Yeah, by a few deluded people who know **** all about boxing His last fight, when 38 (?) which he won, will forever taint his legacy as being the most dominate HW of the era, having beaten everyone he ever faced.
the trouble is with assessing Lewis's career is that prime Tyson, prime Holyfield (for years) and Bowe all avoided him like the plague. Most of this is down to Don King, but nevertheless, Lewis cannot really be held responsible for this.
The reality is that most legacy's are enhanced after a fighter retires and the era moves on. Lennox Lewis ending on a higher note than most former champions certainly adds luster to his resume but make no mistake he beat everyman he faced in a very deep division that rivals the 70s as the best era for heavyweights. His resume has alot of depth and although he beat some fighters while they were past their best he still remains a great fighter. This current era unfortunately does not have the same caliber of talent that the 90s had or even the 80s. The fighters today tend to lack the athleticism and pure talent that 90s fighters had.
Plus twice being KO'd by two nobodys with one punch and his best win being over a drugged fighter doesnt help Lewis' legacy either...
What higher note? Since 2000 he got starched by Rahman, ducked Byrd, lost most of his belts, got schooled by Vitali and was forced into retirement within weeks of being stripped of his last belt.
Yes and No. It has become so fashionable for Lennox Lewis to get away with his ducking, picking and choosing. Tyson offered Lewis $13.5 million in 1995 before the Ray Mercer fight but Lewis turned it down because Don King came with strings. Lewis getting starched in 1994 by Oliver McCall didn't help matters when it came to the Bowe fight. Bowe finally agreed to fight Lewis but Lewis lost to McCall and the fight was shelved until Bowe himself unofficially "lost" to Golota twice which is why Lewis faced Golota a year after the Bowe fights. With Holyfield by the time a fight was relevant you had 2 different networks, you had 2 different promoters, historically it was a modern era super fight that was difficult to make.
Lewis does seem to get a lot more love now that the Klits are running the show. He did beat some really good fighters, but I think it is the excitement that people miss most. Lewis absolutely starched guys out (Rahman II, Golata, Grant) in a way that Wlad never has and probably never will. He also occassionally got sparked out himself (Rahman I), so his detractors could watch the fight knowing that they might walk away happy. Wlad has drained the joy out of the division, so people look back fondly to when watching a heavyweight championship fight wasn't so predictable. Overall, I think Lewis was damn good, but the Klits make his look so much better.
But he did win his carrer definning fight with Tyson. That was very important to him. Hehe jokes aside. Totally agree with you:good Good post:deal Never knew that Tyson offered Lewis $ 13 million in 1995.