I would like to know as to why is Lennox Lewis ranked much higher compared to the Real Deal. Everyone talks and raves about Lenni and his superior resume and even though i admit he was an extremely highly skilled boxer who deserves a top 10 ranking but i also think he just benefited from being in the right place at the right time to be honest. Holyfield literally faced each and every body. The names he has on his resume George Foreman, Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson, Rid**** Bowe, Michael Moorer, Ray Mercer. Let's not forget that Holyfield beat a much better version of Tyson compared to Lenni. No one can complain about Holyfield ducking anyone. Holyfield also had severe health issues and over came them to dominate as long as he did. He still had the ***** to fight on well past his best. In comparison the major names that Lenni has are Mike Tyson (the worse version), Frank Bruno (a guy mocked for not being good, Lenni beat him after a lucky punch after being thoroughly dominated), Ray Mercer (Life and death whereas a shot Holmes schooled him), Tommy Morrison (Faded HIV version), Vitali Klitshko (Lucky cut and ran away from a rematch), Evander Holyfield (Shot finished version), David Tua (A guy mocked for pathetic boxing skills and having nothing apart from punching power). I just feel that Holyfield should get more props compared to Lenni.
I view them on about the same level. Lennox had thing HOlyfield didn't like one shot KO power, size, reach and the best jab of his time. But he also had a questionable chin, he could be a bit undiciplined and didn't quite have Holy's resume. Holy was an iron chinned, gym rat who almost had to make his fights into close up, in your face slugfests to win. the best inside fighter of his generation whose indomitable will carried him to beat many bigger men. Lennox with Evander's mentality would probably be the best heavyweight ever to live. I have them on the same level. With Lennox at number 3 all time at heavy and Holy at 6-8.
I rank Lewis higher than Holyfield. Just think how he would be ranked if he managed to avoid two pinches and retired undefeated? But on a p4p basis l do rank Holyfield higher and l do think he fought better comp. But h2h Lewis fought him twice and if the judging had been on the up and up it would have been about 16 - 8 over the two fights. People who focus only on the 2nd fight and ignore the first one clearly have an agenda. Ranking Lewis 3-5 range Holyfield 6-8.
A lenni nut hugger like you will always ignore the fact that Lenni got to Holyfield when Holyfield was washed up and no longer the same fighter. Those two punches will leave question marks on Lenni. No 3-5 range is too high a ranking for Lenni.
I tend to rate more on H2h than resume. Ali and Joe louis take 2 of 3 from Lennox. I think young foreman and Tyson would each spark him once in 3 fights. Holmes would be very even fights but Lennox had more power and would take at least one by KO. I'd heavily favor Lennox against any other heavyweights.
Chinny? He got stopped TWICE IN FORTY FOUR FIGHTS AT HEAVYWEIGHT. You have no idea what "chinny" means.
Very interesting that you accuse Lewis of being in the right place at the right time and then use George Foreman, Larry Holmes, and Mike Tyson to illustrate Evanders resume - Many would say that younger versions of all 3 would have beaten Holifield. Also you use Bowe and Moorer as part of Evanders resume - He lost 3 fights out of 5 against both fighters and lost to the younger version of Moorer - It could be argued that Moorer was old when Holifield beat him [A popular argument to discredit Lennox Lewis' wins}. But I suppose we could take any boxer and spin there resume for or against them however we choose.
Holyfield fought everybody, tis true. But he also lost to a bunch of guys whereas Lewis lost to two guys and avenged both losses. Lewis also looks a good deal more solid than Holyfield who had tough fights with guys that Lennox would probably deal with quite easily. If I had to pick a fighter to watch, though, Holy > Lewis anytime.
Lennox fought a lot of the late 90s guys. Holyfield's resume is slightly better but he lost to Lennox h2h. Yes Evander was faded and the rematch was very close but that is the reason Lennox mostly remembered more favorably. Holyfield also hurt himself by not knowing when to hang them up. No way around it but that hurt him. Plenty of other heavies did it like Jack Johnson but not in an era where it's all there for people to see and dissect.
Compared to Holyfield and Tyson he was definately more chinnier, two stoppages, single shots. There are question marks and suspicions. To his credit he had such excellent boxing skills and he used his assets to good advantage that opponents never got to his chin effectively.
Foreman edges past Lenni for the simple fact what he was able to do coming back into boxing far past his prime. Same for Larry. Lenni cannot be in the top 5 but definately around 8. Holyfield edges it in my opinion for the simple fact he faught literally everybody without thinking twice and he was able to achieve things purely based on his warrior mentality, heart and punch above his weight without having the natural skills of Lewis and Tyson.
I don't know that Lewis is consistently ranked significantly higher than Evander. I have Lewis at around #5 and Holy usually around #7 or #8 which isn't outrageous.
Questions have to be asked as to why didn't Lewis face Foreman, Holmes or even a younger version of Holyfield when he was fighting actively when those guys were available. Holyfield had a heart condition which hampered him against Moorer. He had the ***** to face a dangerous version of Bowe and was able to go the full distance based on pure heart, courage compared to ability. Most of Lewi's big wins are against guys who were past their primes i.e. Mercer, Holyfield, Tyson.
