BoxRec

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6RTFBJQdcM

I believe this was shot just before his first fight with Tyson. Class fighter was Evander.

You can tell that Tua's awesome Power came from them tree trunk like legs.

This was probably the last time the 5ft 9in Tua came in at 16st.....what a Shame when you think that John Ruiz went on to become a 2 time Heavyweight Champ!

Tua was lethal in those days. So strong and as you say, in shape. I saw his last fight and he does'nt punch anywhere near as hard as he used to -he's timing's gone now as wella s his condition, which is a shame.

The perfect opponent to get ready for Tyson

Thanks for the video.

big lennox wrote:Tua was lethal in those days. So strong and as you say, in shape. I saw his last fight and he does'nt punch anywhere near as hard as he used to -he's timing's gone now as wella s his condition, which is a shame.

Just shows you how good Lewis was to beat him with such insouciance

Lewis should have stopped him

Oh right, Lewis should have done something that nobody else ever managed to do, why precisely?

Lewis' win over Tua was an absolute boxing clinic, in some ways, Len's best performance. Only a pillock would criticise him for not stopping the iron-jawed Tua.

Guess I am a pillock then

He hit Tua hard enough early to discourage him but then proceeded to outbox him and not risk getting involved with someone that heavy handed who had the ability to take him out with one shot. Smart? Of course. Great boxing display? For the purist it was great. Did Lewis have the abilty to take him out? I reckon so if he had gone for it, no other boxer may have been able to stop Tua but he didn't fight anyone else in Lewis' league (no Ike wasn't in Lewis' league).

I rate Lewis win over Rahman a better performance.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Oh right, Lewis should have done something that nobody else ever managed to do, why precisely?

Lewis' win over Tua was an absolute boxing clinic, in some ways, Len's best performance. Only a pillock would criticise him for not stopping the iron-jawed Tua.

I agree, James. You're 100% on the money.

I wonder whether, though, the fools who come up with these egregious comments actually unwittingly touch on something with Lennox which often doesn't get mentioned.

In my view, we can think of Lennox as two fighters not in terms of pre- and post-Steward, but in terms of the Dr Jekyll who boxes beautifully, taking few risks and leaving the result in little doubt (the pinnacle of which was probably against Tua or Holyfield), and the Mr Hyde, who goes on seek and destroy missions from the getgo, as he did with Ruddock, Golotta, Grant and Briggs.

Lennox could really do it all.

EDIT: Thinking about it, I wonder whether, as usual, I'm overcomplicating things. Maybe he just did what was needed?