Lennox Lewis Named Hardest Puncher He Faced During Boxing Career

Lennox Lewis’ choice for the hardest puncher he’s ever encountered may come as a surprise to many.

Regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, Lewis became the undisputed champion during his illustrious career. After securing Olympic gold in 1988, Lewis went on an incredible run, capturing the heavyweight title multiple times and claiming victories over the likes of boxing legends Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson.

Over the course of his career, Lewis was forced to avenge earlier knockout defeats, making a strong comeback with decisive wins in rematches against Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman. Despite these losses, Lewis didn’t name either McCall or Rahman as the hardest puncher he ever faced. Instead, that accolade goes to Shannon Briggs, the man Lewis defeated at the Boardwalk Convention Center in Atlantic City in March 1998.

While Lewis faced many dangerous opponents, he made it clear in an interview with Ring Magazine that Shannon Briggs holds the distinction of being the hardest hitter he ever encountered.

“Shannon Briggs. He lacked endurance, but Briggs certainly knew how to put his body weight behind a punch.

Lennox Lewis & Shannon Briggs’s professional boxing records
	Lennox Lewis	Shannon Briggs
Fights	44	68
Wins	41	60
Losses	2	6
Draws	1	1
No contests	0	1

“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’ hand speed. 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.”

Lennox Lewis vs Shannom Briggs

Lewis eventually stopped Briggs in a slobberknocker of a fight

The first round of the bout saw Briggs nearly pull off a massive upset, landing a crushing left hook followed by a series of heavy blows that left Lewis staggering around the ring. However, in a show of his skill and resilience, Lewis dug deep, bit down on his mouthguard, and fought his way back into the fight. With his renowned precision, the Hall of Famer systematically wore Briggs down through a multitude of stiff right hands and powerful hooks.

Briggs was knocked down three times, but each time, he bravely got back to his feet. Ultimately, though, the power and precision of Lewis proved too much, and the referee stepped in to stop the fight in the fifth round.

While Briggs may not have won, he earned Lewis’ respect that night, with the champion calling him the hardest puncher he had ever faced, despite a career filled with legendary fighters.