The most humble, likable Heavyweight champion in the last 20 years

Yeah that is the reason for a Heavyweight champion to beat his wife.

Dude has no excuses.

 

Even if we're talking champions only, Lewis was never as likeable as the 90's version of Foreman or Holyfield, and never as humble as Wlad or Vitali. While he seems like a decent enough guy, I've never thought of Lewis as being particularly humble, and I didn't find him to be likeable until he retired.

 

Foreman is a good shout. A 90s Foreman was a far cry from 70s Foreman where he was just a mean SOB.

 

The 90's version of Foreman has to be the most likeable active heavyweight champ of all time, so it seems pretty silly to say Lewis was more likeable. I'd give a shout out to Max Schmelling, who might just be the best human being of any heavyweight champ ever, but of course during his reign he was used as a media schill for the Nazi party which by default made him pretty unlikeable.

 

Max didn't support the Nazi, and I think did a lot against them.

Didn't he help out Louis?

 

Absolutely, and he hid Jews during the war as well, but that wasn't the world's perception of him until long after he retired.

 

When champions lose against voluntaries they get a rematch. When contenders lose against champions they don't get **** unless the champ wants it. Boxing 101 noob.

 

Who necks?

 

Lennox Lewis, what a guy.

 

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He was cocky when he smiled at Rahman after he landed a punch inside, just before he got KTFO. He was cocky when he said Bowe into his face 'Im gunna knock ya out!'. He was cocky when he kept saying Vitali was **** in a good dozen interviews after the fight and denied his opponent any respect.

Don't misunderstand me. IMO Lewis wasn't cocky because he was an *******. He was cocky because he believed he's #1 and nobody should **** with him. That's what it takes to be champion.

Inside the ring his cockiness sometimes lead to disaster - or very close to it. When it goes well then he blows away Golotha in a heartbeat. If it (almost) goes wrong he almost gets knocked out by a mediocre fighter like Briggs.

 

Lewis is a shining beacon in our great sport. A gentleman and a scholar.