LENNOX LEWIS EARLY STUFF

[jamesmcdonnell]

What strikes me, especially comparing him to the likes of Joshua, is how natural Lewis' physique was, no huge bulging muscles, just a naturally big man. He was actually quite slim at 235 though on a very large frame.

[TheGman]

What strikes me, especially comparing him to the likes of Joshua, is how natural Lewis' physique was, no huge bulging muscles, just a naturally big man. He was actually quite slim at 235 though on a very large frame.

Just been watching this james and i was thinking exactly the same,looking at how natural LL threw his punches,how slim he looked for a big man and was also thinking how brilliant his jab was,id rate LL as a better jabber than Larry holmes,probably the best jabber of all time.

[Tuan_Jim]

He said 'there at the Olympics.' just a wording thing for sure.

And I was correct too--Tyson was at the 84 Olympics.

When i read what you wrote i was thinkin "no tyrell biggs beat tyson in the trials so tyson didnt go" haha, i didnt know he was there with the US team in 84.

I like to provide a little trivia now and then!

[Tuan_Jim]

The Lewis jab wasn't as focused and punishing as the Holmes jab imo. With Holmes it was the chief weapon, employed to soften up opponents. With Lewis it was often pawed, the big right behind it being his main interest. Lewis's jab was critcised throughout his career--Holmes's never was, ever.

[TheGman]

The Lewis jab wasn't as focused and punishing as the Holmes jab imo. With Holmes it was the chief weapon, employed to soften up opponents. With Lewis it was often pawed, the big right behind it being his main interest. Lewis's jab was critcised throughout his career--Holmes's never was, ever.

Iv never heard it criticised tbh mate,imo he has always had a brilliant jab,LL was the last great heavyweight imo

[Tuan_Jim]

The Lewis jab wasn't as focused and punishing as the Holmes jab imo. With Holmes it was the chief weapon, employed to soften up opponents. With Lewis it was often pawed, the big right behind it being his main interest. Lewis's jab was critcised throughout his career--Holmes's never was, ever.

Iv never heard it criticised tbh mate,imo he has always had a brilliant jab,LL was the last great heavyweight imo

I think he was the last great heavyweight too. But there was often frustration with his use of the jab, think others here will corroborate. It was in the press and often referenced during fights.

[dookus]

The Lewis jab wasn't as focused and punishing as the Holmes jab imo. With Holmes it was the chief weapon, employed to soften up opponents. With Lewis it was often pawed, the big right behind it being his main interest. Lewis's jab was critcised throughout his career--Holmes's never was, ever.

Iv never heard it criticised tbh mate,imo he has always had a brilliant jab,LL was the last great heavyweight imo

I think he was the last great heavyweight too. But there was often frustration with his use of the jab, think others here will corroborate. It was in the press and often referenced during fights.

Yes, I remember him being criticized for not using the jab as well as he could have done. Bruno of all people outjabbed him consistently for six rounds!

Particularly frustrating because when he focused on the jab properly he was nigh-on unbeatable - when he settled down against Klitchscko after round 2 he was landing hard and consistently with it against a taller, longer-armed opponent.

[oogiebe]

I'm sure Lennox got shaken up by Al Malcolm in that fight. There's a brief moment where he gets walloped and looks out of it! Not seen it in years tho so brain may have exaggerated it.

Aside: So strange that his second fight was bottom of the Mike Tyson/Carl Williams bill. Both Lewis and Tyson were there at the 84 Olympics and yet by 1989 Tyson was a glorious 37-0, undisputed heavyweight champion, already an all-time great, the highest earner in sport--and a global icon to boot!--and Lewis was 2-0.

Hardcore Lewis fans love to remind people that in the 2002 Lewis/Tyson spectacle both men are the same age, in order to undermine the idea of Tyson being over the hill--as if one having accomplished everything before the other even turned pro couldn't possibly have doused his fire. Holding out for another Olympics was in the long run enormously beneficial to LL.

Lewis was still pretty raw in 1984, even though he was world junior champion going into the Olympics. He lost to Tyrell Biggs in the Games, fighting well at first but Biggs gradually got on top and pulled out a big third round to make sure of the decision. Biggs went on to win the gold medal with a decision over Franceso Damiani so it was a decent display from Lewis.
Biggs and Lewis met again, of course, years later and Lewis really got stuck into the American and stopped him early.

So too was Tyson in 84 but still he turned pro. Would be interesting to see how Lewis's career played out had he done the same.

That 91 rematch with Biggs is fairly meaningless, Tyson had knocked the stuffing out of poor Tyrell years earlier.

Good point.

[bigjack]

What strikes me, especially comparing him to the likes of Joshua, is how natural Lewis' physique was, no huge bulging muscles, just a naturally big man. He was actually quite slim at 235 though on a very large frame.

Just been watching this james and i was thinking exactly the same,looking at how natural LL threw his punches,how slim he looked for a big man and was also thinking how brilliant his jab was,id rate LL as a better jabber than Larry holmes,probably the best jabber of all time.

