Lewis v Ruddock - 15 Years Ago

I remember watching this fight on Sky. The adverts were building up this and the Holyfield defence against Bowe for a few weeks. The winners would then meet each other.

"IT'S HALLOWEEN & SOMETHING NASTY IS GONNA HAPPEN"

I can still hear the plug for the fight. I still wasn't sure how good Lewis was. I knew he could box but wasn't too sure about his chin. I thought Razor early or Lewis points.

Shows how much I know doesn't it!!! Lewis absolutely destroyed Razor in 2 fantastic rounds (66-1 at the bookies) ending his career as a top contender and doing what Tyson couldn't.

A beautiful night.

I 'ope you all 'ave a 'orrible 'alloween. ;D

This was the fight that hooked me on Lewis, my all time favorite fighter ;)

This was one where I literally did a double-bouble take and did my best :o :o :o Face.....I remember Lewis looking so Clumsy footed to me but absolutley devestating and all buisness.
Ruddock laying on the canvas with one arm out stretched on his stomach ...He looked like freaking super man pretending to fly lol.

Here's the fight. I know that many of our posters are younger. This is a BIG upset...


http://youtube.com/watch?v=eJ0PX3ZQi7I
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FCPcA-4IQ2E

Some great videos of Eubank & Lewis....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Uv2leT3cBOU

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zCkUDsqA_fo

I watched this fight i was 4-5yrs old at the time. Can't really remember it but when i watch it now, it truely brings home how powerful Lewis was.

Benn said that after this fight he too truly respected Lewis.

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Originally Posted by taansend

I remember watching this fight on Sky. The adverts were building up this and the Holyfield defence against Bowe for a few weeks. The winners would then meet each other.

"IT'S HALLOWEEN & SOMETHING NASTY IS GONNA HAPPEN"

I can still hear the plug for the fight. I still wasn't sure how good Lewis was. I knew he could box but wasn't too sure about his chin. I thought Razor early or Lewis points.

Shows how much I know doesn't it!!! Lewis absolutely destroyed Razor in 2 fantastic rounds (66-1 at the bookies) ending his career as a top contender and doing what Tyson couldn't.

A beautiful night.

I 'ope you all 'ave a 'orrible 'alloween. ;D

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Well thanks for reminding me I am getting old taansend! :P WOW!! 15 years ago? It does not seem that long, I remember the fight and like most thought Razor would beat Lewis who at the time was not yet thought too highly of. As impressed as I was in that fight with Lennox Lewis I would bet Spicoli Surfs In 'Nawlins a million bucks his :o :o :o face in that fight was nothing compared to the one I had when Lennox Lewis practically decapitated Andrew Golota!!!!! Who at the time was a pretty feared guy in his own right.

When you look back on it Lennox Lewis sure did dominate a lot of highly respected heavyweights of the time. He did not beat them he wiped them away clean. In some aspects when you think about it he dominated the upper tier more then Tyson when Mike was at his best, his opponents were of higher quality. Many of Tysons best wins were guys past their prime.

Those were the days when sky did not charge for ppv. What great days they were. And what was a 5 year old being up at that time.

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Originally Posted by Body Puncher

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Originally Posted by taansend

I remember watching this fight on Sky. The adverts were building up this and the Holyfield defence against Bowe for a few weeks. The winners would then meet each other.

"IT'S HALLOWEEN & SOMETHING NASTY IS GONNA HAPPEN"

I can still hear the plug for the fight. I still wasn't sure how good Lewis was. I knew he could box but wasn't too sure about his chin. I thought Razor early or Lewis points.

Shows how much I know doesn't it!!! Lewis absolutely destroyed Razor in 2 fantastic rounds (66-1 at the bookies) ending his career as a top contender and doing what Tyson couldn't.

A beautiful night.

