April 29, 2000
Lewis Proves Too Big & Too Much;
Inexperience and Lack of Talent Costs Grant
As expected, athleticism rules over inexperience. That was exactly the case
when Lennox Lewis (32-1-1, 28KOs) thrashed Mike Grant (30-1, 27KOs) inside
two rounds on Saturday, April 29, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
In a bout that was billed as "TWO BIG," Lewis, making his 11th defense in two
reigns as the WBC champ, and his first of the IBF, proved too much.
Lewis-Grant, advertised as "13 Feet, 500 Pounds," was promoted by Panix
Promotions in association with Main Events Monitor and Madison Square Garden,
was televised live on HBO/TVKO Pay-Per-View at a suggested $44.95.
Similar to his bout against Andrew Golota (TKO 10), where Golota quit, Grant
showed nothing. Like Grant-Golota, Grant hit the canvas harder than a
10-story building tumbling onto the streets of New York City. In fact, just
seconds into the contest, a series of overhand rights from Lewis sent Grant
tumbling onto the mat.
Grant, the young undefeated 28-year-old from Philadelphia, PA, was already
breathing heavy in the opening moments of the show. As soon as the challenger
returned to his feet, Lewis, 33, London, England, continued to pummel his foe
with hard overhand rights and uppercuts that drilled him to the mat again.
The Garden crowd went nuts. How can a fighter standing tall at an even 6' 7,"
250 pounds with muscles in every department get his behind toed across the
ring like a dog on a strap? Obviously, Grant cannot fight!
"The think he have no experience," said Wladimir Klitschko, who knocked out
David Bostice on the televised portion of the undercard. "Maybe too young,"
referring to Grant's in experience.
Grant, who tried desperately to clinch onto Lewis massive shoulders, was
floored for the third time by another hard right-uppercut just before the
bell wrung to end the first stanza.
The bout came to an end at 1: 16 seconds of the second round, as a barrage of
punches followed by a hard uppercut to his chin planted Grant flat on his
back in the middle of the canvas.
"It was a good fight," said Evander Holyfield, currently in training for a
June 10 challenge of Johnny Ruiz for the vacant WBA heavyweight title. "One
guy had more experience than the other. The fight was impressive. They got a
chance to see the guy with the most experience would usually win if he were
in good shape. If the guy were to beat him what would have been said? He
would have said sorry. Because he had more experience he did what he was
supposed to do, he looked fantastic. That's just part of life"
"It wasn't a mismatch Grant was completely wrong," Said Klaus-Peter Kohl,
promoter of both Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko in Hamburg. "He tried knock
Lennox out with one punch. That is not boxing. He came without a jab without
moves. He tried to get a lucky punch, so you cannot fight against Lennox.
Lennox is undisputed he is the best, and Mike Grant is overrated. He does not
have experience. He needs two years more for such a fight."
"I think Lewis was very strong and has big punch, said Axel Schultz, the
first German in boxing history to lose three consecutive, twelve round
decisions in world title fights several years ago. "Mike is too early, too
inexperienced. It's a big problem for Grant. He was very nervous.
"I think Lennox Lewis is the best heavyweight out there right now," added
Floyd Mayweather the WBC super featherweight champion. "If Ike Ibeabuchi was
in tip-top condition, it would have been an explosive fight. I love Grant as
a fighter, but he did not have enough experience."
In experience was indeed the key, but in any event I personally feel that
Grant just does not know how to fight. There is more to boxing than just
stepping inside the ring and throwing punches. It's about poise, discipline,
being able to out-think your opponent without absorbing too much punishment.
Grant, literally showing no defensive skills, did none of the above.
Lewis, however, did!
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