Lennox Lewis may have been a heavyweight grand master, but during his career he certainly faced some of the division’s biggest punchers — and one man in particular stood out for sheer power.
From 1993 to 2003, Lewis competed in 18 world title fights, taking on a host of heavy hitters from Evander Holyfield to Vitali Klitschko. Along the way, he suffered two stunning defeats that raised question marks over his chin when Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman both blasted him out in 1994 and 2001 respectively.
Lewis avenged both losses and went on to become the undisputed heavyweight champion in 1999, defeating Holyfield in their hugely anticipated rematch in Las Vegas.
But it was during a 10-fight run in America, from 1995 to 2000, that Lewis faced the man he credits as the hardest puncher he ever shared a ring with. Speaking to The Ring for their “The Best I Faced” series, Lewis said:
“He lacked endurance but [Shannon] Briggs certainly knew how to put his bodyweight behind a punch.”
During his second reign as WBC heavyweight champion, ‘The Lion’ made his fifth trip to Atlantic City, where he had a perfect 4-0 record. Looking to take his crown was brash New Yorker Shannon Briggs. The five-round scrap saw Lewis rocked early, but the Brit recovered from the scare to drop Briggs twice before stopping him in the fifth. He recalled the moment after naming Briggs his biggest punching opponent, saying:
“Unfortunately for him you need the full package when you face me so power isn’t enough.”
