The State of the Game (Heavyweights; end of 1991)

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by TBooze, Jun 5, 2010.


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  1. zadfrak

    zadfrak Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Did you go to that Derek Williams fight? I thought he was a dangerous guy. Flawed, but dangerous. not the kind of opponent to select when you are trying to build up undefeated youthful fighters. I thought the overall level of competition Lewis fought for early in his career pre-title was pretty much the sternest since Tate. It certainly was not as stern as Lyle or Frazier, but a tough road.
     
    zadfrak, Jun 8, 2010
    zadfrak, Jun 8, 2010
    #16
  2. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    I remember when the top 10 looked like this... It hasn't been anywhere near as good since, and probably never will again.
     
    mr. magoo, Jun 8, 2010
    mr. magoo, Jun 8, 2010
    #17
  3. ChrisPontius

    ChrisPontius March 8th, 1971 Full Member

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    :lol:

    By the way, seeing that this article was written by Steve Farhood explains everything. He thought Lewis' draw with Holyfield was fair. :patsch
     
    ChrisPontius, Jun 8, 2010
    ChrisPontius, Jun 8, 2010
    #18
  4. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    One of the very many reasons why I don't live and die by the expert opinion of the ring magazine.
     
    mr. magoo, Jun 8, 2010
    mr. magoo, Jun 8, 2010
    #19
  5. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    No we did not go to the Williams fight. Williams, like you suggest, on top form figured to be a real handful for Lewis. There were quite a few respectable figures at least tipping Williams to give Lewis his hardest fight yet.

    But I must admit, I figured Lewis would win, and win well, but my smugness on that pick needs to be placed against me putting money on Mason to stop Lewis early:oops:.

    Lewis' career path was very solid, although IMO he did not fight enough, he did show continuous improvement, and always stepped up the quality of opposition when required.

    For instance KO1 of Jorge Dascola may look like a padding the record moment on Boxrec, but Dascola had just come of giving the then top rated Michael Dokes 11 tough rounds, in which I believe Dokes had to get off the floor to win. So for a tenth fight, Lewis was meeting seemingly very competitive opposition.
     
    TBooze, Jun 8, 2010
    TBooze, Jun 8, 2010
    #20
  6. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    KO ratings for the period ending July 19 1994:

    1: Michael Moorer
    2: Lennox Lewis
    3: Riddick Bowe
    4: Herbie Hide
    5: Oliver McCall
    6: Larry Holmes
    7: Frank Bruno
    8: Lionel Butler
    9: Larry Donald
    10: Jorge Luis Gonzales
    11: Tony Tucker
    12: Henry Akinwande...
     
    TBooze, Jun 8, 2010
    TBooze, Jun 8, 2010
    #21
  7. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Not a bad list, but nothing like the 1991 one line-up though.. Especially, when the 1994 list includes Lionel Butler, Larry Donald, Jorge Gonzalez, oliver McCall, Herbie Hide and an ancient Holmes... In fact, I change my mind, this list sucks by comparison.
     
    mr. magoo, Jun 8, 2010
    mr. magoo, Jun 8, 2010
    #22
  8. TBooze

    TBooze Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    It got slightly better in due course:

    Boxing Illustrated/Digest for January 10 1996 (there is typo as it says 95...)

    1: Riddick Bowe 38-1 (WBO Champ)
    2: Mike Tyson 42-1
    3: Lennox Lewis 28-1
    4: George Foreman 73-4 (World Champ)
    5: Michael Moorer 36-1
    6: Frank Bruno 39-4 (WBC Champ)
    7: Evander Holyfield 31-3
    8: Oliver McCall 26-6
    9: Bruce Seldon 33-3 (WBA Champ)
    10: Alexandre Zolkin 24-2


    11: Andrew Golota
    12: Alex Stewart
    13: Jorge Luis Gonzales
    14: Henry Akinwande
    15: Larry Holmes
    16: Herbie Hide
    17: Tommy Morrison
    18: Jeremy Williams
    19: Frans Botha (IBF Champ)
    20: Tony Tucker
    21: David Tua
    22: Larry Donald
    23: Tim Witherspoon
    24: Axel Schultz
    25: Shannon Briggs

    And it did improve further, with Bruno and Seldon being cleaned out, the Night of the Young Heavyweights coming along in March 96, and Terrible Tim having a memorable last Hurrah, that year...
     
    TBooze, Jun 8, 2010
    TBooze, Jun 8, 2010
    #23
  9. Azzer85

    Azzer85 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Yep And Tyson would have shattered the jaw of the name in your avatar because we know what Old Kenny was like when faced with punchers
     
    Azzer85, Jun 12, 2010
    Azzer85, Jun 12, 2010
    #24
  10. Unforgiven

    Unforgiven VIP Member banned Full Member

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    :good

    Yeah, as the 1990s progressed the depth of quality in the heavyweight division quickly disintegrated.
    This is why I say the decade is a seriously over-rated HW era.

    Things looked promising in 1991. But by 1994 - '95 the division lacked the substance.
     
    Unforgiven, Dec 21, 2012
    Unforgiven, Dec 21, 2012
    #25
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