David Izon vs Lewis, Tyson and Klitschko
Posted: 12 Feb 2018, 08:33
David Izon is one of the unluckiest fighters in the world. He could have fought one of the top guys in the division in 2001, but ended up being pummelled by Fres Oquendo.
Facts:
1) David Izon was ranked contender with 27-3 (23 KOs) record at the beginning of 2001.
2) Izon was one of the 4 guys that were considered by HBO for being Lennox Lewis' opponent in Africa. 3 others were Larry Donald, Kirk Johnson and Hasim Rahman. As far as I remember, Donald and Johnson were taken out of contention as they decided to take an easier route to the title - WBA. They fought each other in the WBA final eleminator, and Johnson won by UD. So, only Izon and Rahman were left, but eventually Rahman was choosen as Lewis' opponent. I believe it was so because HBO wanted Lewis' opponent to be an American, so Rahman got an edge here.
3) Then Izon was scheduled to face Mike Tyson on June 3, 2001, but after Rahman knocked out Lewis, Tyson pulled out of the fight with Izon hoping that he will get Rahman fight.
4) Izon was tentatively scheduled to face Hasim Rahman in August 2001 in China, but Lewis sued Rahman demanding his rematch, and Don King's idea of Rahman - Izon fight fell through.
5) In December 2001 David Izon was scheduled to challenge Wladimir Klitschko for his WBO heavyweight title, but Klitschko got injured and Izon ended up facing then prospect Fres Oquendo, who battered and stopped him in 3 rounds.
I think David Izon would have had virtually zero chances of beating Lewis (even unfocused one) or Wlad, and even 2001 version of Tyson was still to good for him. He would have had a decent chance of winning against Rahman, but in my opinion, Rahman was better boxer and would beat Izon. I can't remember any boxer in any weight class missing so many big fights in one year. Really unlucky guy.
Facts:
1) David Izon was ranked contender with 27-3 (23 KOs) record at the beginning of 2001.
2) Izon was one of the 4 guys that were considered by HBO for being Lennox Lewis' opponent in Africa. 3 others were Larry Donald, Kirk Johnson and Hasim Rahman. As far as I remember, Donald and Johnson were taken out of contention as they decided to take an easier route to the title - WBA. They fought each other in the WBA final eleminator, and Johnson won by UD. So, only Izon and Rahman were left, but eventually Rahman was choosen as Lewis' opponent. I believe it was so because HBO wanted Lewis' opponent to be an American, so Rahman got an edge here.
3) Then Izon was scheduled to face Mike Tyson on June 3, 2001, but after Rahman knocked out Lewis, Tyson pulled out of the fight with Izon hoping that he will get Rahman fight.
4) Izon was tentatively scheduled to face Hasim Rahman in August 2001 in China, but Lewis sued Rahman demanding his rematch, and Don King's idea of Rahman - Izon fight fell through.
5) In December 2001 David Izon was scheduled to challenge Wladimir Klitschko for his WBO heavyweight title, but Klitschko got injured and Izon ended up facing then prospect Fres Oquendo, who battered and stopped him in 3 rounds.
I think David Izon would have had virtually zero chances of beating Lewis (even unfocused one) or Wlad, and even 2001 version of Tyson was still to good for him. He would have had a decent chance of winning against Rahman, but in my opinion, Rahman was better boxer and would beat Izon. I can't remember any boxer in any weight class missing so many big fights in one year. Really unlucky guy.