Shannon Briggs co-starred in a firefight with Lennox Lewis in 1998 and he has held the Brit in high regard ever since.
Briggs would lost via fifth round stoppage that night for Lewis to retain his WBC World Heavyweight Title. ‘The Lion’ would become undisputed three fights later.
In 44 fights, Lewis lost just twice, both by stoppage, to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman. He would famously avenge both defeats in rematches, summing up his determination and mental fortitude.
It is no surprised that the London-born heavyweight is regarded as one of the best to ever lace up the gloves, and Briggs puts him in the very top spot that is more often occupied by Muhammad Ali.
In an interview with One on One Boxing, Shannon ‘The Cannon’ said “Lewis could beat any heavyweight,” including Ali.
“I’m honoured to have fought one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, if not the greatest heavyweight of all time. On any given night, he could beat any other heavyweight champion of the world of any era. His size, his poise, he wasn’t the most flamboyant fighter, stylistic fighter, like an Ali or even a Holmes with the jab, but he got the job done and he had a great jab, a great right hand, tremendous uppercut, a sick left hook when he landed it, he didn’t always land it but when he did it was so effective. So to have fought a legend like that means a lot to me sharing a ring with a great, it’s something to be proud of.
I respect him to the upmost and I say again on any given night he could have beaten any other heavyweight in history. He had something, you can’t beat Lennox twice, he found a way.”
Ali transcended the sport of boxing, becoming a cultural icon for his actions and statements outside of the ropes. He will be forever remembered, however, as one of the most enigmatic heavyweights in history.
