One could argue...that the wars with Bowe (and the controversial endings) softened him up physically and mentally.
It wasn't Larry Holmes, Joe Louis, Riddick Bowe or even George Foreman level. It wasn't terrible...of course, but it's overrated. Frank Bruno was out jabbing him...you seem to forget that.
As I said before, you practically have to write a book to try to dismiss LL resume, while in AJ case, everybodies and their mothers know he only fought shit fighters, and a 40 yo one. At this point in AJ career, I'm pretty sure Briggs could have done what he did, and probably looked as impressive also (and no, I'm not saying AJ has the same ceilling as Briggs)
I think Lewis fooled everyone into thinking he was a master boxer from the Tua fight. After the fight Lewis claimed that it was "a lesson in boxingology" or some shit. In actuality it was a lesson in height and reach over a short fat guy who only had a left hook.
You and I have different definitions on what constitutes impressive boxing. There was nothing impressive from either fighter in the first holyfield fight. That was a borefest. Holyfield's entire game plan going into that one was to knock Lewis out in 3 rounds, because he thought God told him that. After the 3rd, Holyfield was clueless and Lewis was risk averse.
Lewis had a great jab, when he actually bothered to throw it properly and commit. He was just inconsistent with it. Mercer had a very good jab himself, which is the reason he was able to give Lewis so many problems, Lewis said this himself, that he didn't know where it was coming from.
Holmes was still somewhat decent and had the best heavyweight jab of all time. As has already been said, Mercer just had the style to give Lewis problems and it was Lewis himself who said he had difficulty with Ray's jab.
I don't know. I could see Briggs bumrushing Old ass Wlad and exploit his weak chin and heart. Prime Briggs had prime Lewis in a world of trouble. If he lands the same shots on Wladerina, he probably ko him
Briggs has basically dined out on that first round against Lewis and getting outboxed by ancient Foreman his entire career.
yeah but let's not forget that Wladerina was vulnerable againts shitty, aggressive, hard punchers, even in his prime
yet beat Samuel Peter and a whole host of other undefeated fighters and punchers in a 20+ title fight win streak. Boxing is s funny game
Yeah he beats him in a huge struggle, and he wa sin his prime. Not exactly an impressive performance, and Peter is not better than Briggs. Who are these other punchers he beat? Dereck Jefferson? Thinking about it, Haye is the only puncher against whom Wladerina looked dominant