I love both Larry and Lennox but for me Holmes's jab was far sharper,i heard it once described as like being hit with a broom handle with broken glass on the end.

[oogiebe]

What strikes me, especially comparing him to the likes of Joshua, is how natural Lewis' physique was, no huge bulging muscles, just a naturally big man. He was actually quite slim at 235 though on a very large frame.

Just been watching this james and i was thinking exactly the same,looking at how natural LL threw his punches,how slim he looked for a big man and was also thinking how brilliant his jab was,id rate LL as a better jabber than Larry holmes,probably the best jabber of all time.

I love both Larry and Lennox but for me Holmes's jab was far sharper,i heard it once described as like being hit with a broom handle with broken glass on the end.

Holmes had best jab in the business. No doubt.

[ERIC GUY]

1984 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team (Los Angeles, California, USA)
106: Paul Gonzales, Los Angeles, Calif. (1st)
112: Steve McCrory, Detroit, Mich. (1st)
119: Robert Shannon, Edmonds, Wash.
125: Meldrick Taylor, Philadelphia, Pa. (1st)
132: Pernell Whitaker, Norfolk, Va. (1st)
139: Jerry Page, Columbus, Ohio (1st)
147: Mark Breland, Brooklyn, N.Y.

(1st)
156: Frank Tate, Detroit, Mich. (1st)
165: Virgil Hill, Williston, N.D. (2nd)
178: Evander Holyfield, Atlanta, Ga. (3rd)
201: Henry Tillman, Los Angeles, Calif. (1st)
+201: Tyrell Biggs, Philadelphia, Pa. (1st)

[oogiebe]

The Lewis jab wasn't as focused and punishing as the Holmes jab imo. With Holmes it was the chief weapon, employed to soften up opponents. With Lewis it was often pawed, the big right behind it being his main interest. Lewis's jab was critcised throughout his career--Holmes's never was, ever.

Iv never heard it criticised tbh mate,imo he has always had a brilliant jab,LL was the last great heavyweight imo

Tuan is right, early Lennox had a pawing jab, not the stinging piston like jab he developed under Emmanual Stewart.

[bripez]

The Lewis jab wasn't as focused and punishing as the Holmes jab imo. With Holmes it was the chief weapon, employed to soften up opponents. With Lewis it was often pawed, the big right behind it being his main interest. Lewis's jab was critcised throughout his career--Holmes's never was, ever.

Iv never heard it criticised tbh mate,imo he has always had a brilliant jab,LL was the last great heavyweight imo

Tuan is right, early Lennox had a pawing jab, not the stinging piston like jab he developed under Emmanual Stewart.

I agree - also, with regards to his physique.

When you look back to when he first turned pro, it is surprising how slim and almost gangly he looks (I don't remember thinking that at the time).

Although clearly an athlete, he didn't have the sculptured physique and I guess that this helped with the fluidity of his boxing.

[Boxing Writer]

What strikes me, especially comparing him to the likes of Joshua, is how natural Lewis' physique was, no huge bulging muscles, just a naturally big man. He was actually quite slim at 235 though on a very large frame.

Just been watching this james and i was thinking exactly the same,looking at how natural LL threw his punches,how slim he looked for a big man and was also thinking how brilliant his jab was,id rate LL as a better jabber than Larry holmes,probably the best jabber of all time.

No. Lennox was outjabbed badly by very stiff Frank Bruno. Prime Lewis was outjabbed by much smaller Ray Mercer, while 42-years-old Larry Holmes easily outboxed and outjabbed Ray. Lewis had a good jab, but it wasn't as good as Holmes' one.

[TheGman]

What strikes me, especially comparing him to the likes of Joshua, is how natural Lewis' physique was, no huge bulging muscles, just a naturally big man. He was actually quite slim at 235 though on a very large frame.

Just been watching this james and i was thinking exactly the same,looking at how natural LL threw his punches,how slim he looked for a big man and was also thinking how brilliant his jab was,id rate LL as a better jabber than Larry holmes,probably the best jabber of all time.

No. Lennox was outjabbed badly by very stiff Frank Bruno. Prime Lewis was outjabbed by much smaller Ray Mercer, while 42-years-old Larry Holmes easily outboxed and outjabbed Ray. Lewis had a good jab, but it wasn't as good as Holmes' one.

Maybe it was a stupid statement by myself,i remember bruno out jabbing him aswell and i remember mercer beating him but LL got the decision. Tbh i remember the morrison fight and LL took him to school and i think that image has been ingrained in my mind lol

[Boxing Writer]

Just been watching this james and i was thinking exactly the same,looking at how natural LL threw his punches,how slim he looked for a big man and was also thinking how brilliant his jab was,id rate LL as a better jabber than Larry holmes,probably the best jabber of all time.

