View Full Version : Lennox Lewis To Retire
Andrew WK
05-02-2004, 11:07
Lennox has called a press conference for tomorrow where he is expected to announce his retirement.
It's a shame but probably the correct decision if the hunger has gone.
Quite rightly history will remember him as one of the best heavyweights.
:)
Originally posted by Andrew WK
Quite rightly history will remember him as one of the best heavyweights.
They should, but will they :confused:
With him gone, the quality of the heavyweight division is looking a bit thin on the ground - no pun intended :D
I think is is a great heavywieght but history won't see him as such because of the paucity of decent opponents.
ryonhilluk
05-02-2004, 12:18
Its probably the best decision really. The hunger seems to have gone and he almost messed it up last time.
Andrew WK
05-02-2004, 12:49
Originally posted by GregB
I think is is a great heavywieght but history won't see him as such because of the paucity of decent opponents.
I think he'll be OK, wins over quality opponents like Oliver McCall, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson and Vitali Klitschko are hugely impressive especially when combined with him defeating supposed 'next big things' like Michael Grant and David Tua.
Originally posted by Andrew WK
I think he'll be OK, wins over quality opponents like Oliver McCall, Evander Holyfield, Mike Tyson and Vitali Klitschko are hugely impressive especially when combined with him defeating supposed 'next big things' like Michael Grant and David Tua.
Have to disagree with you about the quailty opponents I'm afraid.
McCall was a decent but not great fighter
Holyfield was well past his best
Tyson was a shell of the fighter he was in the 80s
Klitschko is a decent fighter but nothing he's done indicates that he's more than a workmanlike fighter.
Having said that Lewis could do nothing more than beat the people put in front of him which is what he did but he was fighting at a time when the Heavyweight's around him were very average.
rsykes2000
05-02-2004, 14:26
Very good decision by Lennox. He won't be viewed as a Tyson, Ali or Foreman, but history will judge him fairly I think and he will get the credit he deserves (or most of it).
I read an interview with George Foreman recently and he said he thought Lewis is the best heavyweight ever.
Andrew WK
05-02-2004, 14:39
Originally posted by rsykes2000
Very good decision by Lennox. He won't be viewed as a Tyson, Ali or Foreman, but history will judge him fairly I think and he will get the credit he deserves (or most of it).
Comparing the fight histories of both Lewis and Tyson I would say Lewis has fought better opponents than Tyson.
HenryKrinkle
05-02-2004, 15:15
Will he still be supporting West Ham Utd though...now he doesn't have to pretend to be British!
...can't say I'll miss him :|
Andrew WK
05-02-2004, 15:44
Originally posted by HenryKrinkle
Will he still be supporting West Ham Utd though...now he doesn't have to pretend to be British!
...can't say I'll miss him :|
I imagine he'll still be supporting them as he was born just a stones throw from their ground. :p
Originally posted by HenryKrinkle
Will he still be supporting West Ham Utd though...now he doesn't have to pretend to be British!
...can't say I'll miss him :|
Nothing wrong with West Ham, could be worse (eg Man Utd).
new forms
05-02-2004, 19:24
Originally posted by Andrew WK
Quite rightly history will remember him as one of the best heavyweights.
i'd disagree with this a bit as lewis (in my mind) did not fight any other true great when they were in their prime but more when they were pretty squarely on the downward arch of their career
Good to see Lennox stepping down at the top, he fought and beat everyone who was around and up and coming and was a credit to boxing in and outside the ring. :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:
Originally posted by new forms
i'd disagree with this a bit as lewis (in my mind) did not fight any other true great when they were in their prime but more when they were pretty squarely on the downward arch of their career
He can only fight who's around though, so that's not his fault.
great fighter - can't say i'll be watching many heavyweight fights for a few years:oh-hum:
its a shame Tyson didn't spend the past 18 months sorting himself out, because i would have loved a rematch, and i reckon Lewis would have fought him if he had showed he was capable of giving him a good fight.
Many fighters ran away from Lewis because he was so good, e.g. Bowe - there is no one anywhere near his class at the moment.
Ferdy147
07-02-2004, 08:56
Originally posted by madstu
there is no one anywhere near his class at the moment.
I think that says a lot about the division at the moment unfortunately. I think he was a good fighter but no where near a great fighter. The only good fighter i've seen him beat was Holyfield and even then....Holyfield was past it. To be fair Lennox could only beat those that were before him.....but history will remember that any decent fighters he did beat were far from their prime.
Ali, Foreman, Frasier, Tyson and possibly Liston were all better fighters i think.
I think he's done the right thing by quitting. A rematch with Tyson wouldnt have proved anything as everyone, including myself, has already decided that Tyson is well past it. I would have liked to see a rematch of the last fight as the opponent appatrently gave lennox a good fight....i remember seeing the pics of Klitschko and thinking he must have got a good beating !
The first Hasim Rahman fight was well worth staying up for :lol: I remember John Inverdale apologising for the fact the fight would be a 'no contest' but 'at least boxing's back on the bbc' !!
Ferd
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