Lennox Lewis in the current Ring Magazine, best I fought

Briggs did have great hand speed :bbb

interesting answers :good

 

Tbf, Briggs did hit harder than any of his opponents. 36 first rounds KO's speaks for itself.

 

The hardest shots are the ones you don't feel so thats probably why he forgot about MaCall and Raham.

Zeljko Mavrovic is underrated.

A technical chess piece. He'd beat most of the bodies in the post Lewis era.

 

Biggs still has that hand speed. In single shots. You can still see it.

I guess that makes him as fast as Ali.

 

I cant defend him on the vitali quote,however I think Lewis came in not really motivated with Mercer,Briggs did have him hurt ,end of round one,like I said in other posts,briggs record really doesn't show how dangerous he can be,Speed and decent power which is why o had him over Shavers.I met Briggs awhile back in 07,dont know about the strength of his hands but he had big hands.I knew his manager I think Duva awas helping him?He was there too. I was pretty good friend/aquantances with Mcline hes no walk thru either....any athletic 6'7 guy is not easy to fight.

 

Shannon Briggs was rather sh!t. He fit the bill for one of Foreman's hand-picked challengers anyway.
Yes, he probably was one of the best Lewis fought.

People get annoyed when I snipe at Lewis's opposition, but I only do it because it has been very overrated at times. In truth he beat some decent fighters, though not a particularly varied bunch. Lots of lumbering HWs with average skills.

 

you couldn't be more wrong he dominated a tough 90's era of super HW's..if that era is not good what one is?:-(

 

I dont really have a problem with his answers.

Briggs at 220-230 range, as he was against Lewis had plenty of hand speed and power. The biggest puncher doesnt always stop you, Shavers and Liston couldnt drop Ali, yet Sonny Banks did.
Tua didnt land his best shots, always just at the end of his range or slightly mistimed

Holyfield was easily the best boxer he faced, Mercer is not in Holys league.
Golota and Grant werent in there long enough to judge and Morrison was out of his depth

 

Actually Mercer and holyfield had a pretty even fight when they fought ,and arguably holyfield barley won that fight by a round .

 

There is an element of truth to your statement. Lewis record in hindsight can be picked at.
That said, Golota at the time was seen as a very real threat coming off the Bowe fights, and a few years later would give Byrd and Ruiz very tough fights when past his best.
Michael Grant was the next big thing and picked by many experts to win
Holyfield was a year or so removed from his dismantling of Tyson and again was considered a real shot at beating Lewis.
Vitali would go on to be considered for a time the best HW in the world.

Thats four quality wins and a very suspect draw before we throw in the Rahmans, Brunos, Morrisons, Tuas, Briggs etc.

Its not the greatest resume but it is still not to be sneezed at

 

If Lewis was trying to big himself up, he could have picked plenty of people other than Briggs, to use as a peg to hang it on.

Perhaps he is simply sincere.

 

I had Holy by a few rounds myself, but yes the judges had it closer. Holy was also overcoming a heart condition at this time.