Is Lennox Lewis right?

[oogiebe]

You know Lewis gave up both his WBA and IBF belts rather than face Ruiz and Byrd, yes?

The double standards when judging Lewis are extraordinary.

When was that? When he signed to fight Michael Grant (WBA)? Vitali (IBF)? Ruiz and Byrd would've easily lost to LL. Give me a break. The politics of the sanctioning bodies never influences my view of a fighter.

Lewis no longer had the WBA belt when he fought Grant.

Lewis no longer had the IBF belt when he fought Vitali.

How embarrassing for you.

That is exactly what I pointed out. Don't get too smug. My point was again, I don't give sanctioning bodies much ado when ranking fighters. Too much politics.

[Tuan_Jim]

What on earth does that have to do with whether or not he was scared of fighting Riddick Bowe?

You said Bowe ditched his WBC belt because he was afraid of Lewis.

Lewis ditched two belts rather than face Byrd and Ruiz.

Was Lewis afraid of Byrd and Ruiz? Or was it business?

Was Bowe afraid to fight Lewis? Or was it business?

Bowe signed to fight Lewis in 1994. Hell of a thing to do by a man "scared" of Lewis. Lewis blew the fight by getting KOd by a tough sparring partner.

Bowe was deferring the difficult Lewis fight to milk his titles. He wasn't scared. When he and HBO tries coax Lewis into a Megafight in 96 Lewis turned down the risky fight and took on Mercer for chump change, getting his face and reputation rearranged in the process.

You've made up an entire post to argue with when I didn’t say any of that.

Are you okay?

Don't get me started on your opinions about the role René Descartes played in the later works of James Joyce.

[Tuan_Jim]

When was that? When he signed to fight Michael Grant (WBA)? Vitali (IBF)? Ruiz and Byrd would've easily lost to LL. Give me a break. The politics of the sanctioning bodies never influences my view of a fighter.

Lewis no longer had the WBA belt when he fought Grant.

Lewis no longer had the IBF belt when he fought Vitali.

How embarrassing for you.

That is exactly what I pointed out. Don't get too smug. My point was again, I don't give sanctioning bodies much ado when ranking fighters. Too much politics.

Lewis signed to fight Vitali nearly a year after he ditched the IBF belt. What are you talking about? Apologise to me!

[oogiebe]

Lewis no longer had the WBA belt when he fought Grant.

Lewis no longer had the IBF belt when he fought Vitali.

How embarrassing for you.

That is exactly what I pointed out. Don't get too smug. My point was again, I don't give sanctioning bodies much ado when ranking fighters. Too much politics.

Lewis signed to fight Vitali nearly a year after he ditched the IBF belt. What are you talking about? Apologise to me!

I thought you were a normal poster, not an argumentative dipshvt. For that I'm sorry. Again, I don't care about sanctioning bodies doing their money grabs and stripping of belts. No one was ducking a Ruiz; or a Byrd. They just weren't money fights.

Facts:
Lewis beat Holyfield and because he didn't pay the 300k sanctioning fee, wasn't given the IBF belt.
WBA stripped Lewis for fighting Grant instead of John Ruiz (who was shvt).

[JxhDel.]

The argument having Lennox envious of Joshua's money and success is quite preposterous, like he himself did not sell out stadiums in UK while being still green as a pro. He is just wishing AJ would make it also among big boys in the US (and we know what platform that is), instead of milking his scene against guys not having that much of a chance against him. Matchroom instead just reviled him as a response, saying he's "jealous". Yeah.

What stadium did LL sell out in the uk?

Against Bruno in Cardiff, while retaining the WBC title. I know Joshua has sold a lot more in UK, but Lewis had his foreign successes still when he was a starter. Right or not, AJ has to go to US to become huger

[JxhDel.]

That is exactly what I pointed out. Don't get too smug. My point was again, I don't give sanctioning bodies much ado when ranking fighters. Too much politics.

Lewis signed to fight Vitali nearly a year after he ditched the IBF belt. What are you talking about? Apologise to me!

I thought you were a normal poster, not an argumentative dipshvt. For that I'm sorry. Again, I don't care about sanctioning bodies doing their money grabs and stripping of belts. No one was ducking a Ruiz; or a Byrd. They just weren't money fights.

WBA let Lewis face Grant due to its money-making potential. Akinwande was the WBA's #1 contender but was ill, so they proposed Ruiz in case, but Quiet Man's promoter challenged the decision in court and they took the title from Lennox. He didn't take Byrd as a challenger because he believed King was setting him up a rematch with Tyson, in talk after Mike destroyed Etienne

[TheLeprechaun]

I know Lewis won the fight in the Olympics between Bowe, which was stopped too soon for me but thats the amateur game.

But make no mistake, Bowe was starting to give him a bit of a hiding and had proven to be the better fighter on the night to me IF he didn't get caught. That may have happened in the pro game too but I don't think Bowe was the type to be afraid of Lewis, especially given the fact that he was handling him comfortably in that fight.

[Tuan_Jim]

That is exactly what I pointed out. Don't get too smug. My point was again, I don't give sanctioning bodies much ado when ranking fighters. Too much politics.

