Lennox Lewis: ‘Go East Old Man’

By Steve Trellert

12.06 - With Heavyweight Champion Lennox Lewis’ dominance and destruction of Mike Tyson complete, it would now seem the perfect time for Lennox to put on a cowboy hat and ride out of Memphis west towards the sunset. After all, what else could he possibly accomplish that would enhance his future legacy further? A rematch with Tyson? No point as the victory was overwhelming comprehensive. A third bout with Evander Holyfield? Unnecessary, as both bouts were in essence victories for Lennox and, as witnessed, the mixture of styles were not conducive to great entertainment. No, the answer lies not in the past, but in the future. Am I speaking about his December deadline mandatory IBF defense against ‘flyboy’ Chris Byrd?

Chris Byrd is a defensive wizard unparalleled in the Heavyweight division in terms of his ability to elude punches and make his opponents look foolish punching into thin air. Of course this would be a good reason to avoid Chris, as even with a highly likely victory Lewis would certainly not want to exit his career looking periodically inept (as opposed to devastating Mike Tyson). But this is not the reason to avoid Mr. Byrd. Similarly he should not be avoided under the presumption that Chris Byrd does not deserve a title shot (unlike John Ruiz). The flyboy has successfully jumped through the IBF hoops as required by defeating perennial darkhorse Mo Harris and Top Ten bomber David Tua. This is a worthy accomplishment. Because of this Lennox should give Chris Byrd his title shot, just not against himself. Lennox should drop the IBF belt and avoid Chris Byrd, why? For a variety of reasons:

1) Lennox Lewis is getting old and has little time left, he must be selective in choosing one last opponent.

2) Lewis finishing his career off against Byrd after defeating Mike Tyson would be an anti-climax amongst the general public and the boxing community.

3) Lewis can only further enhance his legacy by defeating a fighter seen to be the heir apparent of the Heavyweight Division. Defeating the fighter most likely to dominate the future landscape will add the jewel in the crown of Lennox Lewis’ greatness. Chris Byrd, though a good fighter, does not embody that individual.

If not Chris Byrd then who? The simple answer to that is 27 year old Ukrainian born Wladimir Klitschko. Why should Wladimir Klitschko be the last fighter Lennox Lewis should fight?

1) Wladimir Klitschko dominated Chris Byrd over twelve rounds and knocked him down twice. If Chris
Byrd is a mandatory; Wladimir should be the ultra mandatory.

2) Wladimir is recognized by most legitimate Boxing Rankings, including the most accurate ratings I have ever witnessed at ‘Ring Magazine’, as the number one contender and is the most highly regarded challenger amongst boxing writers, commentators, and the boxing community as a whole.

3) Wladimir Klitschko is the holder of the fourth most prestigious heavyweight belt in the WBO (Lewis holds two main ones and the third one he let go to John Ruiz as he was rightfully undeserving).

4) Lewis finishing his career off against Wladimir (after defeating Mike Tyson) would be an anti-climax to the general public, but the perfect climax to those of us in the boxing community.

5) It will introduce the general public to the next generation of heavyweights at a point where boxing as at a peak in terms of positive attention. It will provide a perfect segway to the next heavyweight era. Boxing will suffer a setback if there is no symbolic passing of the torch or linkage to the next generation. A superior performance to Mike Tyson by Wladimir (highly likely), despite defeat, would provide that.

To the general public this is the time for Lennox Lewis to exit stage left, but to boxing aficionados there is one more knot for Lewis to untie. Most of us knew Tyson was not the man of old, but we do know Wladimir is the man of new. A Lewis defeat of Wladimir would very likely significantly prolong his shadow over the heavyweight division, and enhance his rating on the all-time lists. Of course moving east can be a gamble not worth taking. After all, Napoleon and Hitler thought they had everything wrapped up on the European continent and took their armies east into the steppe. The result was catastrophic. If Lewis similarly moves east towards the Ukrainian behemoth in Wladimir Klitschko he is also taking a risk, the risk that his legacy may end up taking a different kind of steppe, one step back. Will Lewis look to the future and make one last move into the ring against Wladimir Klitschko? Should he? The next few months will tell. Let this prospective retirement fight provide the final checkmate.