Lennox Lewis; Greatest Heavyweight of all time?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Lunny, Mar 18, 2009.


Page 1 of 9
  1. Lunny

    Lunny Guest

    Foreman thinks so, or at least thought so.

    These aren't my thoughts, just arguments I've heard before. I'm interested in hearing everyone elses views.


    He's beaten every man he's faced in a very strong era of heavyweight boxing, easilly the strongest since the 70s.

    Tyson, Holyfield, Klitschko, Tua etc.

    Retired at the top. One of only 2 men to beat Vitali.


    EDIT: A few people are saying where they'd rank him. I'd be interested to see who's ahead/behind on your lists too. Cheers.


    Any thoughts?
     
    Lunny, Mar 18, 2009
    Lunny, Mar 18, 2009
    #1
  2. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

    50,336
    23,367
    Jan 3, 2007
    Thoughts?

    I think he belongs somewhere between #4-#7, but #1 is simply too high.
     
    mr. magoo, Mar 18, 2009
    mr. magoo, Mar 18, 2009
    #2
  3. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    111,919
    45,753
    Mar 21, 2007
    Foreman is off his head.

    "Ali is the greatest man to have ever boxed. Louis is the greatest Heavy...but Lewis would have beaten them all!"

    Lewis has no case for the #1 spot, at all. He just didn't beat the named fighters that Muhammad Ali did. Nor did he fight the best of his era (not his fault, IMO), nor does he look as impressive on film.

    I have Lewis at either #3 of #4 depending on how I am feeling about Liston, and I don't see how he can be justified at #1 or #2 on any kind of list.
     
    McGrain, Mar 18, 2009
    McGrain, Mar 18, 2009
    #3
  4. la-califa

    la-califa Boxing Addict Full Member

    6,292
    51
    Jun 12, 2007
    Any greatest of all time does not get knocked out in his prime by a journeyman fighter...Twice! No less!
     
    la-califa, Mar 18, 2009
    la-califa, Mar 18, 2009
    #4
  5. ryanm8655

    ryanm8655 Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,810
    2,888
    Oct 23, 2008
    Not quite journeymen are they...

    These things happen...it's boxing...bit harsh to judge his career on the 2 defeats...
     
    ryanm8655, Mar 18, 2009
    ryanm8655, Mar 18, 2009
    #5
  6. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    111,919
    45,753
    Mar 21, 2007

    Nobody - I don't think - is judging his career on his 2 defeats. If I was doing so it would be impossible to rank him at 3 or 4, which I do.

    But can the #1 suffer such defeats? Yes.

    During his prime? No.
     
    McGrain, Mar 18, 2009
    McGrain, Mar 18, 2009
    #6
  7. Lunny

    Lunny Guest

    Rahman and McCall aren't journeymen and he avenged those, his only defeats.
     
    Lunny, Mar 18, 2009
    Lunny, Mar 18, 2009
    #7
  8. GPater11093

    GPater11093 Barry Full Member

    38,034
    88
    Nov 10, 2008
    journeymen dont become world champs or contenders
     
    GPater11093, Mar 18, 2009
    GPater11093, Mar 18, 2009
    #8
  9. Lunny

    Lunny Guest

    You raise a good point. Ali only lost to Frazier and Norton during his prime. I suppose it was just a different class of fighter. Frazier and Norton are a class above McCall (!) and Rahman.

    The only edge Lewis has over Ali is the fact he finished at the top.
     
    Lunny, Mar 18, 2009
    Lunny, Mar 18, 2009
    #9
  10. la-califa

    la-califa Boxing Addict Full Member

    6,292
    51
    Jun 12, 2007
    Yes, When Lewis was on, he was a great fighter. He beat alot of the best of his Era. But how can anyone rate him over fighters like Marciano? Who never lost a bout. Louis- 26 title defenses. Ali- Never had been stopped (& faced some boxing greats).Holmes-undefeated until deep into his career.
    Lennox Lewis was very good, but not #1.
     
    la-califa, Mar 18, 2009
    la-califa, Mar 18, 2009
    #10
  11. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    111,919
    45,753
    Mar 21, 2007
    Head to head, Marciano isn't going to rate that highly weighing in at 180lbs. His level of competition is good, but arguably not as good as Lewis's.

    I have Marciano at 10, i'm comfortable with that.
     
    McGrain, Mar 18, 2009
    McGrain, Mar 18, 2009
    #11
  12. Holmes' Jab

    Holmes' Jab Master Jabber Full Member

    5,112
    73
    Nov 20, 2006
    Anywhere between 3rd and 6th is fine with me (I have him 4th). Louis and Ali are locks for the top two spots obviously. Holmes is 3rd in my opinion.
     
    Holmes' Jab, Mar 18, 2009
    Holmes' Jab, Mar 18, 2009
    #12
  13. rydersonthestorm

    rydersonthestorm Boxing Addict Full Member

    6,957
    17
    Sep 27, 2007
    I think norton is overated i honestly think he would struggle to beat mccall.
     
    rydersonthestorm, Mar 18, 2009
    rydersonthestorm, Mar 18, 2009
    #13
  14. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

    50,336
    23,367
    Jan 3, 2007
    My list changes on an almost weekly basis, but today it looks something like this:

    1. Ali
    2. Louis
    3. Marciano
    4. Lewis
    5. Tyson
    6. Foreman
    7. Frazier
    8. Holyfield
    9. Liston
    10. Charles
    11. Patterson
    12. Bowe

    Or something to that effect.. Next week of course, I may not have the same list.
     
    mr. magoo, Mar 18, 2009
    mr. magoo, Mar 18, 2009
    #14
  15. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

    111,919
    45,753
    Mar 21, 2007
    01 - Muhammad Ali
    02 - Joe Louis
    03 - Lennox Lewis
    04 - Sonny Listn
    05 - Joe Frazier
    06 - Jack Johnson
    07 - Mike Tyson
    08 - Larry Holmes
    09 - Rocky Marciano
    10 - Harry Wills
    11 - Jim Jeffries
    12 - George Foreman
    13 - Evander Holyfield
    14 - Jack Dempsey
    15 - Max Schmeling
    16 - Joe Walcott
    17 - Floyd Patterson
    18 - Ezzard Charles
    19 - Wlad Klistschko
    20 - Peter Jackson
    21 - Riddick Bowe
    22 - Sam Langford
    23 - Ken Norton
    24 - Gene Tunney
    25 - Max Baer
    26 - Vitali Klitschko
    27 - Bob Fitzsimmons
    28 - James J Corbett
    29 - Joe Jeannette
    30 - Sam McVey
     
    McGrain, Mar 18, 2009
    McGrain, Mar 18, 2009
    #15
Page 1 of 9