Lewis signed to fight Vitali nearly a year after he ditched the IBF belt. What are you talking about? Apologise to me!

I thought you were a normal poster, not an argumentative dipshvt. For that I'm sorry. Again, I don't care about sanctioning bodies doing their money grabs and stripping of belts. No one was ducking a Ruiz; or a Byrd. They just weren't money fights.

Facts:
Lewis beat Holyfield and because he didn't pay the 300k sanctioning fee, wasn't given the IBF belt.
WBA stripped Lewis for fighting Grant instead of John Ruiz (who was shvt).

So why did Lewis sign to fight Byrd in April 2003?

[BigDoofus]

but slate AJ cause he steps up and fights the best guys in the division

When did he step up and fight Wilder and Fury?

[oogiebe]

Lewis signed to fight Vitali nearly a year after he ditched the IBF belt. What are you talking about? Apologise to me!

I thought you were a normal poster, not an argumentative dipshvt. For that I'm sorry. Again, I don't care about sanctioning bodies doing their money grabs and stripping of belts. No one was ducking a Ruiz; or a Byrd. They just weren't money fights.

Facts:
Lewis beat Holyfield and because he didn't pay the 300k sanctioning fee, wasn't given the IBF belt.
WBA stripped Lewis for fighting Grant instead of John Ruiz (who was shvt).

So why did Lewis sign to fight Byrd in April 2003?

Ask him. I don't know.

[Tuan_Jim]

I know Lewis won the fight in the Olympics between Bowe, which was stopped too soon for me but thats the amateur game.

But make no mistake, Bowe was starting to give him a bit of a hiding and had proven to be the better fighter on the night to me IF he didn't get caught. That may have happened in the pro game too but I don't think Bowe was the type to be afraid of Lewis, especially given the fact that he was handling him comfortably in that fight.

Jorge Luis Gonzalez gave Bowe a genuine beating in the amateurs, scoring 4 KDs. Didn't scare Bowe at all in the pros. Or, JLG scared Bowe sufficiently to unleash the monster in him. Whatever. The Bowe that Lewis would have met in the professional ring would have been a different beast entirely to the goofy unsure teenager in Seoul.

[oogiebe]

Rock Newman was the culprit that blocked a Bowe/Lewis fight. I'm fairly certain both fighters wanted it.

[Tuan_Jim]

What Newman was doing in 92 is exactly what Hearn is doing now in 2019.

People pretend not to understand the concept of Bowe deferring a Lewis fight and letting it build, as is consistent with all boxing history, because of silly bigotry against Big Daddy.

[TheGman]

Good point dan,AJ has already began his legacy it started in his 17th fight were as lewis legacy started when he knocked out a coked up razor ruddock who built his whole career on going 19 rounds with mike tyson. AJ love him or hate him is fan friendly and the public relate to him and like him,he is like one of ya mates were as lewis reminds me of someone who thinks he is better than everyone and has done his whole career,like the time before the fury wilder fight when all the great heavys were on stage and he wouldnt get on the stage till someone got between him and bowe,he is still sh1t scared of bowe.

Terrible post.

Scared of the man who gave up he’s title rather than fight him.

You know Lewis gave up both his WBA and IBF belts rather than face Ruiz and Byrd, yes?

The double standards when judging Lewis are extraordinary.

So LL was scared of ruiz and byrd aswell then lo

[oogiebe]

Terrible post.

Scared of the man who gave up he’s title rather than fight him.

You know Lewis gave up both his WBA and IBF belts rather than face Ruiz and Byrd, yes?

The double standards when judging Lewis are extraordinary.

So LL was scared of ruiz and byrd aswell then lo

LMAO!

[oogiebe]

What Newman was doing in 92 is exactly what Hearn is doing now in 2019.

People pretend not to understand the concept of Bowe deferring a Lewis fight and letting it build, as is consistent with all boxing history, because of silly bigotry against Big Daddy.

Bigotry? You are a nutsack.

[ThereByTheGrace]

What Newman was doing in 92 is exactly what Hearn is doing now in 2019.

People pretend not to understand the concept of Bowe deferring a Lewis fight and letting it build, as is consistent with all boxing history, because of silly bigotry against Big Daddy.

Nonsense. Bowe put the WBC belt in the Bin!!! He wanted no part of Lewis after getting well beat in Olympics, hardly a sign of letting a fight build.

[oogiebe]

What Newman was doing in 92 is exactly what Hearn is doing now in 2019.

People pretend not to understand the concept of Bowe deferring a Lewis fight and letting it build, as is consistent with all boxing history, because of silly bigotry against Big Daddy.

Nonsense. Bowe put the WBC belt in the Bin!!! He wanted no part of Lewis after getting well beat in Olympics, hardly a sign of letting a fight build.

[TheGman]

The argument having Lennox envious of Joshua's money and success is quite preposterous, like he himself did not sell out stadiums in UK while being still green as a pro. He is just wishing AJ would make it also among big boys in the US (and we know what platform that is), instead of milking his scene against guys not having that much of a chance against him. Matchroom instead just reviled him as a response, saying he's "jealous". Yeah.

