Bigger upset at the time: Rahman-Lewis or Tarver-Jones?

Lol, viewers would hardly tune in to watch Lewis fight, the casuals didn't even know him unless he was fighting a famous opponent. When he lost to Rahman, everyone was like whatever

 

Tarver koing Jones in the 2nd was unquestionably a huge shock.

 

The casuals sure knew who he was two fights later when he annihilated Iron Mike Tyson tho

 

So he needed to be recognized finally right at the end of his career with a win over a badly faded fighter?

Ok

 

Keep that hate rolling bra. 18 years later you still haven't forgiven him

 

Well Roy did get roughed up more in his decision win over Tarver than in any previous fight. I believe that was the beginning of Roy starting to fray around the edges

 

Tarver was a really good almost great fighter going up against a guy people had started to think about a little. "You got any excuses tonight Roy?" There were more question with the first bout in mind. Lewis vs Rahman was largely ignored as a lamb to the slaughter situation McCall was in the back of peoples mind but Lennox had done enough and then just when he had largely got peoples faith as the man.... If they never fought you could make some points about Tarver upsetting Roy and no one would jump on your throat. Cases for Rahman on the other hand in a discussion would get just punchers chance talk some trolling and nothing else.

 

If the 1st Roy - Tarver fight hadn't happened then maybe RJJ getting KO'ed would have been the bigger upset but Roy struggling badly and looking like he had begun to decline against Tarver first time around took a lot of the surprise and shock away from him getting KO'ed whereas Rahman was seen as nothing more than a tuneup for Lewis prior to his big money showdown with Tyson, it was seen as all but a foregone conclusion with Lewis in his prime and Rahman a fringe contender who was a level or two below the top guys.

 

What mrkoolkevin has said.

Lewis-Rahman and it's not close really. I love it when people are wrong yet so convinced they're right. And why are young posters even commenting??

The only concern was that Rahman could be dangerous because Lewis was not fully focused and taking a risk filming that Oceans Eleven crap then leaving it late to fly out to South Africa. Lewis' chin wasn't much of an issue at this point either.

There's a reason Mendoza aka Dr Z's breakdown and prediction of the fight was the best, most accurate pick ever.

Yes, Roid was coming out with that 'RJ' talk, determined - and favoured - to win conclusively this time, but this "Jones was viewed as unbeatable/Nobody thought he'd lose" talk is just nonsense. Tarver was still viewed as a difficult opponent and Roid had struggled to get through the first fight ffs.

 

It's Lewis vs Rahman

Roy's star power has nothing to do with this ... And the reason why there was a rematch is because he looked beatable in the previous bout with Tarver. Lewis hadn't lost in years and Rahman beating him to become heavyweight champion wasn't something that crossed people's minds.

This was not prime Roy Jones Jr who looked levels above anyone else. That's not the Roy that showed up in first fight with Tarver either ... It was an older clearly deteriorated version of him ... Unlike Lewis who was still in the tail end of his prime

 

Tarver Jones was more shocking to me. I couldn't believe it, and Roy went down with one shot without any big punches landing before that. Then the Johnson fight after. I give Roy credit for bouncing back after that a little.

 

I think it was the nature of Jones's defeat that was most shocking. Losing to Tarver was a possibility but the feeling was dropping back down to light heavyweight so soon after fighting at heavyweight had affected his performance in the first fight and that normal service would be resumed in the rematch.

It was clear in the build up to the Rahman fight that Lewis wasn't taking things as seriously as he should - he wasn't in good shape and seemed more interested in Hollywood than his fight - and was taking his eye off the ball. He was still expected to win and win handily but there were enough signs there that an upset was coming.