Just to define, I do not mean his actual ranking at any given time; I think we all agree that the HW division was a much sorrier place in 2002 than in 1992.
The yardstick I'd like you to use is, "The year Lennox could have gone back/forward in time and beaten any other version of himself".
Personally I think LL was at his peak around '92 with the demolition of Ruddock. As he aged, he became much slower, but then so did his opponents; after the frenzied demolition of Both in '97, his handspeed fell off a cliff, and his subsequent opponents of note, ie Holy/Tua/Tyson, were far past their quickest days.
Your thoughts, gentlemen?
What year would you put Lennox Lewis' peak?
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Goodnight, Irene
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 9463
- Joined: 24 Sep 2007, 04:43
Lewis was never better, as I see it, than between 1997-2002. From his pro debut to the early nineties (elimination of Ruddock included), he was a clumsy fighter, much as the Brits don't like hearing it. True enough, his handspeed was quicker, & his reflexes probably better at the lighter weight he was back then --- I don't see it making up for the knowledge he would later attain.
In the mid-nineties ('94-'96), he was still making mistakes no one wanted to see, &, later, getting accustomed to Manny Steward's style he wanted for him (which goes some way to explaining the Mercer performance, IMO). By '97-'98, he was heavier & slower than he had previously been, but he had the best cornerman (& with it, the best fight plans) of his career. He also seems a lot more comfortable in his own skin at this later stage, & he aged quite well. Handspeed doesn't matter so much when you are sporting a significant advantage in reach & height. Coupled with his getting the clinch down-pat (something he struggled with during the early 90's), & I think the best version was that of the late 90's & early, "noughties" (God, I hate that term).
In the mid-nineties ('94-'96), he was still making mistakes no one wanted to see, &, later, getting accustomed to Manny Steward's style he wanted for him (which goes some way to explaining the Mercer performance, IMO). By '97-'98, he was heavier & slower than he had previously been, but he had the best cornerman (& with it, the best fight plans) of his career. He also seems a lot more comfortable in his own skin at this later stage, & he aged quite well. Handspeed doesn't matter so much when you are sporting a significant advantage in reach & height. Coupled with his getting the clinch down-pat (something he struggled with during the early 90's), & I think the best version was that of the late 90's & early, "noughties" (God, I hate that term).
I think the period after the Holyfield rematch and before the Rahman defeat he was at his best, I know demolishing Grant and Botha are not exactly huge feats but he looked destructive at that time and very relaxed, too relaxed in the Rahman fight obviously, though his win in the rematch is arguably his best performance.
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dempseyfire
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 5534
- Joined: 29 Oct 2003, 22:56
I disagree with both. Post Holyfield he had some of his most notable wins (Grant, Tua, Tyson) but Lewis was slower and fatter then.
1992-93 for the Ruddock, Bruno fights he was at his athletic peak but way too sloppy.
I think his best was 1996-1999 when Lewis first got Steward and was refining his style but still not as slow and plodding as he'd get later on.
Mercer, Morrison, Briggs . . .that was the best Lennox IMO.
1992-93 for the Ruddock, Bruno fights he was at his athletic peak but way too sloppy.
I think his best was 1996-1999 when Lewis first got Steward and was refining his style but still not as slow and plodding as he'd get later on.
Mercer, Morrison, Briggs . . .that was the best Lennox IMO.