I 'ope you all 'ave a 'orrible 'alloween. ;D

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Well thanks for reminding me I am getting old taansend! :P WOW!! 15 years ago? It does not seem that long, I remember the fight and like most thought Razor would beat Lewis who at the time was not yet thought too highly of. As impressed as I was in that fight with Lennox Lewis I would bet Spicoli Surfs In 'Nawlins a million bucks his :o :o :o face in that fight was nothing compared to the one I had when Lennox Lewis practically decapitated Andrew Golota!!!!! Who at the time was a pretty feared guy in his own right.

When you look back on it Lennox Lewis sure did dominate a lot of highly respected heavyweights of the time. He did not beat them he wiped them away clean. In some aspects when you think about it he dominated the upper tier more then Tyson when Mike was at his best, his opponents were of higher quality. Many of Tysons best wins were guys past their prime.

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Ummm, many of Lennox's best wins were guys past their prime also. However, doesn't take anything away from his reign. Just reality. Ruddock was on his way down at the time this fight took place.

Still wish the Lennox -vs- Bowe fight would have happened. That would have been a cracker and dispelled all questions. If Lennox could have fought and beat Bowe his legacy would unquestionably be the best heavyweight since Ali.

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Originally Posted by Master

Those were the days when sky did not charge for ppv. What great days they were. And what was a 5 year old being up at that time.

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Was always obsessed with this sport, just try and keep me away from the tv when there's a fight on!!

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Originally Posted by luvfightgame

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Originally Posted by Body Puncher

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Originally Posted by taansend

I remember watching this fight on Sky. The adverts were building up this and the Holyfield defence against Bowe for a few weeks. The winners would then meet each other.

"IT'S HALLOWEEN & SOMETHING NASTY IS GONNA HAPPEN"

I can still hear the plug for the fight. I still wasn't sure how good Lewis was. I knew he could box but wasn't too sure about his chin. I thought Razor early or Lewis points.

Shows how much I know doesn't it!!! Lewis absolutely destroyed Razor in 2 fantastic rounds (66-1 at the bookies) ending his career as a top contender and doing what Tyson couldn't.

A beautiful night.

I 'ope you all 'ave a 'orrible 'alloween. ;D

---

Well thanks for reminding me I am getting old taansend! :P WOW!! 15 years ago? It does not seem that long, I remember the fight and like most thought Razor would beat Lewis who at the time was not yet thought too highly of. As impressed as I was in that fight with Lennox Lewis I would bet Spicoli Surfs In 'Nawlins a million bucks his :o :o :o face in that fight was nothing compared to the one I had when Lennox Lewis practically decapitated Andrew Golota!!!!! Who at the time was a pretty feared guy in his own right.

When you look back on it Lennox Lewis sure did dominate a lot of highly respected heavyweights of the time. He did not beat them he wiped them away clean. In some aspects when you think about it he dominated the upper tier more then Tyson when Mike was at his best, his opponents were of higher quality. Many of Tysons best wins were guys past their prime.

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Ummm, many of Lennox's best wins were guys past their prime also. However, doesn't take anything away from his reign. Just reality. Ruddock was on his way down at the time this fight took place.

Still wish the Lennox -vs- Bowe fight would have happened. That would have been a cracker and dispelled all questions. If Lennox could have fought and beat Bowe his legacy would unquestionably be the best heavyweight since Ali.

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Ahhhhh, just the thought of Lewis/Bowe leves me feeling sad :'( Could have turned into a great rivalry, as good a trilogy as Bowe/Holyfield. I always liked Bowe alot too, but Lennox was my boy ;)

As styles make fights I feel there would have been no need for a trilogy. Lennox had Bowe down to a tee. In the olympics Lennox had him figured out instantly and that wouldn't have changed imo.

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Originally Posted by hitmandonny

As styles make fights I feel there would have been no need for a trilogy. Lennox had Bowe down to a tee. In the olympics Lennox had him figured out instantly and that wouldn't have changed imo.

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True, as I believe Lennox had his number too. But you never know; Lewis could have taken him lightly in a second fight and got floored, like with McCall and Rahman, then come back and pounded Bowe in a 3rd fight. I can always dream right? ;D

It's possible and Bowe was good when focused, i saw how hard he trained for Holyfield, for lewis he would have been proper psyched!

