Where would you rate him in the ATG HW list? would your opinion of Lewis change or would it stay the same? Both fights were bouts he should have won (looking at the way he performed in the rematches) But some say the losses helped Lewis to develop into a more careful, celebral fighter? maybe the loss to Mccall was a blessing in disguise which guided him too victories over future opponents.? who knows want to hear your opinions
I think you're right. The losses turned him into a better boxer and put him in a position to showcase his courage and heart by coming back to beat them both. I think this is a significant part of the reason why people rate Lewis so highly, his "bouncebackability" made him a great champ and it makes you wonder if he had been held in such high esteem if he was undefeated.
To me it hurts his standing big time IMO. OF all the All time heavyweight greats Lewis is the only one to be KTFOD twice by solid but unspectacular opposition while still in his prime. I have Lewis 9 or 10 on my list i dont see why some have him in there top 3 thats just crazy.
It shows his courage and versatility, how many top fighters have come back to defeat the opponents that have knock them out with a knockout themselves. It actually looks better that he suffered these losses and came bck in spectacular fashion. Overall im sure it helped him stay hungry as he knew he wasnt supposed to lose these fights.
You really think he was in his prime though? He was pre-prime for me against McCall, and for the Rahman fight, by all accounts I've read it seems he was barely training and spent more time filming Ocean's Eleven than in camp, which is why he came in heavy and out of shape. I need to sort my criteria out, but for me I think the fact he came back to beat them both - Rahman in great style - may make up for the fact he lost to them originally.
Yeah agreed. But its still hard to shake off the fact he was Knocked out by lesser fighters. Those two knockouts are excuses as to why people predict that fighters like shavers,foreman, prime tyson or marciano would all land that one punch KO.
the early lennox was vulernable he was going to lose to somebody it happened at the right time to the right guy cause it allowed him to bounce back and win the belt with enough time to develope before facing Tyson and Holyfield if he faced those two guys he would have lost but he lost got the belt back beat guys like McCal Mercer Morrisson Briggs b4 the bigger fights
Who cares? If he didn't lose, you know he'd be rated higher. Unfortunately for his fans, he lost twice, and we see him where he's at now. Personally, his two losses don't mean anything considering he did the most admirable thing in "erasing" them via revenge. Other boxers have lost to lesser men in the ring and not given them a return bout. McCall was an iron chinned fighter with Steward in his corner. Nothing wrong with losing to a tough contender with a world class trainer. Rahman caught Lewis (like Vitali almost did), and Lewis came back stronger then ever. If he hadn't lost then he'd be undefeated and we'd have a larger problem on our hands with idiots riding the "Lewis went undefeated train". I guess it's a good thing he lost or else we'd have Lewis-lovers like we have Marciano-Maniacs.
This :good I still rate him as one of the greatest HWs of all time even with his losses. By avenging his losses just proves to me that he was prone to the odd off night. But on his night...well just look at the Rahman rematch.
I'd look up Sam Langford if I were you. If you want to be considered knowledgeable in boxing and all...