Johnny Nelson believes one man stands alone as the best of Britain, doubting that any other fighter comes remotely close to gaining such recognition.
When discussing the UK’s all-time greats, many will highlight Joe Calzaghe, who made 21 successful super-middleweight title defences.
The Welshman retired as an unbeaten two-weight world champion, joining the likes of Andre Ward and Ricardo Lopez in that particular department.
There were also fighters such as Bob Fitzsimmons and Randolph Turpin, who defeated Sugar Ray Robinson, but Nelson remains adamant that Lennox Lewis is the greatest British fighter in history.
‘The Lion’ defeated every man he faced in a professional ring, including Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman, who scored stunning stoppage victories in 1994 and 2001, respectively.
Lewis, however, was able to exact his revenge over both men – ending both rematches inside the distance – while his only other blemish came via a highly controversial draw with Evander Holyfield in 1999.
Many felt Lewis was egregiously denied a clear victory but, in their immediate rematch, he managed to push the result beyond any reasonable doubt and became the undisputed heavyweight champion by unanimous decision.
Speaking with Daily Mail Boxing, Nelson insisted that Lewis must be regarded as Britain’s greatest-ever fighter.
“It’s got to be Lennox Lewis because, what he achieved as a heavyweight – some of the fights he had – you thought, ‘Wow’.
“He didn’t box Mike Tyson [in] the pomp of his career, or [a prime] Evander Holyfield, but every dangerous fighter in front of him, he got rid of them.
“And when he got knocked out, he’s in the ring saying ‘I want a rematch’. And he’d come back and fix it – right the wrong.”
Indeed, Lewis never faced a prime ‘Iron Mike’, yet he nonetheless stopped Tyson in round eight of their grudge match in 2002.
