a hard time ranking a guy so high h2h or whatever that did not fight one southpaw and to me quite clearly picked his opposition very wisely.

[Boxing Goat]

So why was he out of the ring for a year after the Tyson fight and no one knew if he was coming back or not?

Klitschko fantards and their ridiculous revisionist history

Those statements were made before the Vitali fight. I understand being a fan but those were actual statements not sh@t I made up. Just stop it and admit it.