Was Lennox truly dull?

[Jody Lane]

I always enjoyed Lennox in the ring. His fight with Vitali was one of the best heavyweight fights of the past 15 years.

The Bruno and Mason fights were wildy entertaining, as was his demolition of Razor Ruddock.

He was sensible when he had to be and didn't take unneccesary risks but his fights were far far more entertaining than Wlad's, Valuev's, Chagaev's etc.

If he was fighting today he'd be Mr Excitement compared to the current lot

totally agree

I agree also. Watching him totally dominate Tua without going or having to go for the knockout was sheer brilliance.

[J_Undisputed]

As strategic and intelligent (albeit boring) in the ring as he was... I think the major points a lot of Non-pro Lennox contigency here is trying to make is that:
A. He didn't have the highest regarded chin. (In both of the Ko's, we was obliterated and had to be filled in later on what happened... and he was rocked by briggs and one or two others--Mavrovic maybe?.) That doesn't bode well for his chances against elite big punchers in their prime that wouldn't allow themselves to be fed the jab all day.

B. He didnt have many fights against stick and move speedsters. Most of any seek and destroy aggression deployed by Lewis came against lumbering plodders with lead feet and mental instability or green horns like michael grant who really didnt like getting hit at all.

It could also be argued that at the time he fought the older less effective versions of tyson and Holyfield, He wasn't the Lennox that average about 230lbs. He was coming in anywhere from 245-250. In fact, if he fought many of greatest heavyweights throughout history, he'd be enjoying a 20 -30 lb advantage prime for prime. So the point could also be made that Lennox looked great amongst his contemporaries because many of them were bigger, heavier and less agile...Leaving the window open for him being outboxed and outpaced by faster slicker fighters and/or being Knocked out regardless of weight due to his "less than granite" chin. Still in these fights noone knows what would happen or who would prevail...as theire are other possibilities, such as Lennox out thinking them /catching them cold/ a lucky punch/ dq's/ etc. I think the point being made though is that with many situational varibles, its possible maybe even probably that Lennox wouldn't be as dominant in any heavyweight picture you put him in.

[Snakefist Ar Fu]

Lennox Lewis beat Holyfield and Tyson in their prime? lol
The Brits tend to overrate their champs, see Ricky Hatton as a prime example.

Yes Lewis did beat Holyfield twice, and beat Tyson, but let's not say he beat them at their prime. Holyfield was 37 when they met, and Tyson was a washed up fighter.

and yeah lennox got holyfield and tyson out of their prime but he still did what he had to do, i do believe a 20 year old tyson beats anyone in history tho

Tyson in his prime was great. The fantasy fight everyone talks about is Tyson vs Ali. I think a Tyson vs Joe Frazier would have made for a more exciting fight to watch.
I think Lewis was a bit boring too but nothing compared to the Klitchko,s.
The Shagaev fight is a prime example of that. Like all there other fights they could have finished him off in half the time. Is it because there fighting incredibly safe or trying to make the opponent look like he has a chance. Everyone in the heavyweight devision seems to be too stupid and slow to work out how to avoid their jab jab punch technique.
Is there anyone out there who can bring the heavyweight devision back to life.

[DaxxKahn]

Ali and Holmes were still fighting 30 years ago. Are you saying Lennox Lewis has a better resume than those 2? Like I say, Brits tend to overrate their fighters into something which they are not, we all saw this with Ricky Hatton, but at least Hatton fought 2 great fighters in their prime while Lewis beat the 2 biggest names in the HW ranks when they were shot and/or old.

What I am saying is your the biggest idiot of a poster here since Zelenoff....

Read the freaking thread and post between me and Third then comeback with something worth while and don't try to put words on peoples mouths

As for Brits over rating fighters how many times are you going to repeat yourself? Think you posted the same thing already....Don't be an attention pheen hoping for someone to jump on your bandwagon...If you don't get enpough attention at home get a dog dont keep repeating yourself until someonbe acknowledges it.........

Pretty sure everyone over rates their fighters.....Brits just happen to love their fighters win or lose.....

I am sorry did Hatton Shag your girlfriend or something on a drunken binge in Vegas? You seem to spend a lot of time using his name as an example....

The 90's were HW Boxings second best era.....So Lennox beat more then 2 shot fighters......

Truth is since you have been here you have shown you know zero on this sport on anything before Hatton beat Tszyu....


Has Mom and Dad even given you permission to go on the internet?

Maybe Saddo needs to suspend your account until you bring a note with their Permission.....

and to answer your life long question...

NO Batman can not beat Superman in a street fight using only hands

Hey I call it the way I see it. One of your fellow countrymen said that Lewis has the best record of any HW in the last 30 years. That shit wasn't directed at you, but hey if someone makes comments like that, they're going to get called out for it. Holmes and Ali was still fighting 30 years ago. Lewis better record than them, that's laughable.

As for Ricky Hatton, everyday there is a thread about "If Ricky Hatton was in his prime" blah blah blah. Face it everyone outside of the UK thought the guy was overrated. What's funny is that you guys think that if Hatton was in his prime or whatever it is he could beat Floyd, Pacman, Shane Mosely, Cotto, Williams, etc. The only good name on his record was a 36 year old KT and a shot Phillips.

