Lennox Lewis Looks For Redemption
- Is History Against Him?
By Jeff Day
31.10.01 - On November 17th, Britain's
Lennox Lewis attempts to regain the world heavyweight
championship against the man he lost it to, Hasim
Rahman. It's a feat many former champions have tried
and failed, and only few have achieved.
Does history dictate that Lewis will
join the elite band of Floyd Patterson, Muhammad Ali
and Evander Holyfield? (Please note we are dealing
with the real or linear championship here rather than
any of the alphabet titles held by various claimants).
Throughout the course of heavyweight
championship history, attempts by former champions
to regain their title were made on many occasions.
This is mainly due to the fact that champions and
their connections insisted on a rematch clause before
any defence took place.
If a prospective challenger looked
too risky, he could fight the champion in a non-title
match. If he proved to be too competitive, he could
kiss goodbye to any title opportunity. Despite the
criticisms that are laid at the door of the governing
bodies, at least mandatory challengers are now given
the chance many of their predecessors never were.
(Although quite how some mandatories get there is
another matter!)
Lets look at some of the cases throughout
history:
James Jeffries-Bob Fitzsimmons:
English born Fitzsimmons, having won
the championship from James J Corbett in 1897, lost
the title in his first defence to boilermaker James
Jeffries two years later in 11 rounds. Three years
later, the 40 year old Fitzsimmons was bludgeoned
in 8 rounds. It should be said that Jeffries was 200lbs
plus, considered a big man by turn of the century
standards. Fitzsimmons would have been a super-middleweight
today.
Gene Tunney- Jack Dempsey
There would be a gap of 27 years before
an ex-champion was to attempt to defeat the man that
had dethroned him. Dempsey had lost the championship
to the un-fancied former marine, Tunney in Philadelphia
in September 1926.
Dempsey had not fought in three years,
and was out-thought and thoroughly outboxed. A year
later, and arguably the most controversial incident
in heavyweight history. With Tunney comfortably ahead
against the "Manassa Mauler", Dempsey launched
a combination in round 7 that left Tunney down on
his backside by the ropes.
Dempsey, having been so inactive,
had forgotten about the new rule. The man inflicting
the knockdown had to retreat to a neutral corner while
the referee counted over the fallen fighter. By the
time referee Dave Barry picked up the count, Tunney
had already been down 5 seconds. By the "Official"
count of 9, Tunney, having been on the canvas 14 seconds,
rose and got on his bike.
Once he had recovered, Tunney got
back to his boxing, and never got close to being hurt
again. He even knocked Dempsey down in round eight
on his way to another convincing points victory. Both
fights were over a ten round distance, the first time
due to Philadelphia rules, the second, in Chicago,
on the say so of Tunney!
Max Schmeling-Jack Sharkey
When Gene Tunney retired as undefeated
champion, the German Max Schmeling was paired with
the temperamental New Yorker, Jack Sharkey.
For the first time in history, the
world heavyweight championship was won on a foul when
Schmeling was floored by a low blow thrown by Sharkey
in round 4 in June 1930. Two years later, Sharkey
gained revenge with a highly controversial split decision.
The German's manager Joe Jacobs was so outraged he
threatened to take to matter to court!
Jersey Joe Walcott-Ezzard Charles
Now, this was a most curious rivalry.
After Joe Louis' retirement, Charles and Walcott were
to meet four times. Their first two meetings ended
in clear points wins for Charles. In July 1951, Jersey
Joe's perseverance paid off when he landed one of
the great single punches in boxing history in round
7. Charles' head almost turned full circle from a
devastating left hook. Walcott became, at 37, the
oldest man to ever win the heavyweight title. (Prior
to George Foreman's win over Michael Moorer in 1994).
Walcott proved this was no fluke by
winning their last meeting in June 1952 on a fifteen
rounds points decision. It would be the last victory
of his career.
Rocky Marciano-Jersey Joe Walcott
It was to be Jersey Joe's misfortune
to run into a human tank named Rocky Marciano in September
1952. Despite having a healthy lead going into the
13th round of their fight in Philadelphia, Rocky would
not be denied. He had taken a hammering from Walcott
throughout, yet somehow found the right hand that
would be known as "Suzy Q" that almost removed
Walcott's head from his shoulders.
It is arguably the most famous single
punch in boxing history. There had to be a rematch,
and there was, in May 1953. Unfortunately, it seems
even Walcott could avoid father time forever. Marciano
made sure he jumped on Walcott at the start, not wanting
to absorb the amount of punishment he received in
their first fight. The 39-year-old former champion
did not make it past the first round.
