How well known was Lennox Lewis

[Fenster]

I first heard of him in the lead up to the Olympics, when he was touted as a very good medal candidate for Canada. After winning the gold, I'd say he was always well known here, anyone who had any interest at all in boxing paid attention to his career. His professional development was reported in the Canadian sports pages, and he was though of as a Canadian, even though he moved to England when he turned pro. There is no doubt who Canada favored when it came to the Holyfield bouts.

Decided to go back to his place of birth

OK I could say he learned his chops in Canada, but really, whatever. Claim a victory on a technicality if it makes you feel better.

Obviously he thought England would serve him better as a pro.

Yes.. we (thats us Brits.. specifically Lennox's fellow Londoners like me ) probably have a lot to thank Canada for.

Without being taken over there he probably wouldn't have been the fighter/person he was.

Then again who knows.

[CGM]

Decided to go back to his place of birth

OK I could say he learned his chops in Canada, but really, whatever. Claim a victory on a technicality if it makes you feel better.

Obviously he thought England would serve him better as a pro.

Yes.. we (thats us Brits.. specifically Lennox's fellow Londoners like me ) probably have a lot to thank Canada for.

Without being taken over there he probably wouldn't have been the fighter/person he was.

Then again who knows.

I was disappointed he left Canada, but still cheered for him. I never really dug up his life story until a few years ago, so I didn't know of his British roots till then. My guess is most Canadians who aren't serious fans of the sport don't know he was born and spent early years in England. MY guess is Brits didn't eather, until he moved back.

Like you say, who knows. He stood out as an amateur in Canada, would he have done so in England?

[Taeth]

I first heard of him in the lead up to the Olympics, when he was touted as a very good medal candidate for Canada. After winning the gold, I'd say he was always well known here, anyone who had any interest at all in boxing paid attention to his career. His professional development was reported in the Canadian sports pages, and he was though of as a Canadian, even though he moved to England when he turned pro. There is no doubt who Canada favored when it came to the Holyfield bouts.

Decided to go back to his place of birth

But Canada made him the boxer he was. In England he would have been far to refined for the boxing world... depending on where he grew up.

[Fenster]

I first heard of him in the lead up to the Olympics, when he was touted as a very good medal candidate for Canada. After winning the gold, I'd say he was always well known here, anyone who had any interest at all in boxing paid attention to his career. His professional development was reported in the Canadian sports pages, and he was though of as a Canadian, even though he moved to England when he turned pro. There is no doubt who Canada favored when it came to the Holyfield bouts.

Decided to go back to his place of birth

But Canada made him the boxer he was. In England he would have been far to refined for the boxing world... depending on where he grew up.

Yes, probably, i already said that.

Funk knows if Lewis would have even been a boxer if he stayed in England. That's impossible to say.

What do you mean "far to refined?"

Lewis was taken from the rough streets of London to have a cosy upbringing in Ontario.

[Drago]

Lennox is a brit, final!

[Conrad]

I was disappointed he left Canada, but still cheered for him. I never really dug up his life story until a few years ago, so I didn't know of his British roots till then. My guess is most Canadians who aren't serious fans of the sport don't know he was born and spent early years in England. MY guess is Brits didn't eather, until he moved back.

I had an argument with a women at work years back over this. She refused to back him as he wasn't really British. Can't remember how old Lennox was when he moved to Canada, 8 or so? Either way her son was the same age, so I asked her if she moved to Spain with her son would he still class himself as British in 15 years time. 'Of course' she said 'But Lennow Lewis is not British - listen to his accent'

Now Owen Hargreaves is another kettle of fish. He IS Canadian and should play for Canada - regardless of how good he is!!!

[THE THIRD MAN]

His overrated achievements are known down here.

[Drago]

His overrated achievements are known down here.

Owen Hargreaves yeah he is overated

[DaxxKahn]

Lennox became a known name throughout the sporting world and not just in boxing after the first Holyfield bout....It was a big deal and most American fans felt he was robbed in that fight so it made some noise in the news....,

As he became more dominate he became more famous of course but in short Lewis, Holyfield, Bowe etc were all still shadowed by Tyson in terms of poularity

[WelshDevilRob]

I was disappointed he left Canada, but still cheered for him. I never really dug up his life story until a few years ago, so I didn't know of his British roots till then. My guess is most Canadians who aren't serious fans of the sport don't know he was born and spent early years in England. MY guess is Brits didn't eather, until he moved back.

I had an argument with a women at work years back over this. She refused to back him as he wasn't really British. Can't remember how old Lennox was when he moved to Canada, 8 or so? Either way her son was the same age, so I asked her if she moved to Spain with her son would he still class himself as British in 15 years time. 'Of course' she said 'But Lennow Lewis is not British - listen to his accent'

Now Owen Hargreaves is another kettle of fish. He IS Canadian and should play for Canada - regardless of how good he is!!!

He was 12 or 14 when he moved to Canada for good to join his mother who had moved there a few years earlier to find work.

[Fenster]

I was disappointed he left Canada, but still cheered for him. I never really dug up his life story until a few years ago, so I didn't know of his British roots till then. My guess is most Canadians who aren't serious fans of the sport don't know he was born and spent early years in England. MY guess is Brits didn't eather, until he moved back.

I had an argument with a women at work years back over this. She refused to back him as he wasn't really British. Can't remember how old Lennox was when he moved to Canada, 8 or so? Either way her son was the same age so I asked her if she moved to Spain with her son would he still class himself as British in 15 years time. 'Of course' she said 'But Lennow Lewis is not British - listen to his accent'

Now Owen Hargreaves is another kettle of fish. He IS Canadian and should play for Canada - regardless of how good he is!!!

Lewis went there when he was 12.

Hargreaves was born and raised in Canada, right? Totally different. Fact.

[Scrap]

I tipped Frank off about Him, I was in the running to train the Canadian team that year and new all about Him. He would have made it anywhere Great Talent.

[ICB]

Decided to go back to his place of birth

But Canada made him the boxer he was. In England he would have been far to refined for the boxing world... depending on where he grew up.

Yes, probably, i already said that.

Funk knows if Lewis would have even been a boxer if he stayed in England. That's impossible to say.

What do you mean "far to refined?"

Lewis was taken from the rough streets of London to have a cosy upbringing in Ontario.

Actually it wasn't all nice and comfy for Lennox Lewis in Canada. I heard the Canadian's at school took the piss out of his British accent, thats why he took up boxing because he was bullied.

[CutMeMick]

As mentioned by Sheep, if you followed sports you knew about Lennox.
He was known...

In the year 2000 Reflection Eternal (A group made up of Talib Kweli & DJ Hi-Tek) had Lennox do a short piece on their album "Train of thought"

[Dizaster]

I thought he was pretty well known over here.. Certainly not as well known as Tyson.. I asked my girlfriend and even though I had a Lennox Lewis picture on my wall, she still had no idea who he is.. Although she has heard of Tyson, Ricky Hatfield (i'll let her think that ones right), and our Aussie ones Danny Green, Mundine, KT..

Boxing doesn't get much mainstream press here unless they are an Australian boxer, or a big overseas boxer that is coming to fight here..

A lot of my guy friends though who were by no means into boxing still knew of Lennox, but Tyson & Ali are probably the real 2 standouts that pretty much any person knows.. Not many boxers get to be that famous and well known..