Anyone remember the days when Lewis was not respected?

Lewis could beat any HWT from history,. that's how great he was. Maybe even #1 all time. Just too big, too strong and too smart for Ali,

 

Most of it was that he was not American. Merchant yelled we finally got it back or something deragative when Lewis was KO'ed by Rahman or was that the Atomic Bull. I did not like him much either, but I respect his skills and abilities. Those loses did not break him and he came back to defeat both of those loses. If Manny was not in his corner, I really don't know if he could have been as good as he was.

 

He got a lot of vitriol from American sportswriters.I remember especially Mike Katz.

If it makes you feel any better,I remember when Holyfield was considered a bit of a fraud in the heavyweight division .
This was around the time he was going the distance with ancient versions of Holmes and Foreman.

 

I don't agree with this. Ali was one of the smartest fighters ever. Look at the Foreman fight. Lewis had the tools to beat any HW, but the greatest, no. His chin would not hold-up to Foreman and a few others.

 

Meh.I thought his jab-which people seem to praise-was the hole in his armoury.
He wasn't prepared to risk minimum punishment when committing to the shot and so pawed with it.
That's how guys like Mercer or to a extent Bruno,with their own hard jabs,could give him problems.

I think Ali would do well enough.

 

You know... every post Ive read of yours has been utter ****.

I was shaking my head while reading this & then I saw the name... it all made sense :-(

 

i dont think so. with the right gameplan tyson can be beat. with emmanuel steward in his corner and his height lewis can make a good account of himself against a prime tyson. im not saying he will win, but he CAN win.

 

I was a fan of Lewis years before he as popular. Don King hated his guts. I picked Lewis to beat Tua, but I was laughed at.

 

Wow! Respect for Lewis on this website. I really am an old fark. I remember I always wanted him to lose but that was because he was so damn good. Ok, I am guilty of being a bandwagon fan. I've only returned and recognised who the heavyweight titleholders are in the past month since Tua returned. Haven't done so since Lewis retired. Maybe perhaps the Klitschkos will get their just due when they eventually leave.