What was a bigger weakness for Lennox Lewis. His chin or his ego?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Mendoza, Aug 28, 2008.


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  1. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    What was a bigger weakness for Lennox Lewis. His chin or his ego?

    I find this an interesting question. While Lewis was stopped pretty much based on two one punch KO’s, he also was smug, and underestimated both Rahman and McCall.

    In denial in both defeats, perhaps Lewis ego was even more responsible for his looses than his chin.

    Thoughts?
     
    Mendoza, Aug 28, 2008
    Mendoza, Aug 28, 2008
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  2. TommyV

    TommyV Loyal Member banned

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    His chin isn't even that bad ffs. Fair enough he got KO'd by Rahman, and McCall he got stopped but after he got up even though he was a bit wobbly.

    But he took flush shots from guys like Tyson, Tua, Quitali, huge punchers. His chin isn't granite but it's pretty ****ing good.
     
    TommyV, Aug 28, 2008
    TommyV, Aug 28, 2008
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  3. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

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    Great question ... I completely agree that for his two losses Lewis was very arrogant and over confident coming into the bouts ... you could clearly see it on his face in both bouts during the entrances and introductions ... I think his ego wrote checks his chin could not cash ...
     
    he grant, Aug 28, 2008
    he grant, Aug 28, 2008
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  4. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    I think Lewis, like say 90% of the heavyweights out there has suspect chin vs punchers. But if you mix in a ego that blinds him of reality, then you got some trouble which cost Lewis. .
     
    Mendoza, Aug 28, 2008
    Mendoza, Aug 28, 2008
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  5. TommyV

    TommyV Loyal Member banned

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    I see you've just ignored my post.

    How can you say he has a suspect chin vs punchers? McCall is not a noted puncher, Rahman has good power but not great power, he was underprepared and caught cold and it cost him.

    Now punchers, as I mentioned; Tyson - althought past his prime fighters don't lose there punch, he still hit hard and he wasn't completely shot either - Quitali, Tua. Three big, big punchers and Lewis stood up to the best they had to offer.
     
    TommyV, Aug 28, 2008
    TommyV, Aug 28, 2008
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  6. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Lewis was KO'd twice by one big punch. Based on this alone you cannot say he has a good chin. Tyson had one round in him, and did not land much. This fight did nothing to prove Lewis' ability to take punches.

    Tua was slow, and seemed to give up, blaming a lower leg injury. He landed maybe two solid hooks the entire fight, and Lewis kept his distance from them and rolled with the punches.

    Bruno nearly had Lewis out before Lewis landed his own lottery punch, in the form of a hook while backing up with his eyes off the target!

    Yes-- Briggs did land some, and had Lewis in trouble. Ditto the same for Vitlai. The thing is in these fights, neither Vitlai or Briggs landed close to their best, and Lewis woke up mentally, before the ko blow dulled his senses, and his legs gave out. If Lewis had a better chin, I think he beats the Rhaman count, and does not fall into the ref’s chest after McCall knocked him down and the ref is checking out if he is OK.

    And for a final theory, try this hat on for size.

    ***Maybe it was a good thing Lewis was halted by the referee stopping the fight. By my judgment, he was done, and McCall was fresh and ready to go in for the finish. Fighters can come back form quick knockouts, but often have a much harder time coming back from multiple knockdowns, and beatings. Lewis did not take much punishment vs McCall at all. In my opinion, Lewis was able to get his mind set that he would have been able to survive the round vs McCall and win had the ref not stopped it. But had McCall floored him again, for the count, Lewis would have to face reaility. ***

    PS: In case you do not know, I have a very high opinion of Lewis.
     
    Mendoza, Aug 28, 2008
    Mendoza, Aug 28, 2008
    #6
  7. Muchmoore

    Muchmoore Guest

    I really agree with this, I thought the same thing :good
     
    Muchmoore, Aug 28, 2008
    Muchmoore, Aug 28, 2008
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  8. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

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    Lack of talent may also be the cause here Mendoza.
     
    mr. magoo, Aug 28, 2008
    mr. magoo, Aug 28, 2008
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  9. The Kurgan

    The Kurgan Boxing Junkie banned

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    Ego by far.

    Unless all those who hit him apart from Rahman and McCall were feather fisted.
     
    The Kurgan, Aug 28, 2008
    The Kurgan, Aug 28, 2008
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  10. Mendoza

    Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

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    Lewis was one of the most talented heavies of all time. He was a very good boxer, with huge power that could throw every punch in the book. He could in-fight, out-fight, or clinch. He was also a super heavyweight with height, weight, and reach advantages. He never lost a fight on points, was only behind on the cards maybe two or three times, and beat every man he faced, though he needed re-matches to do so.
     
    Mendoza, Aug 28, 2008
    Mendoza, Aug 28, 2008
    #10
  11. tylerrcurtis

    tylerrcurtis Well-Known Member Full Member

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    ego is what lead him to the losses and how he wouldnt give the rock the rubber match proves his ego was worse
     
    tylerrcurtis, Aug 28, 2008
    tylerrcurtis, Aug 28, 2008
    #11
  12. sugarkills

    sugarkills Active Member Full Member

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    Ego.
     
    sugarkills, Aug 28, 2008
    sugarkills, Aug 28, 2008
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  13. Marciano Frazier

    Marciano Frazier Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Well, the ego wouldn't really have BEEN such a weakness were it not for the chin. Other large-egoed champions, like, say, Ali in some of his mid-70s title defenses, have come in overconfident against mediocre opponents and still slopped through to victory. When Lewis came in overconfident, about half the time he got leveled; and McCall and especially Rahman hardly ever stopped or even floored any high-level contenders aside from Lewis. For the most part, Lewis only came in complacent against opponents he would've been able to afford to come in complacent against had he possessed a better chin.
     
    Marciano Frazier, Aug 28, 2008
    Marciano Frazier, Aug 28, 2008
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  14. The Wanderer

    The Wanderer Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Ego. Lewis had his biggest problems in not bothering to train for guys he thought wouldn't be a threat to him. And, when he was older and it took so much more effort to whip his body into shape than it did when he was younger, it's not that hard to understand why he didn't want to kill himself training for every fight.
     
    The Wanderer, Aug 28, 2008
    The Wanderer, Aug 28, 2008
    #14
  15. Loewe

    Loewe internet hero Full Member

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    Well, you have to take into account that Lewis is one of the hw champs who faced the most punchers. It´s only natural that your chin will give up when you fight as many of them as Lewis did. And in some of these fights in wich Ali´s ego took command he got a gift.
    But basically you are right.
     
    Loewe, Aug 29, 2008
    Loewe, Aug 29, 2008
    #15
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