Lennox Lewis - The gloss

[Taeth]

Rahman was beaten convincingly, no doubt there.

McCall went crazy/mental ill/nervous breakdown/withdrawal from drugs during his fight but still think Lewis owned him in the rematch.

Lennox should never have lost to these fighters but his trainer pepe was poor when he lost to Oliver and Manny Steward (who was in McCall's corner) sorted Lennox out.

This kind of rubber stamps what I'm saying. There're no doubt over the Rahman fight because Lewis won it convincingly. Yet he was chinned pretty convincingly the first time around, a fair draw if ever there was one. We just decide for ourselves that the second fight was the one that really mattered and counts.

McCall 2, I don't think you can say anything other than he won by default didn't he? If the second Rahman fight was the 'real' Lewis. Surely the first Lewis V McCall fight was a better indication of the 'real' Oliver McCall in which he won by convincing stoppage.

I think the narrative for Lennox Lewis losing to Rahman the first time was that he was not taking the fight seriously, was filming Oceans 11 and the altitude was a factor. Lewis was gulping for air during the first fight. Lennox won many of the rounds before being knocked out. So when the result of the rematch happened it validated all those things. There was no need for a 3rd fight which I know Rahman was begging for. Lennox also knew he was nearing the end of his career and wanted the "big money fights".

You can not blame Lewis for McCall, he won and there was nothing more he could do about that fight. It may not have been satisfactory for Lewis but that was not Lennox fault.

I'm not blaming him for anything Master, I'm not trying to do him down in any way shape or form. It's just a subject I find quite interesting especially now that we have a leading pack of heavyweights in AJ Wilder and Fury, and every Tom Dick or Harry cant help but compare them to the last great pack of heavyweights and of course, they wouldn't stand a chance. As you can imagine I think that's bollocks.

The narrative for Rahman 1 could be rounded up nicely into a 'Lewis was completely unprofessional' ball. I think he turned up with a few days to spare didn't he to acclimatise? By the same logic that says Lewis can't be held responsible for McCall's unravelling in fight 2, Rahman isn't to blame for Lewis not giving the fight the attention it deserved. Also by the same token, if we're all supposed to tow the party line that Lewis meant business in fight two and that's the true fight right there, then surely the same luxury should be afforded to McCall and the one true fight that stands is the one i which he knocked Lewis the fuck out.

Lewis is a universally recognised great fighter and nailed on top 5/10 heavyweight of all times. I just think there are some issues in his career that are papered over with two identical statements that aren't necessarily accurate and certainly not fair to the other fighters. Given that he is now a yardstick by which to measure contemporary fighters, I think it's worth noting and discussing his shortcomings.

I feel like Lewis beat them much more decisively in the rematches. Can you tell me rahman, did to Lewis what Lewis did to him in the second fight? That was a completely outclassed fighter. McCall I was ended too soon, and it wasn’t like either of them had really established an advantage over each other in the first round. They were still in the early stages of figuring each other out.

[Spicoli]

I dunno, tons of intangibles and occurrences go into things like McCall falling off the ledge that night. What we know is he was under tons of pressure with the King title challenger last minute shuffle, was at highest weight, had already lost his title and acclaim in the exact same arena where he won it and more importantly had been throwing a balling ball size wad of coke up his nose. He sort of sabotaged his chance to 'to be in top form' like the 1st fight and that's completely on him. And I don't believe in lucky punches but..his eyes were closed . The best thing that happened to Lewis was the 1st being waved off and leaving him the "it was stopped early" argument. The condition he was in McCall was going to make the ko even more embarrassing than just one & done shot. Lewis got caught simple as that. Happens to the best but he surely showed that he can deal with better punches and leave the two 1 punch kos he suffered with asterisks next to them, and besides..they're always mentioned when he is. Always

[Dark Lord Al]

Lewis fought arrogant and with no respect for either rahman or McCall. That is why he lost those fights.

[Mark TKO]

Looking back given the sort of professional Lewis was it's still hard to comprehend why he was so ill prepared for Rahman.

Disrespectful to us all.

Frank is our true champ !

[Memphis]

I don't disagree with any of the responses to be honest, like I said Lewis was a better fighter than both Rahman and McCall, no doubting that. He proved it over course and distance with better wins against better fighters. In terms of establishing superiority I was speaking purely numerically. On paper they are one win each, with Lewis by consensus winning the one that counted most.

The responses support the narrative that Lewis won the fights that mattered and although the losses are acknowledged, we can essentially sweep what went before under the carpet. That may well have been the case but as I mentioned before it's a little unfair on Rahman and McCall to reduce their efforts in fight one to a blip on Lewis's part, whether that be poor game plan, preparation, attitude. The fights were won or lost based on what Lennox Lewis did or didn't do rather than anything Rahman or McCall did. For me that's a bit naughty.

Looking back yeah maybe McCall is the better example of a grey area. They had one actual fight and McCall won it spectacularly. His mental state in fight two robbed him of his opportunity to repeat what went before, but in fairness it also robbed Lewis of the opportunity to properly right any wrongs.

Yep mental really that someone could be so ill prepared. A fighter of Lewis's calibre with his intelligence and support system around him.

[Beanz]

Funny article today with Lewis warning Wilder to not let acting make him take his eye of his day job. Difference being that Lewis was of course very good at his day job


Wilder recently took to social media and unveiled his upcoming plans to try his hand at acting.
“God has blessed me to be able to do something else that I’m very passionate about and that’s acting.
“#2019 big things poppin. Just wait until you see the champ in Lights, Camera, Action. #BombZquad”



And Lewis was quick to respond to the undefeated champion with a light-hearted word of warning:
“Be careful there. That acting thing doesn’t always work out for heavyweight champs. Trust me. I know!”


https://www.givemesport.com/1440558-...t?autoplay=off

[sanatogen]

Did Lennox Lewis duck anyone?
Did Holyfield haggle terms until eventually fighting him? (Holyfields statemtn after the Bowe fight Re: Lewis was revealing,no?)
Did Tysons team (just after prison)pay step aside money to Lewis?
Was Lewis last fight competitive against a top tier heavyweight?
Why didnt Lewis vs Bowe not happen? Does it even matter?

Apart from Bowe, was there any other significant heavyweights Lewis did not face?

Even Ali said Lewis was the greatest. Does that statement have value.

For me, Lewis fought many skillful heavyweights with heart who are much better than most of the current crop, apart from Fury and Joshua. (Wlad excluded as we dont know if hes in or out yet)

Was never a Lewis fan, but he has grown on me a little since. His alloofness and at times safety first chess match in the ring was a turn off, but he changed that when necessary against Ruddock, Golota and Michael Grant, all of them considered in different ways to be dangerous. Golota at the time was quality heavyweight package, who as it turned out had a screw loose under pressure, but thats not a crime.

[nuggetdotcom]

From a Brit perspective I would say that Lewis was our best 20th century heavyweight, end of.

[X]

From a Brit perspective I would say that Lewis was our best 20th century heavyweight, end of.

Oh yes, definitely (though it could be argued that he was produced as a fighter in Canada rather than Britain)