When exactly was Lennox Lewis at his peak?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by jdw2000, Dec 20, 2015.


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  1. jdw2000

    jdw2000 Active Member Full Member

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    Ali's peak is widely said to be the Cleveland Williams fight. Tyson's the Spinks/Holmes fights.

    Tough question to answer for Lewis. I'm not talking about how he did against his opponent/s at that exact time. I'm talking about:

    - Being at or close to his physical peak whilst being at the height of powers to win boxing matches.



    His physical peak may possibly have been in 1994 when, at the age of 29, he lost to McCall. That was a sleek, fast, young Lewis. But one who had yet to learn his trade under Steward and who clearly was not the best version of Lewis we would see.

    An obvious candidate could be the 32 year old, still-fast Lewis who blasted out Golota.

    He made some impressive defences of the undisputed title between the ages of 35/36, but was he still at his physical peak by then? Seems unlikely. Although this may have been offset by his skills and confidence at that time and he may well have been at his career best.



    At a guess, I'd say 1997-1998 may have been his peak years. Golota to Mavrovic.
     
    jdw2000, Dec 20, 2015
    jdw2000, Dec 20, 2015
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  2. Pugilist_Spec

    Pugilist_Spec Hands Of Stone Full Member

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    1997-2000
     
    Pugilist_Spec, Dec 20, 2015
    Pugilist_Spec, Dec 20, 2015
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  3. TheGreatA

    TheGreatA Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Late 90's.

    I think the Ray Mercer fight was a big confidence booster for him even though it was a close fight. After that, he realized that he can be involved in a firefight. He blitzed opponents like Golota & Briggs and beat Evander Holyfield.

    Once he started showing up at over 250 pounds, it was obvious that he wasn't taking training as seriously as before, culminating in his humiliating loss to Rahman.
     
    TheGreatA, Dec 20, 2015
    TheGreatA, Dec 20, 2015
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  4. lepinthehood

    lepinthehood When I'm drinking you leave me well alone banned Full Member

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    I reckon early lewis was really Peak Lewis, the younger lewis would have beat the Older One, of late 90s-00s.

    91-95 lewis was so fast and explosive damn. however a smarter fighter and more measured lewis was the more rounded ATG. for example if you shipped later lewis in with other ATGS. he could beat them, the younger faster aggressive lighter lewis would probably punched himself out or been chinned
     
    lepinthehood, Dec 20, 2015
    lepinthehood, Dec 20, 2015
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  5. Brighton bomber

    Brighton bomber Loyal Member Full Member

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    Steward said Lewis was in his best shape around 243lbs so that would suggest between 97-99 by 00 his weight started to go up to the high 240's.
     
    Brighton bomber, Dec 20, 2015
    Brighton bomber, Dec 20, 2015
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  6. HerolGee

    HerolGee Loyal Member banned Full Member

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    before age 35 as with pretty much every hw fighter.

    anyone claiming otherwise has an agenda.
     
    HerolGee, Dec 20, 2015
    HerolGee, Dec 20, 2015
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  7. zop

    zop Well-Known Member Full Member

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    1991-2003...
     
    zop, Dec 20, 2015
    zop, Dec 20, 2015
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  8. jdw2000

    jdw2000 Active Member Full Member

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    You obviously need to look up the word "exactly".
     
    jdw2000, Dec 20, 2015
    jdw2000, Dec 20, 2015
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  9. Zodius

    Zodius Active Member Full Member

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    When McCall was knocking him out
     
    Zodius, Dec 20, 2015
    Zodius, Dec 20, 2015
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  10. zop

    zop Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Yes, I mean exactly : 1991 - 2003
    After Ali, he is the best HW...........
    And..when did he destroy Tyson, and Vitaly ?? Exactly ??
     
    zop, Dec 21, 2015
    zop, Dec 21, 2015
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  11. rayrobinson

    rayrobinson Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Golota.
     
    rayrobinson, Dec 21, 2015
    rayrobinson, Dec 21, 2015
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  12. heerko koois

    heerko koois Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    1998
     
    heerko koois, Dec 21, 2015
    heerko koois, Dec 21, 2015
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  13. jdw2000

    jdw2000 Active Member Full Member

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    Possibly. Let's not forget though that the Golota fight is sandwiched by the Akinwande and Briggs fights.


    But that's not to say that 1997 isn't the correct answer. It quite possibly is.
     
    jdw2000, Dec 21, 2015
    jdw2000, Dec 21, 2015
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  14. On The Money

    On The Money Dangerous Journeyman Full Member

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    The Golota fight. Those are more the tactics Wlad needs vs Fury in the return, caution to the wind.
     
    On The Money, Dec 21, 2015
    On The Money, Dec 21, 2015
    #14
  15. Eel87

    Eel87 Active Member Full Member

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    Id say this too, although I liked the young Lewis that blasted out Ruddock. Around 2000 when he was blasting out Grant & Botha he had an aura about him though. " No guy test this mon" "i just come to conquer" :bbb
     
    Eel87, Dec 21, 2015
    Eel87, Dec 21, 2015
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