Lennox Lewis...top ten wins. Name em'!

Something like this:

1. Holyfield
2. Ruddock
3. Vitali
4. Briggs
5. Tua
6. Rahman
7. Golota
8. Tyson
9. Bruno
10. Grant

At the time the Ruddock win was huge. I recall Ruddock was favoured to take out the elimination tournament following Tyson’s imprisonment. Maybe I’ve got that all wrong though…

 

1. Vitali
2. Holyfield
3. Tua
4. Ruddock
5. Rahman
6. Golota
7. Mercer
8. Bruno
9. Tucker
10. Morrison

 

1. Rahman 2
Lennox himself said it was his best performance, a beautiful knockout.

2. Holyfield 1
well, this draw was better than an official victory and Holy was the most valued rival in his career.

3.Golota
the issue with the injection may be important, but regardless of Golota's weaker form, Lennox looked very impressive. More than ever. He would have won anyway.

4. Holyfield 2nd official victory, Lennox was less convincing but he won in my opinion and became the heavyweight king. The most important fight in his career.

5. Ruddock
probably Lennox's first great victory in great style. Lennox showed power

6. Bruno
contrary to some opinions, I believe that Lewis was simply better.

7. Grant
the style in which he won was impressive

8. Tua
full control for 12 rounds.

9. Botha
outclassing a solid boxer who became yourneyman after this fight

10. Tyson
A symbolic fight... Tyson was already a shadow at that time, but the ease with which Lennox won should be appreciated.

I didn't put Vitali in the top 10, I think that the fight wasn't really decided, although on paper it looks better than many other victories, but it wasn't, the fight with Mercer or Briggs, although good to watch, wasn't good for Lennox, I was considering Morrison but Tommy looked terribly bad, worse than Botha, maybe I should have included the forgotten Gary Mason or Tony Tucker. Tough choice.

 

Holyfield
Ruddock
Vitali
Golota
Tua
Grant
Tyson
Bruno
Rahman
Morrison

 

Thought that as well, compare that list to any heavyweight of the last 30 years.

 

Scandalous he and Riddick Bowe never fought. It would have been easily the best win on his record and that signature victory - if Lennox had won.

Amazing how deep Lennox's record is considering he doesn't have a better win than Bowe.

 

Vitali
Holyfield 1 (clear win despite official scorecards)
Holyfield 2
Ruddock
Golota
Rahman
Tucker
Tua
Mercer
Grant

 

1 - Holyfield 1 - Holy was running hot and cold at this point and may have been a little flat - still Lewis dominated the high profile bout only to be shafted by the judges.
2- Vitali - Great fight Lewis guts it out past prime, trailing on all cards against a fighter about to enter his own prime.
3- Tua - Lewis beats a legitimate top contender that has big power and a great chin
Rahman 2 - Lewis exacts sweet revenge from being iced with his own highlight reel KO
4- Mercer - in a true could go either way fight Lewis prevails on the cards in the gut check bout
5- Holyfield 2 - Lewis wins a much closer rematch against a more motivated but even further post prime Holyfield
6- Ruddock - Lewis shocks the world destroying the contender that gave Tyson 2 great fights in savage wars.
7- Bruno. Lewis prevails against the game veteran in a big fight for Britain
8- Tucker. A post prime Tucker still possessed a very gaudy record and lasted the distance with a young Lewis
9- Gary Mason a young Lewis shuts the eye of his undefeated British rival in a solid fight
10. Grant - Lewis makes short work of the heavily hyped HBO fighter

No Tyson on my list - was completely washed up and unmotivated. A 1 round fighter by this stage of his career and would lose 2 of final 3 bouts to Danny Williams and Kevin McBride immediately following this bout.
No Morrison - was hiv positive for the fight and looked awful. To test positive for HIV way back in 1995 the virus would have to be in your system for a minimum 3 months to garner a positive result. The positive result showed for Morrison’s very next bout against Stormy weathers. Fortunately Mills Lane and Lewis both tested negative after learning the news.
No Mccall - bout should not of been sanctioned
No Golota - Golota won a 7 figure settlement for being administered lidocaine before the bout that had an adverse reaction to his system. He looks wired AF entering the ring that night.