Quite possibly, my friend, but Byrd 2000 was more awkward and slippery than Holyfield 1999, Peter 2005 was more dangerous than McCall or Rahman when they fought Lewis, and McCline was bigger and stronger than Ray Mercer in 1996. It could have been as you say, but it works both ways. Which boxer Lewis beat would have been a problem for Wlad? Certainly, several could have beaten him, but a focused Wlad would have easily been the favorite against literally anyone Lennox fought.
Of course he was. Rahman had KO losses. Peter was being touted as one of the most dangerous HW punchers of all-time.
"Peter was touted" yet he has a worse resume than both and is crude as hell. Peter didn't do any better against Toney despite being more dangerous
Peter 100% did better against Toney than Rahman. Rahman was getting taken apart in the second one and Peter rocked Toney a bunch of times.
Rahman was in his mid 30s by then, although massive credit to Toney because he was older than both Rahman and Peter
Purity would have whipped a lot of beloved champs from the old days. Fighters have gotten bigger. But it's all speculation. A fighter can only fight in his own era, and can only be judged by those fights. It's hard to understand how a guy who loses to Ross Purity is the GOAT.
Because he absolutely ruled the division and barely lost a round for a decade! Joe Choynski got KO'd a dozen times but he sure as **** KO'd Jack Johnson, but Jack is still in the discussion. Lennox Lewis was KO'd twice in his absolute prime, never had a DECADE LONG stretch of dominance but he is surely among the Top 5 ATG. Rocky Marciano was a club fighter who only plied his trade at the elite level for a dozen fights against a select group of old timers, light heavies and white dopes. Where was his DECADE LONG stretch of dominance?
Take Rocky out of it. Purity is not as good as Chonyski. Lewis was KO'd by two guys who compiled excellent careers.
Without the Klitschkos coming about Lewis may have. The era wasn't going to get any stronger until the later part of the 2000s I believe in circumstances. Do you believe Wlad would have held his reign if he had to fight his brother ? Do you truly believe Wlad had the hardest series of opponents in history ?