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kenyan_cheena · 11-18-2004, 09:14 PM

CANADIAN TRIO SET TO STEAL LEWIS LIMELIGHT

Friday 28 December 2001

Ever since announcing his intention to turn professional,
Canada's Lennox Lewis has been one of the most talked-about
and written-about fighters in the Heavyweight Boxing Federation.

The Super-Heavyweight champion of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games has
been the subject of much speculation over a possible future matchup
against the man he knocked out to win gold, Riddick Bowe.

Bowe is the 5th seed for the HBF's World Championship tournament,
and has been predicted (hyped) by many (as much as by himself)
as the early favourite for the World Championship.
Lewis is not in the tournament, as a family illness prevented
him from attending the auditions in October.
He will be competing for the New York State Heavyweight championship,
a tournament that will take place concurrently with the
World Championship tournament.
However, many look at that title as little more than a stepping stone
for Lewis. No one seriously doubts that he will win the
NYS championship, as the other 35 men in the tournament are really
not in the same league.
And so, boxing commentators are casting their eyes to the future, to
2004, in particular. By then, the HBF will have crowned their
inaugural champion, and the public will have a better idea of where
the talent is.

However, a trio of 19 year-old Canadians are set to take the focus off
Lewis, and provide boxing fans with an even better reason to pay
attention to their nation.

Sam Langford, George Chuvalo and Donovan Ruddock are all numbered
amongst the top 20 in the HBF's World Championship tournament.

* Langford is the highest seeded Canadian in the tournament at
number nine, one of only three men from outside the U.S. to be seeded
in the top ten. Born in Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia, he is a modest,
articulate young man, a devout christian. Langford has shown in interviews
that he was watching his fellow competitors very closely during
the HBF's October auditions, as he is able to give quite accurate
breakdowns of the strengths and weaknesses of most of the top contenders.
However, when questioned about his own chances in the tournament,
he is much more reserved.
"I'm just planning to take it one fight at a time," he said. "I'm not
going to take anything for granted, because seeds and rankings really
mean nothing at this point."

* Toronto native George Chuvalo is the 12th seed in the tournament.
During the October auditions, many were impressed by his toughness and
aggression, especially against bigger opponents. He can take a punch,
as evidenced by the nickname of "iron chin" that some were throwing
around.
"The number three guy Jack Johnson said to me 'You're not the strongest,
or the quickest, but damn, if you ain't the toughest, I don't know who
is.'" Chuvalo laughed. "He was saying 'Damn, there's so many tough,
crazy white guys here.' And I took that as a compliment, because that's
what is going to get me through. I know I'm only 19, but I've never
been so determined about anything in my life."

* Donovan Ruddock was born in Saint Catherine, Jamaica, but now considers himself a Canadian. He resides in Ontario, and has been quite
vocal in his protests over the media attention given to Lewis, who defeated
Ruddock to make the Canadian Olympic team.
"He is not even in the World Championship tournament, yet the newspapers
are writing about him like he is already the champion," Ruddock said.
"He is just like the rest of us. He has not done anything yet, and
won't get a chance to for at least two years."
Ruddock is seeded 20th in the tournament, although he believes he should
be higher.
"I am not an egotistical man, by any stretch," he explained. "But I really
was surprised to find out that I wasn't closer to the top ten.
I honestly feel that I outperformed a number of the guys seeded above
me, but what can I do?"

It's now only ten days until the HBF's World Championship tournament
begins. All of Canada will be watching the "19 year-old trio" and hoping
for great things from them in their pursuit of the World Championship.

11-18-2004, 09:14 PM	#13 (permalink)
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 4,146	CANADIAN TRIO SET TO STEAL LEWIS LIMELIGHT Friday 28 December 2001 Ever since announcing his intention to turn professional, Canada's Lennox Lewis has been one of the most talked-about and written-about fighters in the Heavyweight Boxing Federation. The Super-Heavyweight champion of the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games has been the subject of much speculation over a possible future matchup against the man he knocked out to win gold, Riddick Bowe. Bowe is the 5th seed for the HBF's World Championship tournament, and has been predicted (hyped) by many (as much as by himself) as the early favourite for the World Championship. Lewis is not in the tournament, as a family illness prevented him from attending the auditions in October. He will be competing for the New York State Heavyweight championship, a tournament that will take place concurrently with the World Championship tournament. However, many look at that title as little more than a stepping stone for Lewis. No one seriously doubts that he will win the NYS championship, as the other 35 men in the tournament are really not in the same league. And so, boxing commentators are casting their eyes to the future, to 2004, in particular. By then, the HBF will have crowned their inaugural champion, and the public will have a better idea of where the talent is. However, a trio of 19 year-old Canadians are set to take the focus off Lewis, and provide boxing fans with an even better reason to pay attention to their nation. Sam Langford, George Chuvalo and Donovan Ruddock are all numbered amongst the top 20 in the HBF's World Championship tournament. * Langford is the highest seeded Canadian in the tournament at number nine, one of only three men from outside the U.S. to be seeded in the top ten. Born in Weymouth Falls, Nova Scotia, he is a modest, articulate young man, a devout christian. Langford has shown in interviews that he was watching his fellow competitors very closely during the HBF's October auditions, as he is able to give quite accurate breakdowns of the strengths and weaknesses of most of the top contenders. However, when questioned about his own chances in the tournament, he is much more reserved. "I'm just planning to take it one fight at a time," he said. "I'm not going to take anything for granted, because seeds and rankings really mean nothing at this point." * Toronto native George Chuvalo is the 12th seed in the tournament. During the October auditions, many were impressed by his toughness and aggression, especially against bigger opponents. He can take a punch, as evidenced by the nickname of "iron chin" that some were throwing around. "The number three guy Jack Johnson said to me 'You're not the strongest, or the quickest, but damn, if you ain't the toughest, I don't know who is.'" Chuvalo laughed. "He was saying 'Damn, there's so many tough, crazy white guys here.' And I took that as a compliment, because that's what is going to get me through. I know I'm only 19, but I've never been so determined about anything in my life." * Donovan Ruddock was born in Saint Catherine, Jamaica, but now considers himself a Canadian. He resides in Ontario, and has been quite vocal in his protests over the media attention given to Lewis, who defeated Ruddock to make the Canadian Olympic team. "He is not even in the World Championship tournament, yet the newspapers are writing about him like he is already the champion," Ruddock said. "He is just like the rest of us. He has not done anything yet, and won't get a chance to for at least two years." Ruddock is seeded 20th in the tournament, although he believes he should be higher. "I am not an egotistical man, by any stretch," he explained. "But I really was surprised to find out that I wasn't closer to the top ten. I honestly feel that I outperformed a number of the guys seeded above me, but what can I do?" It's now only ten days until the HBF's World Championship tournament begins. All of Canada will be watching the "19 year-old trio" and hoping for great things from them in their pursuit of the World Championship. Last edited by kenyan_cheena : 04-24-2007 at 08:38 AM.