Lennox Lewis vs Michael Grant

[sonnyboyx2]

Plenty has been said on this forum of late about Lennox Lewis refusal to fight the WBA No1 conenter John Ruiz and instead choosing to fight Michael Grant.. Did Grant deserve a World Title shot, Lennox Lewis sat ringside watching Grant vs Golota then chose Grant as his next opponent.. look at this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHb-OuNFL5c

[Southpaw16BF]

There was much more money in a fight with the unbeaten USA hope Grant. HBO had really put alot of time and money in to Grant, markating him as the next big thing.

You can't really blame Lewis for fighting Grant. I don't see what he has to fear about Ruiz.

[sonnyboyx2]

Lewis seen first-hand that Grant was a Bum

[Stab Judah]

The hype around Grant was unbelievable and he looked the part.
Ruiz's spot at number one contender was actually very controversial at the time.
Grant was the right choice as far as public interest money and he seemed to be the better fighter at the time.

[Southpaw16BF]

Lewis seen first-hand that Grant was a Bum

But at the end of the day, the public and HBO wanted Lewis vs Grant due to the fact it would make much more $$$$ than a Ruiz vs Lewis showdown.

You can't blame Lewis, for choosing a big PPV fight against a unbeaten USA fighter for more money.......

[Emon723]

Ruiz didnt do anything to become the number 1 contender, the WBA was a sham, it first rated Henry Akinwande (whom Lewis already beat) as their number 1 contender, then all of a sudden they dropped Akinwande and installed Johnny Ruiz as Lewis WBA mandatory opponent.

[Marcov]

Ruiz was a Don King fighter and Grant wasn't. That might have played into the decision as Lewis was not a King fan. Grant at the time apeared to actually be a better challenge for Lewis than Ruiz. He was big strong and undefeated. Then again he might have seen Golota floor Grant with a right hand and thought he'd be perfect for him.

[The_Demon]

your a terrible poster
who cares

[Clegg]

Yeah, Grant deserved a title shot, certainly more so than Ruiz.

Grant was undefeated and coming off of wins over Andrew Golota, Lou Saverese and David Izon.

Ruiz had already been destroyed in one round on HBO a few years previously, and his only notable win was over an old and washed up Tony Tucker.

I also remember at the time that a lot of people said Lewis only won fights based on size, and that Grant would therefore give him a tough fight due to being the bigger man. No one gave Ruiz a chance.

[sonnyboyx2]

Yeah, Grant deserved a title shot, certainly more so than Ruiz.

Grant was undefeated and coming off of wins over Andrew Golota, Lou Saverese and David Izon.

Ruiz had already been destroyed in one round on HBO a few years previously, and his only notable win was over an old and washed up Tony Tucker.

I also remember at the time that a lot of people said Lewis only won fights based on size, and that Grant would therefore give him a tough fight due to being the bigger man. No one gave Ruiz a chance.

Ruiz standing over the last 12yrs against Grants has proved beyond doubt that Lewis cherry-picked an easy opponent and avoided a very dangerous opponent in Ruiz.. the link shows that Grant was exposed as a bum by Golota when only the bell saved him from a 1st round KO.. Ruiz has gone on to be a 2 time Heavyweight Champion fighting in 11 world title fights and remaining virtually undefeated in the last 10yrs Ruiz will become a 3 time world champion on April 3rd should he defeat David Haye.