Lennox Lewis, The Thread

I couldn't think of a different title because this thread is basically just a blend of a Lewis appreciation thread, pointing out his flaws (like the Ali thread) and me doing the thing where I give you ten ATGs and see which of them beat him

Lewis emerged from the 90s as the best HW (imo) and made a body of work that's historicaly competitive beating guys like

David Tua
Mike Tyson
Evander Holyfield
Andrew Golata
Hasim Rahman
Shannon Briggs
Frank Bruno
Tommy Morrison
Ray Mercer
And even stopped a prime Vitali Klitschko just 2 months shy of 38.

He was a 3 time champ, 2 time lineal and displayed one of the greatest skillsets of any HW, he defeated everyman who stepped in the ring with him by way of rematch and is one of 4 men to do so, the others being Riddick Bowe, Ingemar Johansson, Rocky Marciano and Gene Tunney. He was a very established amateur, losing in 84 to Tyrell Biggs before he could go into the Olympics (he would avenge this loss in the pros), he won countless trophies but the gold he took home in 88 was his best after controversially stopping Riddick Bowe who he would later be rivals with

He is imo the number 1 H2H HW and a top 3 HW.



After watching

Briggs vs Lewis
Both Rahman Fights
Both McCall fights
Grant, Ruddock, Golota
TKO6
Both Holyfield fights
Frank Bruno and Ray Mercer fights

I have seen that he did not have the greatest chin, but not an awful one, he showed very good punch resistance against Klitschko, Briggs and Mercer.

He had a tendency to paw with his jab and leave himself slightly open, not that it really mattered as to exploit this you'd have to be willing to get hit with his right.

He clinched whenever he didn't like what his opponents were doing, a strong fighter could take control of this and hurt Lewis.

He could be out jabbed by someone with a stiffer jab, this made him brawl and should someone with teh power and balls to trade with him could get a TKO/KO win by doing this.

The fights before Steward he was much more raw, less accurate but more explosive. This had him hit a few times against Bruno. Manny made him a much better fighter


He had one of the highest ring IQs I've ever seen.
He was very physically strong but was also very fast on his feet, he could dominate both inside and out.
He had a very good defence, I don't think it's talked about much tho.
He had really good power in both hands and his uppercut was a weapon of mass destruction. One of the best in history.

I think his best performance was Andrew Golata, he was both measured and explosive, he did everything right. He out jabbed him, pulled him around and found an opening. Then BAM, that was all she wrote. He pulverised someone who was viewed as a top 2 HW in the world.

Who beats him?

 

He was, his jab was really disturbing Lewis as well

 

I think Liston out jabs him like Mercer, Vitali and Bruno did so he brawls then he whilst trading Liston lands a big Shot that Lewis can't take