BoxRec

... was dominated by a non US boxer? there have been non US champs before but I would say that it was dominated by the US the whole time 130+ years of its history.

in 1999 when lewis beat holyfield that era ended and has not come back 14 years and counting. after lewis retired vitali became the undisputed king of HW. when vitali retired there wasn't really a dominant champ because wladimir had his weak period but at this time other russians like iggy, liakhovic and maskaev held the title and soon after that wladimir became the undisputed champion at latest when he unified against Iggy.

is this 14 year period really the first period of non american HW domination?

Well if you ignore the color line Tommy Burns was a dominant champion . . .until he fought Johnson.

I'd disagree Lewis began an unstopped line of non-Americans at the top of the division. While most thought Vitali was the best fighter in the division after Lewis retired, Byrd was recognized by many as the #1 HW in the division via his resume (and having a W over Vitali) until he was beaten by Wladimir in their rematch in 2006. At the least he was definitely recognized by the majority as the #1 in between Vitali's retirement and his defeat by Wlad, although some put Brewster on top before he lost to Lyakovich.

dempseyfire wrote:Well if you ignore the color line Tommy Burns was a dominant champion . . .until he fought Johnson.

I'd disagree Lewis began an unstopped line of non-Americans at the top of the division. While most thought Vitali was the best fighter in the division after Lewis retired, Byrd was recognized by many as the #1 HW in the division via his resume (and having a W over Vitali) until he was beaten by Wladimir in their rematch in 2006. At the least he was definitely recognized by the majority as the #1 in between Vitali's retirement and his defeat by Wlad, although some put Brewster on top before he lost to Lyakovich.

Given what happened during their fight and after their fight that would be a bit of a stretch IMO.