Floyd Patterson-Ingemar Johansson
Patterson, the 1952 Olympic middleweight
champion, had become boxing's youngest world heavyweight
champion when he beat Archie Moore in 1956 for Marciano's
vacated championship.
Because of Patterson's manager Cus
D'Amatos refusal to face the world's top heavyweight
contender, Sonny Liston, Patterson defended against
a series of pretenders. Sweden's Johansson was deemed
as a comfortable defence for the quiet spoken champion
in June 1959. In an astonishing first round, Patterson
was floored several times, and never recovered. He
was taken out by Ingo's "Hammer of Thor",
a right hand bomb that Patterson just didn't seem
able to avoid in round 3.
Again, because of the rematch clause,
Floyd was given an immediate opportunity to regain
the crown. Almost a year to the day later, a more
focussed Patterson, combined with a champion who had
been living a less than monastic life, flattened the
Swede with a thunderous left hook. As Johansson was
counted out in round 5, his left leg was twitching
uncontrollably, as he lay unconscious. It was truly
a brutal knockout.
The modest Patterson thus became the
first man ever to regain the crown. He confirmed his
superiority over the European to with a 6th round
win in March 1961 in their rubber match.
Sonny Liston-Floyd Patterson
The brooding Liston had been the uncrowned
champion for the last 4 years. A mean man with the
intimidating stare had earned his shot by beating
a succession of fellow contenders. Patterson's professional
pride would not let him avoid Sonny any longer, and
against the wishes of D'Amato, he defended against
Liston in Chicago in September 1962.
Patterson looked like a light-heavyweight
against the menacing ex-convict and was thoroughly
struck by fear, losing while barely landing a punch
and was knocked out in the opening round.
If ever there was a case for not giving
an ex-champion a rematch, this was it. Floyd left
the arena afterwards in disguise; he was so embarrassed
by his showing!
However, July 1963 saw Patterson again
attempt to win the title. His performance this time
was better. He lasted a whole 4 seconds longer!
Muhammad Ali-Sonny Liston
There is not too much that can be
said about the two Ali-Liston fights that has not
been said already. Ali (then Cassius Clay) was a 7-1
underdog going into their first meeting in February
1964. It wasn't a question of who would win, only
how fast Liston would carry the brash young contender
before taking him out.
At the end of round 6 in Miami, Liston,
became the first champion to retire on his stool since
Jess Willard against Jack Dempsey 45 years earlier.
Willard had taken fearful punishment and his decision
to quit was perfectly understandable. Liston, though,
had appeared to be looking for a way out. He claimed
a shoulder injury, and in fairness this proved to
be right according to the medical reports of the time.
When they met again in Lewiston, Maine,
in May 1965, former champion Jersey Joe Walcott played
a key role in this return match. Ali began moving
like a lightweight as Liston plodded after him. Nothing
much happened, and then Liston lunged at Ali. Ali
leaned back and countered with what seemed to be a
less than devastating right hand counter.
Then chaos reigned. Liston rolled
over, and then in a confused looking state, tried
to pick himself up, only to fall back down again.
Ali was standing over Sonny screaming at him to get
up. Referee Walcott was trying to get Ali to go to
a neutral corner, but Ali was hysterical.
Walcott was called over to the timekeeper
who told him that the fight was over. (Ring Magazine
editor Nat Fleischer also confirmed to Walcott that
the fight should be over,) and that Ali had retained
the title. In the meantime, Liston was up from the
canvas and he and the champion resumed fighting. Walcott
finally went over and stopped the fight.
Whether Liston "Threw" either
fight has always been open to conjecture. What is
certain is that he took that secret to his grave in
1970.
Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier
Now I know many of you will be saying
that Frazier was the champion when he first met Ali
in March 1971 at Madison Square Garden in another
"Fight of the century", but Ali of course
had never lost the championship in the ring. Because
of his refusal to be drafted into the forces in the
Vietnam War, Muhammad was "stripped" by
the authorities.
The WBA had set up a tournament involving
eight leading contenders during Ali's exile. Although
without a doubt one of the best eight heavyweight
contenders in the world, Frazier was not interested
in entering the tournament. The 1964 Olympic gold
medallist, instead, met Buster Mathis for the New
York State version.
Frazier stopped Mathis and eventually
met the winner of the WBA's tournament, Jimmy Ellis.
Frazier flattened Ellis in 4 rounds in February 1970.
Despite the so-called "undisputed" tag,
Frazier could not gain universal acceptance as world
heavyweight champion until he met Muhammad Ali.
After just two fights back, Ali met
Frazier to settle matters once and for all, but Frazier
was a man possessed that New York night and would
not be denied, flooring Ali in the 15th round and
winning by decision. Joe was truly "smokin'"
that night.
