Most complete fighter ever lived.

[Hawkins]

Hi panamaniac - I'm sorry but gonna have to disagree with you big time on this one. One of the most complete heavyweights in history.

Granted his jab and then the right hand was the coup de grace, but he used combinations in many of his fights and threw them well.

Watch the Ruddock fight for a lethal combination or the Mercer fight he threw plenty in that one also the Mavrovic fight he hit Mavrovic with some beautiful combos.

He had a very underated left hook just watch the Bruno fight and it was the left hook that was the beginning of the end for Bruno.

And uppercuts I think he had the best uppercuts of all the heavyweights in history even better then Tyson's and used them so often and effectively.

His knockout of Justin Fortune not a big namr I know but 3 right uppercuts on the trot that almost took his head off. Bruno laying on the ropes another awesome right uppercut, Mercer fight many combos and great right uppercuts, Tyson fight great finishing combos with brilliant left and right uppercuts that almost dropped Tyson as his legs buckled. Michael Grant brutalized and dropped with a tremendous right uppercut and in his final fight against Klitchko watch some of the uppercuts he unloads on his chin. I could go on if I thought about it but these are the ones that stick in my mind. If your still not convinced fair enough but I can put up some clips for you and maybe change your mind.

Well Lennox never had the career defining fight that put all of his tools on display for the world. He never had a fight like Ali/Cleveland Williams where you could point and say look...thats the best you'll ever see of him with every facet of his game on display.

The only real criticism I ever had with Lennox was the fact that he didn't use his jab as effectively as he should have alot. I can understand being overly defensive against certain guys, and I can understand being cautious. I just never understand the fact that in some fights he just pawed with his jab instead of using it with authority like he was capable of.

[-CANE-]

Well Lennox never had the career defining fight that put all of his tools on display for the world. He never had a fight like Ali/Cleveland Williams where you could point and say look...thats the best you'll ever see of him with every facet of his game on display.

The only real criticism I ever had with Lennox was the fact that he didn't use his jab as effectively as he should have alot. I can understand being overly defensive against certain guys, and I can understand being cautious. I just never understand the fact that in some fights he just pawed with his jab instead of using it with authority like he was capable of.

I think he did have 2 fights that stick in my mind where you saw everything Lewis was capable of great boxing skills, good defense, good chin, fast hands, fast powerful combinations, great offense, high work rate and every punch in the book. But I think these 2 particular fights get forgotten partly because they weren't against Tyson or Holyfield and partly because they both went the distance, but the 2 fighters he fought in these fights both had granite jaws and maybe because he didn't stop them or they weren't the biggest of names these fights get overlooked. The 2 fights are Ray Mercer and Zelkjo Mavrovic. They were 2 great all round performances by Lennox Lewis.

[Hawkins]

I think he did have 2 fights that stick in my mind where you saw everything Lewis was capable of great boxing skills, good defense, good chin, fast hands, fast powerful combinations, great offense, high work rate and every punch in the book. But I think these 2 particular fights get forgotten partly because they weren't against Tyson or Holyfield and partly because they both went the distance, but the 2 fighters he fought in these fights both had granite jaws and maybe because he didn't stop them or they weren't the biggest of names these fights get overlooked. The 2 fights are Ray Mercer and Zelkjo Mavrovic. They were 2 great all round performances by Lennox Lewis.

You may be right. I haven't seen those fights since they happened even though I have both. I'll have to rewatch both. From all that I remembered none of his fights stood out in that aspect. But I could very well be mistaken.

I do think he gets alot of undeserved flak tho'. His chin is alot more durable than given credit for. Look at the Tua fight, Tua caught him with a couple of monster hooks to the head. He was hurt but he didn't go down.

Furthermore, I think what made him so much better than most was because he had something most of the great ones do - an extensive amateur background. Thats one thing thats mos def lacking now.

[Panamaniac]

I never considered Lennox a complete fighter, simply because he never showed it. If in fact he was as versatile as many claim him to be, he never showed it while I was watching. To this observer, he always seemed fixated on knocking out his opponent with a single right hand. Consequently, all I ever saw him do is set up his rival with probing left jabs in order to unleash his powerful right cross. He rarely deployed a left hook, uppercut (of either hand), or combinations, for that matter...

Hi panamaniac - I'm sorry but gonna have to disagree with you big time on this one. One of the most complete heavyweights in history.

You can't disagree with my perception of Lennox, as highlighted in red above, based on the fights I saw. I clearly qualified my statement and never claimed my perception was fact. Had I seen more or other Lennox fights, I might have had a more balanced perception of his talent, but given the limited quantity I saw, he didn't amount to much.

I will do further research and see the fights you suggested and see if my opinion changes.

[AntonTheMeh]

i think had duran been lousy in some facet of his game he'd still be a hall of famer,inch for inch he's the greatest,p4p its ray robinson

[Terry A]

Ray Robinson is my first pick, followed by Henry Armstrong and Duran.

Julio C. Chavez had a heck of a run also.

[bigsmoothh]

jc chavez, or aaron pryor also.

[MoneyINC]

Tyson had he never went to jail woud have Koed Buster in 2 and reclaimed what so galantly Robin took and thats his man-hood

[Hawkins]

Tyson had he never went to jail woud have Koed Buster in 2 and reclaimed what so galantly Robin took and thats his man-hood

Wasn't jail that screwed up the Doulgas rematch man. It was Don King's lowball offer on the purse split that caused Douglas to say no thanks.

[Nostromo]

i think had duran been lousy in some facet of his game he'd still be a hall of famer,inch for inch he's the greatest,p4p its ray robinson

Am I the only one this doesn't make any sense to?