Re: Ranking the HW champs
Quote:
Originally Posted by
VG_Addict
Lewis is better than either Klit. He beat Tua, Golota, Holyfield, Bruno, Ruddock, Morrison, and Briggs.
And those guys really weren't around for either brother to fight prime v prime soooo yeah. I mean yes the opportunities other fighters had maybe with a deeper division albeit with fighters who ran just as hot & cold as anyone in today's division may have been better before the Klitschko's but you can't knock the guys for fighting and beating everyone they can in this current division. It still takes talent and focus to win...a little slip here or there could be the difference between another win and a humiliating defeat.
I think Lennox Lewis' career really helped both brothers because they saw how he recovered from the McCall loss to achieve great things and also how he got a little complacent and got beat by Rahman, but then turned around and gave one of his most impressive victories in the rematch.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
beenKOed
Anyone except Chris Byrd, I know I'm alone here but he always reminded me of a very smart monkey imitating a boxer. Yes, I know, he had some good wins but it was hard for me to watch him, I can't help it.
Byrd was unorthodox as a fighter especially as a heavyweight. He focused on the sweet science, hit and don't get hit. He was very talented and difficult to catch clean for anyone. He was one of the best title holders next to the Klitschko's after Lewis' retirement. He defended his title very well and was never afraid of a match...Tua, Ibeabuchi, Vitali, Wlad....he fought anyone even the really dangerous fighters. He wasn't great to watch because he was never going to KO anyone, but I appreciated his skills.
Re: Ranking the HW champs
I think Byrd is severely underrated. A lot of guys didn't want to get in the ring with him.
Re: Ranking the HW champs
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Beanflicker
I think Byrd is severely underrated. A lot of guys didn't want to get in the ring with him.
Before going back down in weight which really hurt his ability to take a punch Chris only got stopped by the very biggest punchers who had the means to deliver their blows with accuracy. He was a very slick fighter and I agree, he's criminally underrated...a prime Chris Byrd these days would have no qualms about fighting a Deontay Wilder or Bermane Stiverne...in fact in his pomp he would have probably beaten those guys.
Re: Ranking the HW champs
What if Lewis fought Byrd, and beat him? Where would you rank Lewis all time?
Re: Ranking the HW champs
Quote:
Originally Posted by
VG_Addict
What if Lewis fought Byrd, and beat him? Where would you rank Lewis all time?
Lewis would have beaten Byrd and Ruiz, he gave them the titles not because he was afraid of them but because he wanted to fight bigger and better fighters. Belts meant nothing after he unified the titles and beat the best/dangerous fighters out there.
Re: Ranking the HW champs
Quote:
Originally Posted by
VG_Addict
What if Lewis fought Byrd, and beat him? Where would you rank Lewis all time?
I'm not sure, Lewis is an all-time great even without that...he was on another level at that time anyway, I don't know if it would really help him all that much just because they offered nothing but the belts they held which they got from Lennox saying "I don't care to defend these against you guys". I'd say Lennox is top 10 pretty easily...he beat the best of his era and before in Holyfield and Tyson, he had Bowe run away from him, he took out various tough challengers: Mercer, Morrison, Tua, Mavoric, Golota, Grant, Briggs....the hiccups on his record don't matter much just because he ALWAYS rebounded and that's important. When someone "figured out" Mike Tyson, that pretty much ended his time as "Baddest Man on the Planet" he was still very tough to beat but no longer the force of nature he once was.
I always wanted to see John Ruiz vs Lennox, Vitali, or Wlad.....Ruiz was boring as shit, but he would fight until you took his heart. He would never make a fight look pretty but he wouldn't give up at all. Plus I kind of always wanted to see someone (other than David fucking Haye) just absolutely crush him. Ditto goes for Nicolay Valuev who just avoided any power puncher in the division bar Haye (again, fuck that bastard I hate him).
