The hardest puncher Lennox Lewis has ever faced may come as a surprise.
Lewis became undisputed champion during his illustrious career, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.
He shared the ring with some of the biggest punchers to ever grace the banner division, including Mike Tyson, Vitali Klitschko, Frank Bruno and David Tua, along with boxing greats such as Evander Holyfield.
Lewis also had to avenge stoppage defeats, after he lost by knockout to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman, but on both occasions ‘The Lion’ responded with emphatic knockouts in the respective rematches.
Despite all of the names mentioned, it is another man that Lewis views as the hardest puncher he’s faced, as he told Ring Magazine that Shannon Briggs holds that accolade.
“Shannon 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.
I was surprised by Briggs’ handspeed. He was able to close the gap very quickly and that allowed him to get off the big punches. Sometimes you don’t realise how quick someone is until you’re in there.”
Lewis and Briggs met at the Boardwalk Convention Center in Atlantic City in March 1998, with Briggs suffering a fifth round knockout defeat after being dropped three times throughout the bout.
Since retiring from boxing in 2003, Lewis has gone on to be a successful analyst in the sport but has hinted at a return against Mike Tyson if his old foe can get past Jake Paul.
