Cooper critical of Lewis

Cooper claims Lewis burdened by his extra pounds

British boxing legend Henry Cooper says Lennox Lewis was at least a stone overweight when he lost his WBC and IBF titles.

A mighty right hand from unfancied American Hasim Rahman knocked Lewis out after two minutes 32 seconds of round five.

Former British and European heavyweight champion Cooper claims Lewis, who weighed in at 18st 1lb, never gave himself a chance.

"I cannot understand Lennox coming in at that weight," said Cooper.

"He's a big guy, but just because you are a big guy it doesn't mean you can be any weight you want.

"If I had anything to do with it, he wouldn't come into the ring at anything more than 17 stone.

"When he is that weight he is the best moving heavyweight in the world.

Acclimatising

"But this morning he just wasn't moving nicely, he was simply plodding along. He was unprepared for this fight."

Lewis was criticised for not spending enough time acclimatising to high altitude conditions in South Africa.

Lennox looked lifeless and was just treading water halfway through

  Henry Cooper

Cooper said: "You either go there the day before the fight and just fight, so that it won't affect you, or you go there for four or five weeks to get acclimatised.

"You can't do what Lennox did, which is to go there 12 days before, because then you are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.

"Lennox undoubtedly hadn't acclimatised. He looked as if he was in a daze all the time and was so sluggish in those early rounds.

"When you saw him warming up in the dressing room he looked like he was almost asleep.

"Although he was winning in the early rounds of the fight he didn't have any snap about him.

"He looked lifeless and was just treading water halfway through."

Cooper fought Ali for the world title in 1966

Cooper also criticised Lewis for trying to mimic the great Muhammad Ali, dropping his guard and inviting Rahman to take a swing at him.

"Lennox made the mistake which so many fighters make nowadays, dropping their hands and trying to outdo Ali," said Cooper.

"Ali was the originator of it, that was his style and it was natural for him.

"When I saw Lennox doing it I was screaming at the television 'For goodness sake keep your hands up, because this guy can bang'."