Boxing

 

What Next In The Heavyweight Division?

By Alexander Venn

25.07 - Lennox Lewis has stated earlier this month that he is only interested in a re-match with Tyson, but would this be wise, given the Brownsville brawler’s antics in his last re-match?

Considering the one-sided way in which Lewis delivered the pounding last month in Memphis, would a re-match actually excite anyone? As now, Lewis has shown that Iron Mike is just a ghost of the past, and has been since losing to James “Buster” Douglas, in Tokyo, quite honestly.

For Tyson, oddly, the future looks good. Tyson’s grace in defeat against East Ham’s No.1 is still fresh in the public’s mind and other up-and-coming Heavyweights might get a little over confident in respect to a fight with Tyson. Although way past his best, it still took 2 exceptional fighters to tame him (Holyfield and Lewis) and did you notice how many big punches he took before the KO ?

Big money match ups with the likes of the Klitschkos, Rahman or Tua, would be both well matched and entertaining – as they can pack a punch too.

For Lewis, the only real fight out there is with Wladimir Klitschko, who possesses dynamite in both hands equal to Lewis and is a fraction taller.

Wladimir also has great speed and timing for a 6’6” boxer and I remember this from his performance against Monte Barratt at the London Docklands Arena, July 15th, 2000.

He had his brave, but much smaller opponent on the deck a couple of times and I remember a right hook ripping a huge cut on Barratt’s eye – as we watched the replays, it was like a spade through a garden hose.

Yet earlier in the contest, whilst Klitschko was busy swarming Monte with accurate power punches, non punching Barratt fired out a left hook of his own – which stopped the Ukranian Giant in his tracks and made him think for a couple of seconds. Also another thing to worry about is how easily he marks up, for example, in his last fight, Ray Mercer was only able to land a couple of shots on the clearly dominant Wladimir, yet the big man began to swell up under both eyes.

A Lewis – Klitschko match up would be a great battle of jabs, as both have shown they can snap it out fast, crisp and with bad intention – the way Hasim Rahman’s head jolted back from them in the 2nd fight with Lewis is a superb example.

It could be close, but I feel Klitschko’s fragile skin, untested chin and lack of top level experience would not be enough against the pure class of the Londoner.

And then there’s Holyfield. Many have sited the fact he has had many lucky decisions handed to him over the years, which is why he’s in the position he is.

Really?

Like the one where, only minutes away from a Gold Medal at the 1984 Olympics, the referee disqualified Holyfield for allegedly “hitting on the break”?

Or in the 3rd fight with Bowe, when Joe Cortez ignored most of the low blows from “Big Daddy”?

Or in the 2nd fight with John Ruiz, when he clearly knocked out Ruiz in the 10th with a left hook to the head? (The original hook to the body was not low, and if it was , why did Ruiz not clutch his groin, instead lying spread eagled on the canvas like most KO’d fighters do?)

And if you want to argue about Lewis – Holyfield I, the fight maybe should have been a draw. If you’re fighting for the Undisputed Championship, you should fight accordingly with passion, desire and authority.

What I saw was Holyfield, who struggled to close the range and obviously had a bad night, and Lewis, who indulged in a boring jab fest without actually trying to take the Title.

But the inspirational 39 year old legend is still lurking in the shadows and looks set to challenge the winner of the Ruiz – Johnson WBA Title fight or even a 3rd match vs. Tyson, then maybe Lewis. He has stated that he will not retire until he holds the undisputed crown once more – and I believe he will.

0 comments
 


Bookmark and Share

 

If you detect any issues with the legality of this site, problems are always unintentional and will be corrected with notification.
The views and opinions of all writers expressed on eastsideboxing.com do not necessarily state or reflect those of the Management.
Copyright © 2001- 2015 East Side Boxing.com - Privacy Policy