Lennox Lewis ducked Chris Byrd

He avoided a pre-prison Tyson by staying in the amateurs until he was 23, then fighting low level journeymen in his first 11 fights. Tyson had been beaten before Lewis fought 4 loss streak cruiser Ocasio and would be safely in prison before Lewis stepped up vs Ruddock at 27.

 

Lewis didn't share your confidence, saying something like "I'd box Byrd at long range and might not knock him out if he stays safe". That's why he worried it wouldn't be "exciting".

 

"Byrd had highly controversial decisions in all his world title fights vs Golota, Williamson = Most boring HW title fight in history, Oquendo, McCline."

They all came after Lewis's duck of Byrd, who should have managed his career better as Lewis did.

"People are living in a fantasy world if they think Byrd would beat Lewis."

You'd have said the same thing about McCall and Rahman if Lewis had ducked them. Regardless of who'd have been favoured, who may or may not have won, Lewis ducked Byrd. He said the fight wouldn't have been "exciting", aka not confident of KO'ing Byrd at the very minimum, possibly would have lost.

 

"Byrd never fared well against tall guys with a good jab."

Byrd gave Vitali hell and made him quit, the same Vitali who outboxed the 37 year old Lewis who ducked Byrd, who Lewis didn't rematch despite the controversy.

Lewis never fared well against southpaws or movers. Blown-up LHW 21-7 journeyman switch hitter Greg Gorrell was his only southpaw (took Lewis 5 rounds) and Mavrovic was his most fleet-footed opponent by his own admission.

Hence Lewis ducked awkward southpaw Byrd to fight John Ruiz victim Kirk Johnson.

 

"A near-retirement"

Byrd-ducker Lewis wanted at least three more fights by his own admission. Byrd-victim Vitali retired him.

"Lewis is leagues and leagues and leagues above Fury in everything"

Especially in getting one-punched by random bums!

 

Lewis fought Tyson post-prison, 14 years post-Spinks and avoided pre-prison Tyson. He could have turned pro much sooner (he was 10 months older than Tyson and started boxing at age 12/13) but elected to stay in the amateurs for a 2nd Olympic cycle, turn pro late at 23, fight journeymen/gatekeepers in his first 21 fights to age 27 when he fought Ruddock, bide his time. It was "good career management" or "ducking" depending on your perspective.

 

This is just a narrative, Vitali was using both hands throughout the fight and even stood around at ringside doing interviews after rather than going to hospital with his "severe injury". Byrd took him into deep waters, broke his will and Vitali never looked for a rematch.

 

Amazing argument.

People don't like Byrd's win over a quitting Vitali (who failed to put a dent in Byrd over 9 rounds, who had to deal with scorecard bias in Germany) because it makes Lewis's life and death vehemently protested A-side doctor's stoppage win look less impressive.