Predictions for Michael Grant/Lennox Lewis

I agree. I remember Man Stew wanting Lewis to fight Grant at that particular time before Grant got better. He wasn't seasoned enough and was lucky to make it out of the 1st round against Golota. I believe Ring magazine pushed Grant into that #1 contender spot after Ibeabuchi got sent away.

As for my prediction, Lewis within 5 rounds.

 

Disagree. He'd be a contender, but I doubt he'd beat all of them (especially Chagaev and Solis, haven't seen Boystov enough though).

 

Grant was a guy who I KNEW was being ridiculously overhyped. I called this very early, when was first reading about him in all the boxing mags calling him the "next champ!" Why? The late start in the game, and what appeared to be the lack of a fighter's mentality in the ring. When he got exposed against Golota that cinched it for me. I knew Lewis was going to destroy him and predicted it. The result was about what I expected.

 

The funny thing about Grant's chin is that, up until the Golota knockdowns, it seemed totally fine.

Defensive elusiveness wasn't exactly Grant's trademark after all, which led to to him taking a few dozen good hard whacks in the face from respectable punchers like Butler, Izon, Sullivan and Savarese without so much as a wobble. When a big guy like Sullivan hits you full weight with a right hand on your chin and you barely even react, you reckon the chin is good at least.

Then Golota beat him to the punch and down he went.

Think the Lewis knockdowns were from a bad temple shot rather than the chin, mind. Really seemed to screw his balance up badly.

 

My opinion totally changed after I saw Grant fight Golota. I was confident of a Lennox win anyway, but even more so after seeing Golota almost finish him in the first. I gave him credit for the way he battled back but thought that Lewis would pve to be a class above this guy. And he did.

 

Can't agree. Much like he was in the 90s, Grant would be brought up very slowly against fringe fighters and end up in a competitive war with one of the more vulnerable top 10 regulars (Arreola) before cashing out without much meaningful experience in a career damaging losing effort against Wlad or Vitali. Atlas would worm his way in, he'd get sparked in one by some unexpected rising contender, get injured,...same story. Guy just didn't have the mindset or consistency for real success, just physical tools he never learned how to use.

Sadly, Adamek might be one of his smartest fights.

 

Grant mostly through lack of experience never gained that second nature reaction thats needed in boxing. He froze like a deer in headlights when a fight got rough. What we saw from Grant against Lewis was what you see from a lot of amatuer fighters when they're pressured. Their natural reaction is panic, hold, lower their head, and look for safety, not fight back or stay calm. Once that was exposed in him, everyone took advantage of it. The guys today are not as aggressive, but if that got exposed he would have failed in a similar manner.

 

I agree. Grant was actually brought up like most of the heavyweight "contenders" you see today so I see his career looking roughly the same. Couple decent fringe tests but nothing that could prepare him for Lewis...or even Golota whom he barely escaped with a win.

 

Grant leading up to the fight billed as the next great heavyweight. While I wasn't totally sold on this premise I did think he'd be a dangerous fight almost to extent that I routed for Grant only because I wasn't fully sold on Lewis or rather I did't particularly like Lewis at that time.

Gut feeling told me Lewis would win.

I didn't watch it live but, when I saw it afterwards it was very surprising how quickly Lewis got rid of him.

 

Lewis looked the same against Briggs and even Golota. That's why I question his chances against really good infighting brawlers like Bowe

 

Seems you have a lot more confidence in Bowe than Bowe did

 

I though Lewis would win it, but I didnt expect Lewis to blow him out in 5. I expected more of a slow pace Lewis buying his time and picking away and taking him out in 7 or 8 rounds, sort of like he did vs Tua.

As for Grant being the next thing? I thought after Lewis, and Tyson, Grant was perhaps the 3rd best heavyweight around at the time lol. Yes I bought the Grant hype, but I still didnt think he was a level with Lewis at the time. Lewis had just unify the titles by the time the Grant fight happen, and I was impress with how Lewis control Holyfiled, and would think he pull off other such fight.