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Originally Posted by luvfightgame

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Originally Posted by Body Puncher

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Originally Posted by taansend

I remember watching this fight on Sky. The adverts were building up this and the Holyfield defence against Bowe for a few weeks. The winners would then meet each other.

"IT'S HALLOWEEN & SOMETHING NASTY IS GONNA HAPPEN"

I can still hear the plug for the fight. I still wasn't sure how good Lewis was. I knew he could box but wasn't too sure about his chin. I thought Razor early or Lewis points.

Shows how much I know doesn't it!!! Lewis absolutely destroyed Razor in 2 fantastic rounds (66-1 at the bookies) ending his career as a top contender and doing what Tyson couldn't.

A beautiful night.

I 'ope you all 'ave a 'orrible 'alloween. ;D

---

Well thanks for reminding me I am getting old taansend! :P WOW!! 15 years ago? It does not seem that long, I remember the fight and like most thought Razor would beat Lewis who at the time was not yet thought too highly of. As impressed as I was in that fight with Lennox Lewis I would bet Spicoli Surfs In 'Nawlins a million bucks his :o :o :o face in that fight was nothing compared to the one I had when Lennox Lewis practically decapitated Andrew Golota!!!!! Who at the time was a pretty feared guy in his own right.

When you look back on it Lennox Lewis sure did dominate a lot of highly respected heavyweights of the time. He did not beat them he wiped them away clean. In some aspects when you think about it he dominated the upper tier more then Tyson when Mike was at his best, his opponents were of higher quality. Many of Tysons best wins were guys past their prime.

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Ummm, many of Lennox's best wins were guys past their prime also. However, doesn't take anything away from his reign. Just reality. Ruddock was on his way down at the time this fight took place.

Still wish the Lennox -vs- Bowe fight would have happened. That would have been a cracker and dispelled all questions. If Lennox could have fought and beat Bowe his legacy would unquestionably be the best heavyweight since Ali.

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I am curious on how you figure Ruddock was on his way out when he faced Lewis, up until that point he had only lost to Tyson. After Lewis he had 1 more loss and that was to Tommy Morrison who at the time was highly thought of. He fought 10 or 11 times after Lewis. So I disagree Ruddock was not a guy on his way to bum street when Lewis Faced him. He was still highly thought of.

When you compare the two resumes and their best wins Lewis has the better resume of the two. When you look at each fighters opponents and the stage of their careers when they beat them Lewis has the more impressive

Mike Tyson- Pinklon Thomas, James Smith, Tony Tucker and Trevor Berbick were his best early wins, good fighters but good fighters for that era only. The mid 1980's may be the worst ever for heavyweight quality ( some argue the current crop is worst)

Tyson beat Holmes after Larry was long past his best and aging. Larry had also came in straight from a 2 year layoff with no warm up bout.

Michael Spinks- I think everyone knows the story on that fight.

That leaves Bruno, Seldon and Botha. The only other guys considered quality at the time they faced each other. In all accounts Botha was winning the fight until he was caught

Tyson melted down in the Holyfield fight, I can not even say Brian Neilson without laughing.

Lennox Lewis- Ruddock, Tucker, Bruno, Razor still a highly ranked fighter at the time and Tucker was not shot.

Tommy Morrison, Ray Mercer, Oliver McCall, Henry Akinwande, Andrew Golota and Shannon Briggs all in a row all ranked and pretty much in ther prime when Lewis beat them. When did Tyson face that many top contenders in a row?

The Holyfield fights, Michael Grant, David Tua, Hasim Rahman (1-1 but Lewis came in the first fight cocky his fault and no excuse for the loss but Hasim is way better then Douglas!!). The he finished up by tossing Tyson into the trash and a brutal bout with Vitaly Klitschko.

I liked Mike Tyson and was a big fan but personally when comparing the two resumes the choice is made for me.
Just my opinion.