No. Lennox was outjabbed badly by very stiff Frank Bruno. Prime Lewis was outjabbed by much smaller Ray Mercer, while 42-years-old Larry Holmes easily outboxed and outjabbed Ray. Lewis had a good jab, but it wasn't as good as Holmes' one.

Maybe it was a stupid statement by myself,i remember bruno out jabbing him aswell and i remember mercer beating him but LL got the decision. Tbh i remember the morrison fight and LL took him to school and i think that image has been ingrained in my mind lol

[Tuan_Jim]

Just been watching this james and i was thinking exactly the same,looking at how natural LL threw his punches,how slim he looked for a big man and was also thinking how brilliant his jab was,id rate LL as a better jabber than Larry holmes,probably the best jabber of all time.

No. Lennox was outjabbed badly by very stiff Frank Bruno. Prime Lewis was outjabbed by much smaller Ray Mercer, while 42-years-old Larry Holmes easily outboxed and outjabbed Ray. Lewis had a good jab, but it wasn't as good as Holmes' one.

Maybe it was a stupid statement by myself,i remember bruno out jabbing him aswell and i remember mercer beating him but LL got the decision. Tbh i remember the morrison fight and LL took him to school and i think that image has been ingrained in my mind lol

I think certain guys who scared him--Morrison, Tua, Holyfield--concentrated his jab. He used it very effectively versus Gary Mason too. But it wasn't used to it fullest potential in so many other fights.

[TheGman]

No. Lennox was outjabbed badly by very stiff Frank Bruno. Prime Lewis was outjabbed by much smaller Ray Mercer, while 42-years-old Larry Holmes easily outboxed and outjabbed Ray. Lewis had a good jab, but it wasn't as good as Holmes' one.

Maybe it was a stupid statement by myself,i remember bruno out jabbing him aswell and i remember mercer beating him but LL got the decision. Tbh i remember the morrison fight and LL took him to school and i think that image has been ingrained in my mind lol

I think certain guys who scared him--Morrison, Tua, Holyfield--concentrated his jab. He used it very effectively versus Gary Mason too. But it wasn't used to it fullest potential in so many other fights.

I think when he knew he was gonna be in a fight and was abit scared he blew them away i.e Michael Grant,Andrew Golota and Razor Ruddock. I forget fights where he never used the jab to its potential,imagine larry holmes being out jabbed by frank bruno lol

[oogiebe]

Maybe it was a stupid statement by myself,i remember bruno out jabbing him aswell and i remember mercer beating him but LL got the decision. Tbh i remember the morrison fight and LL took him to school and i think that image has been ingrained in my mind lol

I think certain guys who scared him--Morrison, Tua, Holyfield--concentrated his jab. He used it very effectively versus Gary Mason too. But it wasn't used to it fullest potential in so many other fights.

I think when he knew he was gonna be in a fight and was abit scared he blew them away i.e Michael Grant,Andrew Golota and Razor Ruddock. I forget fights where he never used the jab to its potential,imagine larry holmes being out jabbed by frank bruno lol

Great points!

[MightyWarrior]

What strikes me, especially comparing him to the likes of Joshua, is how natural Lewis' physique was, no huge bulging muscles, just a naturally big man. He was actually quite slim at 235 though on a very large frame.

Just been watching this james and i was thinking exactly the same,looking at how natural LL threw his punches,how slim he looked for a big man and was also thinking how brilliant his jab was,id rate LL as a better jabber than Larry holmes,probably the best jabber of all time.

I love both Larry and Lennox but for me Holmes's jab was far sharper,i heard it once described as like being hit with a broom handle with broken glass on the end.

Someone once described Sonny Liston’s jab as like a two-by-four smashing through a plate glass window.

[bigjack]

Just been watching this james and i was thinking exactly the same,looking at how natural LL threw his punches,how slim he looked for a big man and was also thinking how brilliant his jab was,id rate LL as a better jabber than Larry holmes,probably the best jabber of all time.

I love both Larry and Lennox but for me Holmes's jab was far sharper,i heard it once described as like being hit with a broom handle with broken glass on the end.

Someone once described Sonny Liston’s jab as like a two-by-four smashing through a plate glass window.

Both equally as effective and painful i'd imagine.

[Glass Joe]

Are you still filming fights Eric? Or has people doing facebook live, filing on phones/ipads finished you off?

[ERIC GUY]

yes i am still filming shows after 31 years, still doing the same thing , off to the HULL BOX CUP this weekend, a great event, grass roots of Boxing....
Pro shows, I mainly film Goodwin, Matchroom Warrior, Joey Pyle,
GBBU, and some others.. I just enjoy doing what I do,
Hopefully gonna start doing some DVDS of the pro fighters when they was Amateurs,
I still have the largest fight tape library in UK

[mickey1975]

Hull box cup is off.... surprise, surprise. Threat to life, etc. Police have shut it down. Happens to most junior tournaments round here now. Feuding travellers no doubt.