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Look At The Mess You Left!
The so called big fight is behind us, the heavyweight bout billed ridiculously as “America’s Last Line of Defense.” Well, our last line has fallen. I have to admit, I thought Hasim Rahman would win this one. Not that his loss is an upset or big shock in anyway, I just felt he looked ready and talked as though he has learned from his mistakes. Oh well.
When it comes down to it, Rahman is just a mediocre fighter who seems to crumble when he is under pressure. His whole career is basically built upon his one punch KO win over an out of shape Lennox Lewis, who was more interested playing his cameo role in what was then the upcoming film, Oceans 11, rather than in the gym getting ready to defend his title. We all know how the rematch went, so lets move on.
I was on the way to the store this morning, thinking about last nights events when on the radio Simon and Garfunkel’s Mrs. Robinson came on (why my wife makes me listen to the oldies all the time is beyond me). When the part “Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio” came through the speakers, I got a kick out of this because Larry Merchant used this analogy last night and dubbed in Joe Louis.
I instead started to think of Lennox Lewis. I started to think about when Lewis was champion there was order in the now chaotic heavyweight division. I would be secure in saying that if Vitali Klitschko didn’t have to depart so suddenly, there would still be order among the big men but he left us so quickly that his reign seems almost non existent. Besides this is boxing and to think we could have two dominate champions back to back in this era would be like hitting mega millions twice in a row. Not going to happen!
Lewis began his first reign as champion in 1993 when Riddick Bowe disposed of the WBC title by refusing to defend against Lewis. Lewis was not a fan favorite, seeing as how his title was given to him. After his one punch KO loss to Oliver McCall, most dismissed Lewis figuring to never hear from him again but the big Brit bounced back immediately, winning his next four.
Picking up the lightly regarded IBA title from Tommy Morrison and decisioning the tough as nails Ray Mercer earned Lewis another fight with McCall. This time it was for the vacant WBC title that McCall had lost to Frank Bruno. Lewis once again claimed a world title in a bizarre turn of events when McCall refused to fight in the fifth, causing the bout to be halted.
Lennox ruled for another four years and in this time he also became The Ring Magazine champion in the process. With a win over Evander Holyfield, Lewis was now the only recognized title holder by the masses. Then, on April 22, 2001, Lewis suffered his loss. Again it was a one punch KO. This time it was by the hard hitting Hasim Rahman.
Lewis, bent on revenge, fueled by Rahman’s taunts and constant bragging, redeemed himself yet again by destroying Rahman in the rematch with a brilliant display of boxing and power. Once again, Lewis took his place atop the heavyweight division.
Just a year later, Lewis impressed us with another flawless performance. This time by beating the once self proclaimed “Baddest Man On The Planet” and former undisputed heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson, into submission in eight rounds. leaving Tyson broken down and bleeding on the canvas.
Lewis’ final bout would come a year later against the man who would take over the heavyweight division after Lewis departure, Vitali Klitschko, in a back and forth slugfest that had to be called to a halt due to a cut that was opened wider than the Atlantic over Klitschko’s left eye. Lewis retired soon afterward, still on top of the heavyweight division with a record of 41-2-1 (32).
After 10 years of being amidst the top of the heavyweight heap. Lewis participated in just about every meaningful fight the division had. His two losses almost seemed unimportant when you looked back on his accomplishments as Champion. He recovered from the losses quicker than almost any other champion of the modern era. While many have had to rebuild their careers Lewis immediately took his place back as King of the Hill.
In Lewis’ three reigns, he became more impressive. Only his critics hold on to his two losses as a last grasp to detract from a brilliant career. Bringing up his weak chin theory due to the losses coming both times from one punch shots but always excluding the fact that he was out of shape for both bouts and the losses were more due to his arrogance than his opponent’s skill. To be fair, both did come from big punchers and the heavyweight division’s history has been changed more than once by a single shot.
In his 14 year career, Lewis held a massive amount of both minor and major titles including a spot in the pound for pound rankings and a Ring Magazine title. In his collection are the European, British, Commonwealth, WBA, WBC, IBF, IBO, and IBA titles mounted in cases for him to reflect on for the rest of his days.
On his resume, he holds wins over Razor Ruddock, Tony Tucker, Frank Bruno, Oliver McCall, Tommy Morrison, Ray Mercer, Henry Akinwande, Andrew Golata, Shannon Briggs, Evander Holyfield, Michael Grant, David Tua, Hasim Rahman, Mike Tyson and Vitali Klitschko. Eight of those fighters were either current, past or future world champions. It is a resume that can be compared to that of any other champion in history and even surpass many. Only a handful of champions can boast a more impressive win column.
Lewis was the most dominate champion since the great Larry Holmes. Even the feared Mike Tyson had a pale resume compared to Lewis. Tyson’s list of opposition consists mostly of second tier journeyman in a poor era of fighters. Even by today’s standards.
The fact of the matter is that when Lewis reigned we didn’t speak of the alphabet titles or it’s holders. We didn’t wonder which champion was going to emerge ahead of the rest of the pack to prove his dominance. As far as the world was concerned, we had one champion and his name was Lennox Lewis and if you forgot he was quick to remind you that he was the “Best Heavyweight on the Planet.” A phrase he often spoke to the public.
Anyone who held a version of the title that Lewis, for some reason, didn’t, were basically obsolete. They were just a man with a belt that wasn’t even useful enough to keep their trousers from falling. Come 2003, not even his sternest detractors could deny his hold on the division. His two conquerors were put back into the fold and dismissed long ago.
So with the exception of Vitali’s brief time on top since Lewis retired in 2004, the division has been chaotic at best. The longest reining alphabet belt holder has been Chris Byrd and he was dismantled in six by the younger Klitschko, Wladimir, earlier this year.
We have had John Ruiz, who for some reason thinks a loss in the ring means a lawsuit outside of it. Roy Jones came and went. Lamon Brewster had a short run at the WBO belt until not long ago. Currently we have Oleg Maskaev, 33-5 (26), with the WBC belt, Nicolay Valuev, 44-0-1 (32), with the WBA version. Wladimir Klitschko, 46-3 (41), resting with the IBF belt and Serguei Liakhovich, 23-1 (14), with the WBO title.
None of these fighters, with the exception of Wladimir, has ever been impressive at any point in their career against a top caliber opponent on a regular basis. In fact, all are so unimpressive that Ring Magazine has no World Champion at this time in the heavyweight rankings. Their top 10 shuffles between the mundane contenders who are either reaching the end of their once potential careers or wouldn’t have ever been ranked at all in a stronger era.
The heavyweight champion is supposed to be the most recognizable figure in all of sports. Even the worst of champions, Primo Carnera and Ingmar Johanssen, were known throughout the world, even if it was more because of who they won the title from rather the fact they held it. Point being, they were the champion and everyone knew it.
Today, only the serious fan knows who the belt holders are. Many blame this on the over abundance of titles out there with the word “world champion” attached to it. Either way, one of them should be our sports torch bearer and none are even their division’s leader. We don’t even have an heir apparent on the rise. The brief period during the 80’s that left the division in peril during Michael Spinks’ absence had Mike Tyson on the rise ready to take the role as Champion.
The heavyweight division is a farce right now. With no true title holder and no sensational new star on the way things will only get bleaker before they get better. Question is, for how long will it stay this way?
Lennox Lewis, you left us with no heir apparent. No one to be boxing’s face among the other sports. No one to be the showcase of talent in the only division that used to count to the fans outside the circle of diehards. Since 2003, you left us with nothing but a mess. By the way things look right now, no one will be cleaning it up anytime soon.
