Three-time world champion, Lennox Lewis, is regarded by many fans as one of the greatest heavyweights of all-time, having facing a plethora of the division’s top fighters and beating them all.
Lewis is one of few fighter’s to have defeated every opponent he ever faced, retiring with a record of 41-2-1, avenging both of his shock knockout losses to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman, as well as a controversial draw with Evander Holyfield.
‘The Lion’ also overcame a host of notorious power-punchers, including the legendary Mike Tyson, on top of the likes of David Tua and Vitali Klitschko.
However, in an interview with ‘The Ring’, Lewis revealed that none of those destructive hard-hitters, or either of the men that knocked him out, hit as hard as Shannon ‘The Cannon‘ Briggs.
“He lacked endurance, but Briggs certainly knew how to put his bodyweight behind a punch.
Unfortunately for him, you need the full package when you face me, so power isn’t enough. Fans may expect me to say McCall or Hasim Rahman for punching power, but I basically set myself up against both of them.”
Lewis defeated Briggs by fifth-round stoppage in 1998 to successfully defend his WBC title. However, Briggs would go on to become a champion himself, knocking out Siarhei Liakhovich in 2006 for the WBO title in the twelfth-round of the contest whilst behind on all three cards.
Although, after just seven months, his reign came to an end, losing out to the undefeated Sultan Ibragimov in his first defence of the belt.
