Coming to the Defense of Heavyweight Champion

So Tim Kawakami thinks Lennox Lewis has a wobbly chin [Nov. 15]. That’s funny, because in 37 pro fights he has been on the canvas precisely once. And that was from a freak punch from Oliver McCall in a loss he quickly avenged. Against Holyfield on Saturday night he took plenty of hard shots and kept on coming.

Kawakami is right about this being the Tyson-Holyfield era, but only because Lewis was so good it has taken him 10 years to get his shot. With Don King in charge of the heavyweight division, mediocre fighters get title shots, great boxers get avoided.

Has Kawakami forgotten that Tyson ducked Lewis for years after he beat Riddick Bowe in the Olympics? First they paid Lewis $6 million to go away when he was the No. 1 contender, then Tyson dumped his WBC belt (as did Bowe) rather than fight him.

As for the oft-quoted canard that Lewis has only fought mediocrities, consider this: Lewis has fought Bowe once and Holyfield twice. His record? Two wins and a highly contentious draw. He demolished Razor Ruddock (who gave Tyson a huge scare) and Tony Tucker, and as for the rest of his opponents, it was Lewis’ excellence that made them look mediocre by comparison.

Kawakami is entitled to his opinion of Lewis as nothing special. Aficionados of the sport, including Tyson and King, know better.

NEIL FLETCHER

Santa Monica