BoxRec

Carrying on with my 'Best Win Series'..



He had recorded 41 wins, with 32 KO's!

Record:

15-2-1 (10 KO) in World Title fights.
14-2-1 (9 KO) against former or current world titlists.

Which was his best and/or defining win?

What was his best KO win?

Some names that he has fought include:

Donovan Ruddock
Frank Bruno
Oliver McCall
Tommy Morrison
Henry Akinwande
Shannon Briggs
Evander Holyfield
Michael Grant
David Tua
Hasim Rahman
Mike Tyson
Vitali Klitschko

He beat every boxer he ever fought..

Another question..

Regardless of win/loss.. Who was his best opponent?

Best win or best opponent beaten?

If it's the former then Razor Ruddock blow out was a huge statement at the time. If it's the latter then Holyfield

Best opponent faced would also be Holyfield.

The Bruno performance was amazing given he'd been staggered seconds before the stoppage.

The revenge against Rahman was textbook.

The gruelling bloodfest with Vitali was very good as well.

Tyson was a shell and that was an embarrassing fight that shouldn't have happened.

Even a past it holyfield was far and away the best fighter he faced. And he wasn't that far gone, about the same as Lennox was when he beat vitalis ass.

I actually think I would go with Ray Mercer at the time Lewis fought him. Mercer fought perhaps the best fight of his career.

As for his best KO win, guess I would go with Ruddock. That really opened up some eyes at the time.

Which was his best and/or defining win?

His best was probably Holyfield 1 and 2.. Bruno wasn't too bad either. Probably a hard fight. He was behind one card.

Defining would be Ruddock. He introduced himself to the HW division.

What was his best KO win?

I'm going with a personal favourite of mine. Hasim Rahman! It kinda reminded me of RJJ vs Kanye West.. but not as good.

Regardless of win/loss.. Who was his best opponent?

You'd think Tyson. But he wasn't his 'best' when they fought. Gotta go with Holyfield. He wasn't past his best at the time. Close second was Vitali.

Holyfield was in his prime when he fought Lewis? I think not. That version was still better than vitali or Tyson at their best.

Holyfield is the best opponent he fought, and the best win on his record.

As others have mentioned the Ruddock KO was a great statement win, and the Vitali win is great considering what Vitali would go on to achieve, and the fact that it was Lewis' final bout.

It's ironic that I think his signature "win' could be his first fight with Holyfield. Obviously, we are all aware he didn't get the actual win on his ledger. But, I think that fight perfectly defined what I believe is his legacy in the sport. He was able to use a previously unseen combination of acumen, athleticism, and sheer size to effectively neutralize and flummox not simply a terrific fighter, but a guy that is unquestionably an all time great fighter. It really signaled a new age in the heavyweight division in that a guy of such size and power could also bring so much in the way of fluid boxing ability. It left you with the feeling that smaller heavyweights were going to have to be even better moving forward if they want to compete with this "new" brand of super heavyweight. For me, that is precisely what made Lennox Lewis special, and it should be his epitaph in boxing.

The Holyfield that Lewis fought struggled with John Ruiz in his next fight and won a highly controversial decision. If Holyfield is Lewis's best win than that would seem to make Ruiz as good as Lewis's best opponent.

Vitali might be his best win

In terms of making a statement it was Ruddock, nobody did that to Razor and Lewis swept him aside like he was nothing.

banjo wrote: ↑01 Dec 2017, 05:42 In terms of making a statement it was Ruddock, nobody did that to Razor and Lewis swept him aside like he was nothing.

Another statement was knocking out Golota in one. In his two previous fights the year before Golota was knocking the hell out of Bowe before losing twice by DQ, the only losses on his record at that point. Lewis flattened him in 95 seconds.

Holyfield. Even washed up version of Evander was still better than anybody else in Lewis' resume. Vitali, Rahman II, Golota, Tua, Mercer and Ruddock also were good wins. Tyson was totally shot - Danny Williams KO'ed the same version of Mike much quicker than Lennox did.

You know looking at the names and comments on this thread. It shows further proof that Lewis was just a big fish in a small pond. Didn't seem to fight the right guys at the right time. Not all his fault of course. He did better than those around him. That's why he held most of the belts.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑01 Dec 2017, 10:44 You know looking at the names and comments on this thread. It shows further proof that Lewis was just a big fish in a small pond. Didn't seem to fight the right guys at the right time. Not all his fault of course. He did better than those around him. That's why he held most of the belts.

I'd say the era in which Lennox reigned is one of the deeper Heavyweight divisions. Would've been interesting if he was hitting his stride in the early 90's more so, and had fought Holyfield in 1992 or 1993 instead.

It's also a shame we never got to see him vs Bowe.

Hell perhaps a fight Old Foreman would've been good too.

He fought most everyone else of the 90's. I don't think we missed much by never seeing him fight Michael Moorer and guys like that.

You know Vitali Klitschko was his best opponent... And you know he didn't really win that one -- it was a gift.

I like the way Lewis was posing for this picture -- trying very hard to look like The Predator... He could be a dipwad... He probably took a hundred photos before he came up with this one that had the lighting and effect he wanted.

Kalan wrote: ↑01 Dec 2017, 12:16 You know Vitali Klitschko was his best opponent... And you know he didn't really win that one -- it was a gift.

I like the way Lewis was posing for this picture -- trying very hard to look like The Predator... He could be a dipwad... He probably took a hundred photos before he came up with this one that had the lighting and effect he wanted.

Do you genuinely not like/hate Lennox Lewis? If so, Why?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 08:44

Kalan wrote: ↑01 Dec 2017, 12:16 You know Vitali Klitschko was his best opponent... And you know he didn't really win that one -- it was a gift.

