In an all time ranking of 1-5… where does lewis’s fight vs Mavrovic rank as his hardest?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by CooperKupp, Sep 17, 2026 at 11:05 AM.


Where does the Croatian rank as lewis’s hardest fight?

  1. #1

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  2. #2

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  3. #3

    2 vote(s)
    40.0%

  4. #4

    2 vote(s)
    40.0%

  5. #5

    1 vote(s)
    20.0%
  1. CooperKupp

    CooperKupp “B.. but they all playin NBA basketball again!” Full Member

    2,524
    5,304
    Aug 28, 2022
    I’d say around 3 personally. Behind Vitali as #1 and mercer at #2.

    This content is protected


    And that lead left hook at the beginning there… Wladimir threw that same shot faster and way harder :) I still think that shot would’ve been lights out for lewis had those two fought but that’s a different conversation for another day.
     
    CooperKupp, Sep 17, 2026 at 11:05 AM
    CooperKupp, Sep 17, 2026 at 11:05 AM
    #1
  2. OddR

    OddR Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,094
    3,307
    Jan 8, 2025
    Well Lewis did lose twice as well.....

    Then there is also Holyfield 2. So probably between 6 and 10 looking at the competitiveness of the fight.
     
    OddR, Sep 17, 2026 at 11:12 AM
    OddR, Sep 17, 2026 at 11:12 AM
    #2
    PopPellegrino, Greg Price99 and MaccaveliMacc like this.
  3. Philosopher

    Philosopher Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,166
    3,419
    Aug 10, 2024
    Lewis won clearly and for me this is only remembered as a tough fight because the expectation was he'd blow Z away. Tough fight? Yes, sure, but Mercer, Holyfield 2, Bruno, Mason and Vitali were harder. Always thought he had to show a lot of bottle v Briggs as well!!
     
    Philosopher, Sep 17, 2026 at 11:15 AM
    Philosopher, Sep 17, 2026 at 11:15 AM
    #3
    PopPellegrino, Usyk is the best, Man_Machine and 6 others like this.
  4. Boxed Ears

    Boxed Ears this my daddy's account (RIP daddy) Full Member

    58,825
    14,056
    Jul 28, 2009
    Whatever else anyone says about Briggs, Briggs absolutely went for it and made Lewis put him out on his shield or get run over. That was a great fight, two-way.
     
    Boxed Ears, Sep 17, 2026 at 11:23 AM
    Boxed Ears, Sep 17, 2026 at 11:23 AM
    #4
    TheMikeLake, PopPellegrino, Andre2000 and 2 others like this.
  5. JAB5239

    JAB5239 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    14,632
    347
    Feb 23, 2008
    Funny you brought this up. I just rewatched this fight last night. I agree with Philosophers post completely here.
     
    JAB5239, Sep 17, 2026 at 11:30 AM
    JAB5239, Sep 17, 2026 at 11:30 AM
    #5
    PopPellegrino, Andre2000 and Saintpat like this.
  6. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    24,713
    29,536
    Jun 26, 2009
    McCall II was tougher.
     
    Saintpat, Sep 18, 2026 at 6:58 AM
    Saintpat, Sep 18, 2026 at 6:58 AM
    #6
  7. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

    25,910
    10,112
    Jul 15, 2008
    People forget Frank B runs gave him a tough fight before being caught .. Mavrovic was insanely tough but for the most part Lennox walked through him .. Bruno gave him a fight ... I'd say the two losses, Klitschko, Mercer, Bruno than Mavrovic
     
    he grant, Sep 18, 2026 at 8:46 AM
    he grant, Sep 18, 2026 at 8:46 AM
    #7
    Lankykong, Overhand94, PopPellegrino and 2 others like this.
  8. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

    32,506
    40,747
    Jan 8, 2017
    Z had a chin of concrete.
     
    Fergy, Sep 18, 2026 at 9:47 AM
    Fergy, Sep 18, 2026 at 9:47 AM
    #8
    Overhand94 and PopPellegrino like this.
  9. Greg Price99

    Greg Price99 Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,947
    12,052
    Dec 17, 2018
    It depends what you mean by hardest. His 2 x loses were harder. Mercer and Holyfield 2 distance fights that were closer. He had more trouble in the Bruno, Briggs and Vitali fights. He'd have felt less in control for most of the Mason fight. He dominated Tua, but would have had more respect for the danger David posed.

    All in all, on balance, McCall 1, Rahman 1, Mercer, Holyfield 2, Bruno and Briggs were definitely harder for Lewis. So, at best his 7th hardest fight, in answer to.your question.
     
    Greg Price99, Sep 18, 2026 at 3:02 PM
    Greg Price99, Sep 18, 2026 at 3:02 PM
    #9
    Overhand94, JohnThomas1, PopPellegrino and 1 other person like this.
  10. Andre2000

    Andre2000 Active Member Full Member

    927
    1,412
    Jun 26, 2026
    Coincidentally for me also, HLs of the Lewis vs Mavrovic fight presented on my YouTube feed and the latter did some nice things in there against Lewis. He did himself proud. It was Mav’s last fight because he became quite sick thereafter, losing a lot of weight.
     
    Andre2000, Sep 18, 2026 at 3:42 PM
    Andre2000, Sep 18, 2026 at 3:42 PM
    #10
    Cornucopia likes this.