What stadium did LL sell out in the uk?

Against Bruno in Cardiff, while retaining the WBC title. I know Joshua has sold a lot more in UK, but Lewis had his foreign successes still when he was a starter. Right or not, AJ has to go to US to become huger

He didnt sell out any arena let alone stadium in the uk,cardiff wasnt a sell out it was 3 quarters empty. AJ doesnt have to go anywere he is the champ they should come to the uk.

[Noxy]

What Newman was doing in 92 is exactly what Hearn is doing now in 2019.

People pretend not to understand the concept of Bowe deferring a Lewis fight and letting it build, as is consistent with all boxing history, because of silly bigotry against Big Daddy.

Nonsense. Bowe put the WBC belt in the Bin!!! He wanted no part of Lewis after getting well beat in Olympics, hardly a sign of letting a fight build.

That doesn't mean anything, who told him to do that. If Bowe hadn't fancied the fight, do you think he would have been so open about it?

[danconnollyeire]

Lewis signed to fight Vitali nearly a year after he ditched the IBF belt. What are you talking about? Apologise to me!

I thought you were a normal poster, not an argumentative dipshvt. For that I'm sorry. Again, I don't care about sanctioning bodies doing their money grabs and stripping of belts. No one was ducking a Ruiz; or a Byrd. They just weren't money fights.

WBA let Lewis face Grant due to its money-making potential. Akinwande was the WBA's #1 contender but was ill, so they proposed Ruiz in case, but Quiet Man's promoter challenged the decision in court and they took the title from Lennox. He didn't take Byrd as a challenger because he believed King was setting him up a rematch with Tyson, in talk after Mike destroyed Etienne

The stadium was half empty you loon. 25000 attended the Lewis-Bruno fight... more than 50000 less than AJ-Wlad

[TheLeprechaun]

What Newman was doing in 92 is exactly what Hearn is doing now in 2019.

People pretend not to understand the concept of Bowe deferring a Lewis fight and letting it build, as is consistent with all boxing history, because of silly bigotry against Big Daddy.

Nonsense. Bowe put the WBC belt in the Bin!!! He wanted no part of Lewis after getting well beat in Olympics, hardly a sign of letting a fight build.

Bowe won the first round comfortably vs Lewis. Looked to have a better all round game. Got caught near the end of the round and caught again early in the second. May well have been starched but it was an early stoppage. He boxed Lewis up in the first round.

I think genuine boxing fans who have watched Bowes career know his heart is not in question.

What you are essentially doing is questioning a man with a heart right out of the Arturo Gatti mold. That shows a real lack of boxing knowledge. Question Gattis heart and you would be laughed off a boxing forum and arguably would be banned if I was a moderator. The same applies to Bowe. And Lewis for that matter.

[oogiebe]

What Newman was doing in 92 is exactly what Hearn is doing now in 2019.

People pretend not to understand the concept of Bowe deferring a Lewis fight and letting it build, as is consistent with all boxing history, because of silly bigotry against Big Daddy.

Nonsense. Bowe put the WBC belt in the Bin!!! He wanted no part of Lewis after getting well beat in Olympics, hardly a sign of letting a fight build.

Bowe won the first round comfortably vs Lewis. Looked to have a better all round game. Got caught near the end of the round and caught again early in the second. May well have been starched but it was an early stoppage. He boxed Lewis up in the first round.

I think genuine boxing fans who have watched Bowes career know his heart is not in question.

What you are essentially doing is questioning a man with a heart right out of the Arturo Gatti mold. That shows a real lack of boxing knowledge. Question Gattis heart and you would be laughed off a boxing forum and arguably would be banned if I was a moderator. The same applies to Bowe. And Lewis for that matter.

He did put the belt in the bin, but in my opinion, Rock Newman was the arse behind that move. Whether it was to stir the pot or not doesn't matter. I've stated before that both fighters wanted the fight. The optics were damaging to Bowe.

[TheGman]

What Newman was doing in 92 is exactly what Hearn is doing now in 2019.

People pretend not to understand the concept of Bowe deferring a Lewis fight and letting it build, as is consistent with all boxing history, because of silly bigotry against Big Daddy.

Nonsense. Bowe put the WBC belt in the Bin!!! He wanted no part of Lewis after getting well beat in Olympics, hardly a sign of letting a fight build.

Well beat? He got prematurely stopped and this was after boxing Lennox Lewis head off,lLewis couldnt do anything with Bowe till he got a lucky shot in. I like Lennox Lewis the boxer but cmon he didnt "well beat" bowe the ref done him a massive favour

[ewenhay]

What stadium did LL sell out in the uk?

Against Bruno in Cardiff, while retaining the WBC title. I know Joshua has sold a lot more in UK, but Lewis had his foreign successes still when he was a starter. Right or not, AJ has to go to US to become huger

He didnt sell out any arena let alone stadium in the uk,cardiff wasnt a sell out it was 3 quarters empty. AJ doesnt have to go anywere he is the champ they should come to the uk.

You're well named.

"AJ doesn't have to go anywhere" "AJ sells out Stadiums so he must be better than Lewis"

Clueless