Best past prime performances

[Joeyzagz]

More spin-doctoring, I see.

Lewis at 36 >>> Lewis at 26. Not just my take, either. Lewis himself also thinks so, as did Steward.

Physically, Lennox was past-prime in 2001, he was not as swift as he was when he sparked Razor Ruddock in 2 rounds. The discrepancies in athleticism are obvious to anyone who watches the tapes..

If Lennox had turned pro in 1985(age 20) instead of waiting for 1989, we couldve witnessed a truly remarkable fighter. SRR type dominance at Heavyweight.

[Wild Blue Yonda]

Physically, Lennox was past-prime in 2001, he was not as swift as he was when he sparked Razor Ruddock in 2 rounds. The discrepancies in athleticism are obvious to anyone who watches the tapes..

If Lennox had turned pro in 1985(age 20) instead of waiting for 1989, we couldve witnessed a truly remarkable fighter. SRR type dominance at Heavyweight.

Nice try, but isn't flying.

As we both know, fighting is more than just the physical, & taking all things into account, Lewis was a better overall fighter in 2001 than he was several years earlier, during what was likely his physical prime. Even Lewis agrees with me on this one, & the distinction in his quality as a boxer is just as clear as the physical discrepancy you have pointed out.

[BennyST]

jones jnr v toney (just an awesome performance)

Joe Calzaghe v Jeff lacey (he delivered such a one sided beating that lacey was never the same again)

Ali v williams (ali at his best)

Ray leonard v tommy hearns 1 (two awesome fighters both in their prime and both putting in one of their best performances on the same night)

Pac v De la Hoya (just a totally dominant performance)

Floyd v Corrales (still Floyd's best performance imo)

Tyson v M Frazier (i dunno if anybody could have beaten mike on this night tyson himself said it was the best condition he reached in his whole career)

Jones jnr v Ruiz - okay not the most exciting fight but a boxing masterclass all the same

Foreman v Frazier 1 - Big George at his best

Joe Louis Max Schmelling 2 (Louis showing why he dominated for so long)

Ali v Floyd Patterson - Could have gone for the more obvious Liston fight but I think this one really showed how good he was. Ali toys with the former two time champ on his way to an easy win showing just how much better he was.

Marquez v Diaz - marquez was prolly a bit past his prime but if you havent seen it check it out

Are you being deliberately daft?

Anyway, Ray Leonard vs Hagler is a great one as is Leonard/Lalonde. Foreman vs Moorer is maybe the greatest feat along with a few others. Duran vs Castro and Barkley are both crackers considering the age, and size deficit.

I always thought Toney vs Jirov was an incredible performance as was Toney vs Peter 1, which I thought he quite easily/obviously won.

As a few have mentioned, Marquez's recent performances have been amazing, showing his skill but even more his grit, heart and determination against age and physical odds.

Marg/Mosley is another excellent example as are all of Hopkins fights now.

Morales against Pac is another of recent vintage. His only win in between a series of four or five losses in a row and having had a series of brutal encounters previously. A classic last hurrah.

There are so many, but I think the ones that really count are the ones like Foreman/Moorer, Duran/Barkley, Hopkins/Pavlik, Walcott/Charles etc. Those fights that were truly historic in their significance and mind blowing in their achievement.

Today, due to advances in sport medicine etc it's not so amazing for a fighter to still be in great physical condition in their late thirties. Back when those guys were doing, especially Walcott, Duran etc it was still considered crazy to be fighting at a championship level in your mid to late thirties. It was often thought they would be killed. Now, most fighters fight well into their late thirties without anyone batting an eye.

Early-mid forties is now what mid to late thirties used to mean. If you are fighting at the highest level in your forties, it's what people used to look at it like when someone was fighting for a title in your late thirties.

[BennyST]

Lewis really only ever looked past it or old against Vitali. That was as much that he was going into a fight without training for it though thinking he had an easier fight than he ended up having against a different opponent.

I think he was mentally and physically unprepared for the Vitali fight, having climbed the mountains of Holyfield/Tyson etc. It was an extraordinary performance nonetheless, because in that fight in particular you could say he was past it. It was his last fight and he obviously didn't prepare very well for it at all and yet still managed to sc**** out a grueling win vs the next best young champion.

I think it's a really solid past prime win. He wasn't truly as past it as many of the others on here were but I think having climbed the biggest hurdles and come in completely unprepared made it a greater performance through his own lack of preparation in a way.

[Rockin']

Steve Thomas vs Marlon Thomas about 1988-89.

Marlon was coming up out of Kronk strong and was like 9-0 so far. Steve was always inconsistant in his performances up to that time and had a record of like 7-5 or something.

Steve was up for this fight and fought a beautifull fight against Marlon. I'm not sure if there is video but if there is you should check it out. Steve could fight...............Rockin'

[Joeyzagz]

As we both know, fighting is more than just the physical, & taking all things into account, Lewis was a better overall fighter in 2001

So if he is a better overall fighter, past physical prime what is your problem having him on this list?

Would he have to do, or fail to do to make this list?

[BigStereotype]

ERIK MORALES vs. Maidana

I was so proud of him last night. Physically, he looked like **** but he made that fight close (and maybe won it) on pure balls...great performance by a legend.

[bojangles1987]

ERIK MORALES vs. Maidana

I was so proud of him last night. Physically, he looked like **** but he made that fight close (and maybe won it) on pure balls...great performance by a legend.

Yeah. Coming here to post that. Holy hell.

[IMDAZED]

Nice try, but isn't flying.

As we both know, fighting is more than just the physical, & taking all things into account, Lewis was a better overall fighter in 2001 than he was several years earlier, during what was likely his physical prime. Even Lewis agrees with me on this one, & the distinction in his quality as a boxer is just as clear as the physical discrepancy you have pointed out.

Lewis' prime was 1996-1998 IMO. He had it all then - still young enough to be a phenomenal athlete at that time, and seasoned as well.

[joseph5620]

Lewis' prime was 1996-1998 IMO. He had it all then - still young enough to be a phenomenal athlete at that time, and seasoned as well.

I have to agree. I think Lewis peaked during the period when he blew away Golota and Briggs.