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LEWIS-KLITSCHKO... MORE THAN EXPECTED

By Danny Serratelli

Lennox Lewis has obviously been the most dominant heavyweight of the past few years. Emanuel Stewart has said on the record that he believes Lennox could beat any heavyweight in history. It may be possible that Lennox could, on his best day, beat any heavyweight. However, in boxing you have to be able to perform when it isn't your best day. Although you should always be trained properly, to be recognized as a true champion you have to be able to find a way to win on an off day, or when your training was hindered for some reason.

Although Lennox may be one of the largest and most physically gifted heavyweights of all time, and he has dominated some of the biggest names in the division, most people have a tough time getting his two losses out of their heads. Both of Lennox's "L’s" came when he was unable to continue. They came at the hands of Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman. While you have to give him credit for avenging both of those losses, all he may have proved in the re-matches is that McCall and Rahman had no business beating him the first time. In the only other time he came really close to losing, (I felt Ray Mercer had a slight edge after going the distance with Lennox), he did show some grit and a decent chin in going the distance with Mercer and getting the nod.

Lewis has brought his "A" game to all of his recent big fights and most of his big fights since he has been the champ. He has either dominated the fights or gone into boring, defensive, "I’m bigger than you and I can win like this if I want to" mode. However, it must be remembered that in fights where he may not have been properly prepared for, or looking past, he has been vulnerable.

The word on the street is that Lennox is in very good shape due to the fact that he had been training for Kirk Johnson on the 22nd of June. However, do you think he viewed Johnson as a very serious threat? Do you think he views Vitali Klitschko as one? Do you think he may be looking past both of these men and towards a future date (for more money) with Roy Jones or Mike Tyson?

Klitschko has said that he thinks Lennox is looking past him at a possible, (but not probable) date with Roy Jones. My prediction was Lewis by KO in the middle rounds, BUT if Lewis doesn't bring his "A" game it can change everything. If the older Klitschko brother, who is bigger than Lennox, can take his punches and make Lennox miss and make him pay, Lewis will probably not be able to resort to his safety first, "I’m bigger than you and I can win like this if I want to" mode. However other big men, (Grant, Golota, Akinwande), have folded early after tasting Lennox's power.

The final question, and the one that most experts have answered "No" is, can the big man from the Ukraine do what he has to do to make it a fight? If he can, Lennox may find himself in a fight, and the fans may get more than they expected... without paying fifty bucks. (The fight will air on HBO).

06-20-03