Top 5 Lennox Lewis wins

Also Byrd whom he didn't want to fight (I wouldn't use the word "ducked" as I wouldn't do in Bowe - Lewis case as well), and who was mandatory challenger and clearly more formidable opponent than Botha, Grant or Rahman for that matter

 

1. Vitali - yes, there was some controversy with Lewis losing the fight on cards and him refusing to give Vitali a rematch, but still, cuts or no cuts, Lennox found the way to win the fight against very good and dangerous opponent while being past his prime

2. Holyfield. Washed up, yes, not the same speed, work rate or stamina as in his prime years, but still very good.

3. Mercer. Underrated win for Lewis, probably because it was very, very hard and tough fight for him. But Lewis still found the way to score the win, even if it was very close one, in the fight against granite-chinned warrior with a great jab.

4. Ruddock. Razor was probably past his prime but Lennox also didn't reach his peak yet, and he completely destroyed Ruddock.

5. Golota. Very good and skilled HW, and Lewis left no chance for him.

Honorable mention - David Tua. I would definitely rank Tua over Ruddock and Golota if he wasn't in such disgusting shape against Lennox. I mean, how can you come 20-25 lbs overweight for the biggest fight of your career?

 

The issue with Byrd is that he really didn't become a name until the early 2000's and Lewis retired in 2003. By 2000, Lewis was looking to cash out with Tyson which makes his final fight with Vital all the more impressive.

I do agree that Byrd's speed would have been an interesting matchup but I don't see that fight generating the interest from a commercial standpoint which is likely all Lewis was looking for late in his career.

 

I remember watching the Grant vs Golata fight on HBO and Grant showed a lot of grit pulling out that win.

 

there is no order
Tyson (I know, I know, but how can I not put Tyson in the top 5)
Holyfield (LAST Fight for Undisputed HW Champion)
Vitali (next generation champion)
Golota (until then undefeated, except by disqualification, and now knocked out in the first round)
Grant (peak Lewis)

 

Ah man, i totally agree with everything you've said in both posts. Sanders i think is a bit of a non entity per getting a fight with Lewis, Moorer could have happened but it's no big gap imo.

 

Sanders would've got his shot vs Lewis had he beat Rahman, but as we all know he lost a great fight to Rahman. And then Rahman ended up getting shot at Lewis instead.

Sanders wasn't ranked in the top 10 when Lewis was champion, it was only when Sanders upset Wladimir he shot up the rankings by which time Lewis had one foot out the door.

Moorer never seemed interested in fighting Lewis I remember an interview when he was asked about it, and he gave a very vague answer and didn't seem too keen on it.

The only realistic fight Lewis missed out on was Byrd, but Lewis fought Tyson which was better for his legacy even if Tyson was past it.

Can you imagine if Lewis would've fought Byrd instead of Tyson ? Everyone would've claimed Lewis was ducking Tyson. Especially since Tyson was calling out Lewis at the time aswell with some infamous interviews.

 

It was short lived. Moorer beat Jirov in 2004 a year after Lewis retired.

 

Because Rahman was the current lineal champion, and a destruction like that of a lineal champion, is a rare event historically.

 

Nobody mentioned Bruno which was a good, solid come from behind KO. Probably not Top 5 but likely a Top 10 win in my book.

Ruddock
Holyfield II
Rahman II
Tyson
Vitali

Golota
Mercer
Tua
Tucker
Bruno

Morrison
Grant
Briggs
McCall
Akinwande

 

Rahman - he laid him out like quilt
Tyson - thee biggest name in boxing
Holyfield - the second biggest name in hw boxing other than Tyson.
McCall - made it proof that it was a fluke
Vitali Klitschko - proved he could mess with the upcoming era of heavyweight boxing

My personal favorites though:
Golota - smashed him up pretty bad
Botha - smashed him up pretty bad
Grant - smashed him up pretty bad
Rahman - it was a great Fung Shai to that punch
Tyson- that fight was SO hyped, it was hype, the atmosphere was hype, peeps be outta control that night. THIS WAS A LEGACY WIN!

 

Joey, it adds to his legacy though, beating everyone he's ever faced.