We rightly give Audley stick, but the critics came in early in Audley's career. Was this fair when Lennox's early record was compared (see below). I saw Lennox's debut at the Royal Albert Hall I blink and you missed it. I think Dominic Negus was tougher than most of Lennox's early opponents After he won the European title he started to be matched properly but before then his opponents were a joke Mike Acey Ossie Ocasio Dan Murphy Jorge Dascola Michael Simwelu Calvin Jones Noel Quarless Greg Gorrell Melvin Epps Steve Garber Andrew Gerrard Bruce Johnson Al Malcolm Brian Nix Lisandro Ezequiel Díaz Quinn Navarre Matthew Ellis Ratko Draskovic Rob Calloway Shawn Robinson Wade Lewis Dominic Negus Mark Krence Julius Long Piotr Jurczyk Derek McCafferty Mike Middleton
is this some sort of sick joke? In 27 fights Audley has lost 4 times, one to a taxi driver. he has won no domestic titles, only had 2 fights against world ranked opponents, both of which he lost. hes never fought for a world title. it took him 8 years to get to this high point of his career. 17 of audleys wins came by K0 in 27 fights, which lewis did in 5 years, lewis had lost one, in the 3rd defence of his wbc world heavyweight title. he won 26 of those 27 fights, won a world title, won the commonwelth, european and british titles, and beat his main domestic rival. 25 of his 26 win came by KO.
I think a key difference was activity. Lennox was very active in the first year or two of his career: he fought a lot of easy opponents, but was doing so at a rapid rate. People were as much complaining about Fraudley's inactivity (especially at his age) than they were about his opposition. The two also combined in the end: facing Richel Hersisia, Julius Francis and Tomasz Bonin in a series is very good in the first or second year of one's career, but those were the fights Fraudley had in his FOURTH year of boxing. I'll admit it, though: when I saw Harrison handle Quinn Navarre and Richel Hersisia as he did, I was very impressed. Those were some gruesome combinations he used to dust them off. However, I was in my mid-teens, and didn't realise that being 21-0 means very little other than that you've found 21 people who can't beat you.
The main thing is that Lennox always looked the real deal. I remember thinking even in his debut that he looked better than Frank Bruno when Frank had been a pro for years. Audley never looked like he'd be anything other than found out sooner rather than later.
You cant really compare the two!!!! i hope lennox doesnt read this forum!! if i were him id be a bit pissed off!! one of the best heavyweights of his generation being compared to boredley!!! lol
I am not suggesting that you compare the 2 career by career. The point I am making was that they were both Olympic champions who fought similar type opposition early in their careers, but the public turned off Audley very early. And Audley never got over that negative perception and hence his performance followed. What was the better fight to watch - Audley v Richel Hersisia, or Lennox v Jean Chanet. I accept the Audley fight was for a crap title, and Lennox was fighting for the European, but what was the most exciting? PS - I am not suggesting in anyway Harrison was better than Lewis
How bad was Audley? Well the fight you saw, saw Lennox flatten the reigning Midlands Champion inside two rounds on his debut; Audley did not fight Julius Francis (the first former Area Heavyweight Champion, he fought) until his 16th bout, and even then he laboured to a points win. Lewis was matched well on the way up, having many learning fights against experienced foes who gave him rounds and helped him develop. Within 18 months of turning pro Lennox Lewis was European Champion, within 22 months he was beating 35-0 top ten rated Heavyweights. Two years into his career Audley was not even fighting 10 rounders....
I agree. If he fights again when is he going to do it ? If he leaves it 6 months he may as well just quit now.
Ossie Ocasio, Noel Corless, Calvin Jones and Al Malcolm were good opponents considering where Lewis was in his career when he fought them.
One thing that is often overlooked is that Lennox possessed a key component in his arsenal which Audley never had and never will have...........one of these heart thingies: This content is protected