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Originally Posted by hitmandonny

It's possible and Bowe was good when focused, i saw how hard he trained for Holyfield, for lewis he would have been proper psyched!

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Hindsight is 20/20 and now I do believe Lewis would have defeated bowe.
Theres no doubt though that an in shape Bowe Had all the tools and was also a Superb inside fighter.Think back to absolute destuctions in 95' against giant Jorge L. Gonzalez and Herbie Hide, Bowe at his best (and Holyfield 1 ) of course.
When Bowe started all the crazy talk about putting A kitchen in his bedroom,You knew it was all down hill ::**

Yeah I always thought Bowe seemed distracted and think the money and fame made him complacent and took his drive away. I forgot about the kitchen in his bedroom, lol. I know he loved his fur coats though :D

Looking at the shape he is in now the kitchen was without a doubt a bad idea. Then again Bowe's mind was on it's way out so maybe he was tired of getting lost in his house?

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Originally Posted by Body Puncher

Looking at the shape he is in now the kitchen was without a doubt a bad idea. Then again Bowe's mind was on it's way out so maybe he was tired of getting lost in his house?

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:lolhaha:

Bodypuncher there is a thread on who was better Tyson or Lennox. What I will say it was not who Tyson beat it was how he beat them. They were more often than not blown away. I would not say that Tyson would have done the same to Lewis but I am sure he would have beaten him prime for prime which unfortunately did not happen.

Also Bowe was awesome against Holyfield in the first fight and when he came back after his first defeat when he fought a series of unbeaten fighters and ended up KO Holyfield in their third fight. That Bowe had a chance with Lewis.

It looked like lewis hit ruddock while he was down in the first knockdown of the second round. Should have been dq'd.

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Originally Posted by Master

Bodypuncher there is a thread on who was better Tyson or Lennox. What I will say it was not who Tyson beat it was how he beat them. They were more often than not blown away. I would not say that Tyson would have done the same to Lewis but I am sure he would have beaten him prime for prime which unfortunately did not happen.

Also Bowe was awesome against Holyfield in the first fight and when he came back after his first defeat when he fought a series of unbeaten fighters and ended up KO Holyfield in their third fight. That Bowe had a chance with Lewis.

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I wrote that in reply to something that was written to me, but thanks for your directions i'll make sure that from now on I will search the boards looking for possible threads that may contain a title more suited to my answer to ANOTHER POSTER that may be more suiting to my replies, especially threads I do not know exist since it was not on the main page just to answer back to what they said. Then I will make a reply on the origional thread I started on with a link to my other reply on the other more suiting thread so the person can read it. ::**

Lewis was to good for Tyson and i would only give him a puncher's chance at best Lewis by late Ko or UD

What a coming out party Lennox had this night.

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Originally Posted by luvfightgame

Ummm, many of Lennox's best wins were guys past their prime also. However, doesn't take anything away from his reign. Just reality. Ruddock was on his way down at the time this fight took place.

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Come on luvfightgame...
You think Tua was past his best?
You think Briggs was past his best?
You think Grant was past his best?
You think Vitaly was past his best?

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

What a coming out party Lennox had this night.

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Originally Posted by luvfightgame

Ummm, many of Lennox's best wins were guys past their prime also. However, doesn't take anything away from his reign. Just reality. Ruddock was on his way down at the time this fight took place.

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Come on luvfightgame...
You think Tua was past his best?
You think Briggs was past his best?
You think Grant was past his best?
You think Vitaly was past his best?

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All due big time respect CutMeMick.....Did Grant really have a "prime" ;D

and sorry but Baby Huey Tua's prime past him 20 lbs and 10 spots of dedication ago when he woddled in with Lewis.Dont get me wrong,Lewis was the Sh!!. and I was a sceptical U.S convert.Demolition of Ruddock had me :o

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Originally Posted by Spicoli Surfs In 'Nawlins

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

What a coming out party Lennox had this night.

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Originally Posted by luvfightgame

Ummm, many of Lennox's best wins were guys past their prime also. However, doesn't take anything away from his reign. Just reality. Ruddock was on his way down at the time this fight took place.