Frazier, of course was to lose the
title two years later to George Foreman when demolished
in just two rounds, and to Ali in a non-title match-up
in 1974 on points, again at the Garden. Ali won the
title in Zaire in 1974 from Foreman in a huge upset.
The third meeting between boxing's
ultimate archrivals took place in the Philippines
in October 1975. Both were considered past their brilliant
prime, but Frazier was a considerable underdog. The
"Thrilla in Manila" was brutal theatre.
Once again, the two great warriors bared their souls
in pursuit of superiority.
Fortunes fluctuated from one to the
other, until Frazier, eyes almost closed and bleeding
from the mouth, was retired by chief corner man, the
late and very great Eddie Futch. It is probably the
occasion Mr Futch will be remembered best for, as
he showed what a compassionate man he was towards
his fighters.
Frazier was to fight just twice more,
losing to George Foreman a year later in a return
match and then drew with unheralded Floyd "Jumbo"
Cummings. Ali, well........
Muhammad Ali-Leon Spinks
February 1978, and Olympic light-heavyweight
champion Leon Spinks was deemed as a suitable challenger
for the 36 year old Ali. Although Spinks had youth
and hunger on his side, he had had only seven professional
fights, one of which was drawn!
The champion, trained lightly, and
completely underestimated the Detroit challenger,
and was hustled out of his stride, losing by a closer
decision than perhaps he had deserved.
When they met in a rematch in September,
it appeared that Spinks had been having a seven-month
party. Not training with the same desire to succeed
as the first time, Spinks spent 15 rounds chasing
the far more focussed Ali, who rolled back the years,
dancing his way to a clear cut decision. At 36, "The
Greatest" had won the championship again, 14
years after his defeat of Sonny Liston.
Michael Spinks-Larry Holmes
Rocky Marciano's 49 fight winning
streak came under serious threat from possibly the
most under-rated champion in history, Larry Holmes.
Holmes had won the WBC title from
Ken Norton, but became the linear champion when he
became the first, and last man to stop the great Muhammad
Ali in 1980. He was very bitter at not receiving the
recognition his talents clearly deserved. With one
of the best left jabs in history, Holmes was one victory
away from equalling he "Brocton Blockbuster's"
record.
Light-heavyweight champion, and Leon's
younger brother, Michael Spinks, challenged him. Although
Olympic middleweight champion and one of the great
light-heavyweights of all time, he was considered
a safe bet for Holmes to tie the record.
Unfortunately for Holmes, Spinks didn't
read the script. Twenty pounds above his usual fighting
weight, Spinks befuddled Holmes over 15 rounds. Holmes
couldn't get to grips with the unorthodox Spinks,
and lost a close decision. In hindsight, Spinks couldn't
have timed his challenge better.
Holmes was fast approaching his 37th
birthday when he met Spinks in the rematch in April
1986. Holmes did not under-estimate Spinks this time,
but age had caught up with him, and but for one right
hand that looked to have stunned Michael, just couldn't
find the punches to get Spinks under control or in
trouble.
After another 15 rounds of frustration
for the "Easton Assassin", Spinks was awarded
a highly controversial split decision.
Evander Holyfield-Riddick Bowe
Evander Holyfield was expected to
be too seasoned a professional for Riddick Bowe when
they met in November 1992.
Bowe was reckoned to have no heart,
desire or chin, and although was physically far bigger
than the former undisputed cruiserweight champion,
Holyfield, he was not favoured to inflict "The
Real Deal" with his first defeat.
Bowe showed himself, though, to be
a man with a big heart, desire and chin as he waged
war with Holyfield, almost stopping him in the 10th
and 11th rounds of their magnificent battle. Bowe
won a clear decision, and a long reign was predicted
for him, while it looked like the end of the Atlantan's
career.
Bowe gave Holyfield the opportunity
to gain revenge a year later, thinking as most "Experts"
did, that Holyfield was now a "Shot" fighter,
although still better than Bowe's first two defences
that had taken place against badly faded challengers,
Michael Dokes and Jesse Ferguson.
With Emmanuel Steward in his corner,
Holyfield turned boxer, and out sped the less than
well-conditioned Bowe. This was the night of the famous
"Fan man". The paraglider that arrived from
out of the night air in round 7, causing a lengthy
delay giving the older Holyfield rest.
This was possibly Holyfield's most
impressive performance to date, as he won a clear
points decision, and so avenging the first loss of
his career.
So, there you have it. By and large,
it's no mean feat to win the world heavyweight championship
back against the man you lost it to. Remember, for
the purposes of this piece, we are talking about the
true championship, rather than various versions that
the alphabet boys give out like confetti.
Come November 17th, Lennox Lewis could
join a very elite band indeed.
