The overhand right, delivered with the motion favored b baseball pitchers, is not the most economical punch in boxing.
But, when Lennox Lewis threw it against Donovan "Razor" Ruddock on Saturday, it was a thing of beauty crisp and smooth and quick.
So quick that Ruddock felt a punch that he never saw.
Lewis must now be counted as a good bet to become the heavyweight champion next spring, when he meets the winner of the match between Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe, who are set to fight on Nov. 13 in Las Vegas.
British promoter Frank Maloney wants Lewis to fight for the title in England, and if Holyfield defeats Bowe, he has offered the champion $28 million to defend his title in London.
Duva initially said "no way," but that was before he heard the purse offer, which would be the highest in boxing history.