I like the way Lewis was posing for this picture -- trying very hard to look like The Predator... He could be a dipwad... He probably took a hundred photos before he came up with this one that had the lighting and effect he wanted.

Do you genuinely not like/hate Lennox Lewis? If so, Why?

It's because vitali was ahead on ALL SCORECARDS!!!!!

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 08:44

Kalan wrote: ↑01 Dec 2017, 12:16 You know Vitali Klitschko was his best opponent... And you know he didn't really win that one -- it was a gift.

I like the way Lewis was posing for this picture -- trying very hard to look like The Predator... He could be a dipwad... He probably took a hundred photos before he came up with this one that had the lighting and effect he wanted.

Do you genuinely not like/hate Lennox Lewis? If so, Why?

His dislike of Lewis is primarily related to his liking of Vitali Klitschko and his view that Klitschko was cheated in the Lewis fight.

It's his view that the Klitschkos are the greatest heavyweights ever after Anthony Joshua. That seems to be the sum and substance.

It's the same at other weights. He thinks Golovkin and Kovalev are the best ever at middleweight and light heavyweight along with Spence, Thurman and Brook at welterweight .

Then repeat over and over again.

ewenhay wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 10:49

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 08:44

Kalan wrote: ↑01 Dec 2017, 12:16 You know Vitali Klitschko was his best opponent... And you know he didn't really win that one -- it was a gift.

I like the way Lewis was posing for this picture -- trying very hard to look like The Predator... He could be a dipwad... He probably took a hundred photos before he came up with this one that had the lighting and effect he wanted.

Do you genuinely not like/hate Lennox Lewis? If so, Why?

His dislike of Lewis is primarily related to his liking of Vitali Klitschko and his view that Klitschko was cheated in the Lewis fight.

It's his view that the Klitschkos are the greatest heavyweights ever after Anthony Joshua. That seems to be the sum and substance.

It's the same at other weights. He thinks Golovkin and Kovalev are the best ever at middleweight and light heavyweight along with Spence, Thurman and Brook at welterweight .

Then repeat over and over again.

And he claims to be in his 70's.

I would rate his wins this way:

Holyfield UD 12 ..............this win made him him the universally recognized champion, unified all the belts needed at that time to called be undisputed and established him as the best of his era. This was his career defining win, he loses this fight, he's not in the hall of fame now and we wouldn't be talking about him.




Rahman KO 4..............................getting right back in the ring with a man who had knocked you out is a very hard thing to do, many times we've seen boxers get back in there with that guy and show us they don't really want to be in there with THAT man again. That's not what Lennox did.

Ruddock..................for the same reasons everybody else is saying

Tyson......................yes Mike was spent but Lennox was near the end too and Tyson was by far the biggest on the era............if the biggest name in the sport is in your division and you beat him that is always a big win

Klitchko..................Lennox showed us his heart in this fight more than any other. He was 38 and at the end, not even motivated enough to train seriously, he came to the ring visibly out of shape. Vitali was in his prime and as always in great shape. The fight started bad for the unmotivated Lewis, it would have been easy to concede he no longer had the desire to be champ, go safety first so he could finish on his feet and retire after the fight. That's not at all what Lennox did, he looked at his challenger with his usual arrogance and went to battle, if Lennox was going to be dethroned he was going out on his shield and no other way. Old, out of shape faced with a prime, hungry opponent he still only needed half a fight to turn the challenger's face to a disgusting mess, get the win and ride off into retirement as champ.

Rahman KO 4..............................getting right back in the ring with a man who had knocked you out is a very hard thing to do, many times we've seen boxers get back in there with that guy and show us they don't really want to be in there with THAT man again. That's not what Lennox did.

Agreed Perseus, definitely a win of note for LL and worth flagging-up.

Lewis got things badly wrong in South Africa against Rahman - by all accounts arriving a wee bit late for a fight on the High Veld which really ain't clever - and he took some proper bingo shots that night and frankly got himself embarassed.

Second time round, the focus was back and Rahman was well beaten. A good achievement considering he'd got a rare tonking from Rahman.

Bodyshot3 wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 14:48

Rahman KO 4..............................getting right back in the ring with a man who had knocked you out is a very hard thing to do, many times we've seen boxers get back in there with that guy and show us they don't really want to be in there with THAT man again. That's not what Lennox did.

Agreed Perseus, definitely a win of note for LL and worth flagging-up.

Second time round, the focus was back and Rahman was well beaten. A good achievement considering he'd got a rare tonking from Rahman.

The rematch was close to not happening too. Don King wanted to match Rahman with others and milk him. But Lewis made sure he got a rematch.

Rahman's win was definitely not fluke. He got the better of Lewis in the first fight. It's Lewis' responsibility to be 100% focused and he clearly wasn't..

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 14:54

Bodyshot3 wrote: ↑02 Dec 2017, 14:48

Rahman KO 4..............................getting right back in the ring with a man who had knocked you out is a very hard thing to do, many times we've seen boxers get back in there with that guy and show us they don't really want to be in there with THAT man again. That's not what Lennox did.

Agreed Perseus, definitely a win of note for LL and worth flagging-up.

Second time round, the focus was back and Rahman was well beaten. A good achievement considering he'd got a rare tonking from Rahman.

The rematch was close to not happening too. Don King wanted to match Rahman with others and milk him. But Lewis made sure he got a rematch.

Rahman's win was definitely not fluke. He got the better of Lewis in the first fight. It's Lewis' responsibility to be 100% focused and he clearly wasn't..

Rahman turned down a massive contract from HBO.