How was Michael Grant viewed before facing Lewis?

HBO was hell-bent on making him a star. They were banking on him being the real thing and having him as their ‘house heavyweight champion.’

They did personality pieces about him knowing how to play the piano to show he was a ‘cultured’ heavyweight for the new age. He was big, had some personality and could punch a bit. Lewis was never super popular, had already been upset by Oliver McCall and looked less than scintillating against an old Holyfield. They probably thought Lennox was ready for the taking and positioned ‘their’ guy to be the one.

But if you knew boxing and watched him, you were probably less than impressed. Other than Andrew Golota quitting against him (after knocking Grant down twice in the first round and being far ahead on points), Grant’s resume didn’t stand up to scrutiny. He had been carefully guided and groomed, but he didn’t have the pedigree. I remember betting guys in the gym that Lennox would spark him in the first three rounds.

It all came tumbling down. Casuals might have been surprised but not most knowing boxing followers.

 

I remember on Sky pre fight co- commentator Glen McCrory really bigging him up and if my memory is correct he tipped him to beat Lewis.
In the end it was a demolition.

 

Spot on. He was quoted as being the “Heir apparent” but Lewis completely destroyed him in two to prove he didn’t belong at that level.

 

The Next Big Thing!!!
The Black Gerry Cooney!!!

 

Green. I remember thinking he was a good young contender who shouldn’t be facing Lewis yet.

 

Grant was being touted as the next great American heavyweight and a future champ for sure .. he was a good looking, articulate, hard punching physical Adonis .. he beat competent stepping stone like Gonzales, Cole, Izon, Savarese on the way up and many fights were televised on HBO .. he fought Golota, showed chinks in the armor and I feel his management took the shot against Lewis which at the time many though he might upset Lennox who was getting older, didn't look exceptional against Holyfield and was really almost never huge in the US ... after Lennox destroyed him it was viewed as a rush job but Grant never had thew would package ..

 

That is actually an insult to Cooney. Cooney had solid boxing background, Grant never did. Grant looked the part of what a heavyweight fighter should look like, but Grant was never a natural fighter, didn't have the instincts.

 

Back then, Michael Grant was being built up as a big heavyweight threat. I remember reading some of the boxing back then. He looked a bit stiff and wooden, not a natural, something like one of the Harlem Globetrotters having a go at boxing in his spare time.

 

He’s unfairly dismissed today. He obviously didn’t suck if he beat basically prime versions of Golota, Izon, and Savarese.

At the same time, he was overly hyped, especially by HBO.

His team seemed to know what the score was with the Lewis fight, which is why they had him try to take Lewis’ head off instead of box tactically and wait for an opening.

 

Ok, then the 2000's daniel Dubois.

 

Negative....

Grant was the definition of the HBO Hype job

Izon was shop worn beyond shopworn, never won a meaningful fight...........Golata quit as usual and...Saverese , please ?

A shot stoned Tyson stopped "Prime" Golata and Saverese in like three rounds combined....

Grant was always stiff as a board and got hit too much even against ham and eggers, also he was not a particular hard hitter, he was a athlete not a fighter.

Little is known that as a adult Grant watched some fight Ringside while never been in the Ring and told himself " I can do this", somehow ran into Richard Steele who encouraged/mentored him and that how Grants "career" started.

 

Izon’s best wins came after and immediately before fighting Grant. That would indicate he was in his prime.

Grant made Golota quit. That puts Grant in the company of Tyson and Lewis. Golota went on to almost win titles on more than one occasion.

Savarese was coming off his best win when Grant beat him convincingly, unlike Foreman.

These findings indicate that either (1) YDKSAB or (2) you’re pushing some agenda that none of us care about. You also didn’t comprehend that I stated that Grant did have hype surrounding him, which indicates that you should sign up for English 101.

 

The best thing since sliced bread.