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Come on luvfightgame...
You think Tua was past his best?
You think Briggs was past his best?
You think Grant was past his best?
You think Vitaly was past his best?

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All due big time respect CutMeMick.....Did Grant really have a "prime" ;D

and sorry but Baby Huey Tua's prime past him 20 lbs and 10 spots of dedication ago when he woddled in with Lewis.Dont get me wrong,Lewis was the Sh!!. and I was a sceptical U.S convert.Demolition of Ruddock had me :o

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Believe me I know what your saying about Grant but to be fair IF Grant would have beat Lennox what would we be saying now?
So you gotta include Grant in their cause up until that point Grant was still looked as a threat.
So your saying Tua was past his best when he met Lewis?

Klitcshko
Tyson
Rahman
Mccall
Tua
Holyfield
Briggs
Golota
Mercer
Morrison
Bruno
Ruddock
Botha
Akinwande
Mason
Grant
That is a good Resume.
Not really anyone else he could fight in his era.

Look Lennox in his prime was as dominate as any heavyweight i have ever seen he destroyed people. As for Mike Tyson he did the same thing but with weaker people i mean come on his best wins are against a 38 year old Larry Holmes and Spinks. Yea he destroyed people but come on he fell apart before he beat anyone worth a shit. After he lost to Douglas he comes back gets Tko by Evander then loses again and lets not forget Evander was alot older and had hart problems and was way off prime aswell. But he had balls and was mentally strong so he won and people do not make excuse for him because he was not weak in the head and had the balls to keep in there if Mike had Holyfield's mind set he would of been the biggest threat in history.

As far as Lennox goes he is in the higher part of the top ten and i miss him alot wish he was back in the division.

Oh yea and eagle i used some periods for you so my post make more since there you go. Also here is a cc calling you dick was not the right way to go about things and i never really should sc that is lame no matter how you look at it take it easy.

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

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Originally Posted by Spicoli Surfs In 'Nawlins

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

What a coming out party Lennox had this night.

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Originally Posted by luvfightgame

Ummm, many of Lennox's best wins were guys past their prime also. However, doesn't take anything away from his reign. Just reality. Ruddock was on his way down at the time this fight took place.

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Come on luvfightgame...
You think Tua was past his best?
You think Briggs was past his best?
You think Grant was past his best?
You think Vitaly was past his best?

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All due big time respect CutMeMick.....Did Grant really have a "prime" ;D

and sorry but Baby Huey Tua's prime past him 20 lbs and 10 spots of dedication ago when he woddled in with Lewis.Dont get me wrong,Lewis was the Sh!!. and I was a sceptical U.S convert.Demolition of Ruddock had me :o

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Believe me I know what your saying about Grant but to be fair IF Grant would have beat Lennox what would we be saying now?
So you gotta include Grant in their cause up until that point Grant was still looked as a threat.
So your saying Tua was past his best when he met Lewis?

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Absolutley without a Drunken Doubt..........Tua's preformance stated his state of mind.Out of shape stand on the outside getting pepperd and slower than "dial up".Past his prime!
Lets put it this way,He never regained his Best ^-^ and believe it or not I saw Grant as more of a threat on there given night.

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Originally Posted by Spicoli Surfs In 'Nawlins

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

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Originally Posted by Spicoli Surfs In 'Nawlins

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

What a coming out party Lennox had this night.

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Originally Posted by luvfightgame

Ummm, many of Lennox's best wins were guys past their prime also. However, doesn't take anything away from his reign. Just reality. Ruddock was on his way down at the time this fight took place.

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Come on luvfightgame...
You think Tua was past his best?
You think Briggs was past his best?
You think Grant was past his best?
You think Vitaly was past his best?