No need to be an internet thug. Only pussies threaten someone over the internet.

Im sorry where is a threat in my post?

There is none so once again you proved you don't read post before replying to them....

Brainiac I am not British so once again you have made a fool of yourself....

Please keep posting the way you are...You make yourself less and less credible with each one

[THE THIRD MAN]

Well Third with your logic because Tyson was outboxed by Douglas i am sure Lennox could as well i mean bringing up all the bad about Lennox. I mean i think your hate for the dude kinda clouds the judgement abit. Ali had a hell of time with lesser fighters then Lennox so did Holmes. Bring up Foreman when he was young mean the same man out boxed by young. And as far as Tyson never really beat anybody worth a shit in his prime. And Holyfeild as much as i am a fan would of had troubles with Lewis anytime.

Holyfield had no trouble with Lewis in the second fight, I had Hoylfield a clear winner in that one, and let's not forget Holyfield is really a Cruiserweight! I don't hate Lewis i just think people overrate him. He lost to two pugs in his prime and probably for the same reason Tyson lost to Douglas ( he didn't train and was complacent) He was good, but not as good as a lot of people think here. (No Bowe?) Lewis just didn't grab me as an excitng fighter, i really can't find anything special about him. Tyson beat everyone who was put in front of him, many of whom were unbeaten at the time Tyson fought them. Ali fought in the golden era against Liston, Frazier, Foreman and Norton. Foreman was a monster who by the time he fought Jimmy Young was already thinking of early retirement and was not mentally right for that fight. Frazier was always entertaining and always dangerous, if you want a Soccer comparision i have Lewis at the top of the Championship Division just outside the Premier League!

[BIG H]

There was nothing dull about Lewis-McCall 1 and Lewis-Rahman 1 and 2.

Hold on a minute, was that an indirect compliment of a British fighter ? (even if you did mention the 2 fights he lost)

[johnmaff36]

I always enjoyed Lennox in the ring. His fight with Vitali was one of the best heavyweight fights of the past 15 years.

The Bruno and Mason fights were wildy entertaining, as was his demolition of Razor Ruddock.

He was sensible when he had to be and didn't take unneccesary risks but his fights were far far more entertaining than Wlad's, Valuev's, Chagaev's etc.

If he was fighting today he'd be Mr Excitement compared to the current lot

I have always maintained that history will be kind to Lewis. He always knew the best way to fight an opponent. If he was cautious, it was for a reason. He made me a few pound better off when he fought the big guys like himself because you just knew he was gonna dive on them right away (klitchko apart).When he fought Grant, all the so-called experts were predicting that Grant would be champion for years. Until Lennox got him. He never ever ducked an opponent. A good champion and role model

[johnmaff36]

Lennox at his best was a boxing master...He knew when to box and soften his opp up but he also knew how to finish a fighter withy the best of them.....He beat everone there was to beat and regardless of what they turned out to be in the end guys like...

Briggs, Morrison, Mercer, Tua, Botha, Golota, Ruddock, Tucker, Bruno were dangerous men in their primes...

He put the exclamation on Holyfields prims coming to an end....He banished Tyson...Exposed so called future stars like Grant and Akinwande...

Avenged both his losses in superb fashion showing it was his arrogance of coming in under trained and not because either was the better fighter....

Handed Vitaly his only true stoppage....

He knew when it was time to hang them up...

All his KO's were highlight reel worthy...

Lennox was not dull he was just that good

My friend, i have tried but just cant think of anything else to put to that. To me,that was just about as perfect a summary as there is

[Andre]

Controlling can be seen by some as boring, by others as master full.

Knowing when to do something and when not to do something takes a fair bit of smooth inner calm and knowing specially when you got another heavyweight after your head. I have to give him props for it. Its like a warrior that smashes his attackers with his shield then kills them when it suits him best, its clever.

[JT Rock]

My only knock I ever had on Lewis was he didnt fight holyfield and tyson earlier. He is only a few years younger nothing that would make a difference but he fought them when they were clearly past their best. I'm sure those fights could have been made earlier than they were.

All in all I would love to have Lennox Lewis back compared to the shiit today barring Vitali Klit who I think gives any heavy in history a pikem fight

[HattonTheHammer]

Controlling can be seen by some as boring, by others as master full.

Knowing when to do something and when not to do something takes a fair bit of smooth inner calm and knowing specially when you got another heavyweight after your head. I have to give him props for it. Its like a warrior that smashes his attackers with his shield then kills them when it suits him best, its clever.

Exactly

if you have a vague interest in the sport i wouldnt reccomend a lewis boxset to take home with you. If however you have any knowledge on the artform that is boxing you will realise why lewis will always be remembered as a truly great champion and indeed a fighter.

Lewis was not a klitschko esque jab happy yawnfest fighting D level opponents, he was infact an artist that took great pride in his technique and beat the last great echelons of heavyweight talent through a lethal mix of power and precision