Why didn't Lewis face Ruiz and Byrd?

I see no reasonable argument for Byrd being the #1, or even the #2, contender.

Wlad was the #1 contender. Sanders beat Wlad, which justified him moving ahead of Wlad in the rankings.

It doesn't justify Byrd moving ahead of the guy who had dominated him in a 1-sided mismatch just a few fights ago.

 

An ABC's mandatory was irrelevant to Lewis and more importantly to the public, at this point in Lennox's career.

Besides, Lewis held 3 belts, he couldn't defend against the mandatory of each.

If Lewis had defended against Byrd he would have rightfully faced criticism, much as Canelo will if he defends against Scull, one of his ABC mandatories. At least Scull is unbeaten, whereas as Byrd was proven as not the best fighter in the world, aside from Lewis, when Wlad so utterly dominated him.

Here you and I are, 2 decades later, arguing who the #1 contender was. That suggests to me there wasn't an outstanding #1 contender, even if Sanders clearly deserved to be, by beating the #1 contender in Wlad.

You're correct that Johnson certainly wasn't the number 1 contender. If Lewis signing to fight him constitutes a duck by your criteria, then as I said previously, fair enough, your criteria is your own.

By that criteria, every single long reiging, multi defence, champion in boxing history ducked at some point.

 

Ah, so your criteria for constituting a duck is not defending against your #1 contender for a year?

 

What about if that #1 contender changes during the year?

 

Cheers Bokaj, I've enjoyed our discussion.

No way did Lewis duck Byrd or anyone else when he fought Vitali in my eyes, and I suspect the majority agree.

By your criteria he ducked someone, but i doubt it was Byrd.

We agree Johnson would have been a poor, weak defence.