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All due big time respect CutMeMick.....Did Grant really have a "prime" ;D

and sorry but Baby Huey Tua's prime past him 20 lbs and 10 spots of dedication ago when he woddled in with Lewis.Dont get me wrong,Lewis was the Sh!!. and I was a sceptical U.S convert.Demolition of Ruddock had me :o

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Believe me I know what your saying about Grant but to be fair IF Grant would have beat Lennox what would we be saying now?
So you gotta include Grant in their cause up until that point Grant was still looked as a threat.
So your saying Tua was past his best when he met Lewis?

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Absolutley without a Drunken Doubt..........Tua's preformance stated his state of mind.Out of shape stand on the outside getting pepperd and slower than "dial up".Past his prime!
Lets put it this way,He never regained his Best ^-^ and believe it or not I saw Grant as more of a threat on there given night.

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I think Tua was still there. I mean he hit Lennox with some really good shots.
Sure Lennox won but IMO that's due to Lennox being that much better then Tua.
But fairplay to you Spicoli.

The good ole days of the early nineties that was a good time for the heavyweights, thats right around when I really started following boxing.

Not to get anything started here but it is hard to claim these guys were past their best when Lewis beat them.

Michael Grant- Undefeated at time of their fight, everyone was singing the praises of his future he was 31-0 and at the time I think the biggest ranked contender in HW boxing and was destroyed

David Tua- His only loss was to Ibeabuchi who was very highly thought of

Shannon Briggs- 30-1 at the time, his asthma barely bothered him :-[

Evander Holyfield- this was Evander in 1999, nothing more be said

Frans Botha- Still highly reguarded.

Andrew Golota- Feared by everyone, he would have been world champion if not for the fact he could not keep his punches up, he was beating Bowe at the times he was DQ'd. No one was looking to face him. During the build up to the fight many top guys picked Golota to win if he could not make the same mistakes

When you break it down these guys were all in the middle of their career going strong, if the fights took place in 2005 then there would be a case for past their best not in 1995-2000. When you really think about it for some after the fight with Lewis is when things stalled out. Just my 2 cents

Anybody remember the Meldric Taylor fight on the under card when he lost his title in an upset as well.

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Originally Posted by porkypara

Anybody remember the Meldric Taylor fight on the under card when he lost his title in an upset as well.

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Was he really upset tho?
I mean we know that MT was never the same after the 1st JCC fight.
Also MT had just come off being TKO'd by 'Terrible' in his previous fight where he moved up in weight.

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

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Originally Posted by porkypara

Anybody remember the Meldric Taylor fight on the under card when he lost his title in an upset as well.

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Was he really upset tho?
I mean we know that MT was never the same after the 1st JCC fight.
Also MT had just come off being TKO'd by 'Terrible' in his previous fight where he moved up in weight.

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Well I remember expecting Taylor to win.

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

What a coming out party Lennox had this night.

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Originally Posted by luvfightgame

Ummm, many of Lennox's best wins were guys past their prime also. However, doesn't take anything away from his reign. Just reality. Ruddock was on his way down at the time this fight took place.

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Come on luvfightgame...
You think Tua was past his best?
You think Briggs was past his best?
You think Grant was past his best?
You think Vitaly was past his best?

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Ok, Tua was out of shape. Briggs, Grant, and Vitaly were all in their primes.

I didn't say all the fighters were past their best. I said many. And many of them were already beaten by Tyson. Let's see, Ruddock, Bruno, Akiwande, all lost to Tyson already, Holyfield was WAY WAY past his prime when he fought Tyson, let alone when he fought Lewis.

Lewis has the better resume because he beat the men that beat him. Tyson never avenged his losses. As far as quality and point in career of the opposition, I think it's pretty even. They beat many of the same guys, obviously Lewis did it after Tyson because he's younger. Also Tyson had his jail term there or he would have fought Morrison, and a few others.

I'm not bashing Lewis, just being realistic.

Lennox was older then Tyson and Lennox ruled a era that had better quailty then Tysons. just thought you should know becasue you said Lewis was younger or i read it wrong.

And holyfeild was not past it that bad and i mean come on he still fought alot a years after and he was champion when Lennox beat him he was not prime but not past it.