Been watching Lewis fights, and man-o-man!

Foreman has also been quoted in recent years has saying he was scared in the first Frazier fight, and the murderous stare-down and menace was an act...he was also screaming that Lennox lewis was about to be knocked out whilst he was pummeling Michael Grant and Grant was up and down like a yoyo...the point is, Foreman says a lot of stuff you should really take with a grain of salt.

 

Interesting thread. Regarding Lewis in his prime he COULD beat anyone who ever laced on gloves. But Tyson on a good day might be able to beat him, (ie in 5 fights Lewis likely wins 3 or 4) and Ali could potentially beat him as well. Foreman would have to get lucky in my opinion, but like Tyson he could possibly pull it off. If you have say 8 fighters in a round robin at their primes, Foreman, Ali, Holmes, Louis, Lewis, Tyson, Holyfield, Liston I'd say Lewis would be in the top half and could possibly win. But so could Ali, Tyson, Holmes, and Liston, and Foreman. I think the other two Holyfield and Louis would have less of a chance due to their size. But they may be the most technically talented of the bunch, with the possible exception of Holmes.

 

Different in the fact that Vitali was 31 to Lewis`s 37 and 9 months, thats alot different than 36 to 33. It amazes me how Tyson or Holyfield get the excuse of being old or past their best when fighting Lewis but Lewis gets no credit for beating a 31 year old prime fighter while almost 38.

The first of his 3 Ruiz fights was almost a year after the 2nd Lewis fight by the way! If you thought he was past it in the first Lewis fight at 36 then the age factor from 38/39 which the Ruiz fights spanned must have taken him over the edge of geriatric.

 

We were talking about the fighters themselves and their respective conditions at a similar age. Not their opponents. Holy was within 1 month of Lewis' retirement age when he fought Ruiz the first time. He barely squeeked by a glorified Clubfighter. He went on to lose to that same fighter 1/2 a year later. Lewis beat an old Holy. His performances versus Ruiz prove it. A 32-33 year old Holy would not have trouble with Ruiz.

 

And by the same measure a 32-33 year old Lewis rather than a near 38 year old Lewis wouldnt have looked as bad on route to defeating Klitschko as he did.
Remember Holyfield trained for Lewis in the big fight for the Undisputed championship. Lewis trained for a tune up wth Kirk Johnson! Thats what your comparing!

 

Regardless of his training, Lewis knew that he was done. A younger Lewis would have demolished Vitali. Face it, Holy was a smaller and weaker fighter that has a style built for youth. He would have been much more trouble for Lennox when he was 30 or so years old. I have no idea how you can dispute that.

 

I feel the Holyfield that Fought Tyson in 96 would of been one hell of a hard fight for Lewis, Holyfields combinations were still fast and powerful at the time. Lewis' had relatively close matches with Holyfield in 99 when he was in his prime, so it would be fair to say Lewis' would have his hands full if he fought him in 96 and would probably lose to the 92 version of Holyfield which I think was his prime.

 

37 year old Lewis beat 36 year old Tyson
43 year old Lewis beats 42 year old Tyson
17 year old Lewis beats 16 year old Tyson
One legged Lewis beats pre-prison Tyson

Any way you slice it, Lennox Lewis beats Mike Tyson. No way LL takes Tyson as lightly as McCall & Rahman. Look what a focused LL did to those guys, proof that his only 2 losses were a result of poor planning/focus. Taking nothing away from The Iron One, who was a great fighter in his own right, but he's not the fighter to beat Lewis. I give Holmes, Foreman & to a lesser extent Ali a fair chance of slaying the Lion.

 

I will admit Im a huge Tyson fan, but a prime Tyson in 86-88 is the only version of Tyson that could beat Lewis IMO. His combinations were so crisp and powerful not many fighters could of went head to head with Tyson at that time, Lewis' accomplishment and career as a whole was better than Tysons though.

 

Do you know anything about the fight game? Nope....

 

You have nothing good to contribute ever, Im sure I have more boxing knowledge than you. Everyones entitled to there own opinion, Im sure alot people would disagree with what you have to say most of time.

 

If you think Lewis is the "GOAT," your claim to boxing knowledge, at least on this subject, is rather questionable!!! :nod

Putting Lewis in the top five is grossly overrating him. Saying he's the greatest ever is positively INSANE. :nut

 

Wladimir Klitschko is Lennox Lewis +

 

Plus a weaker resume?

I really like Wlad 'n' all, but he still needs to get those names on his record. He hasn't achieved what Lewis achieved yet, and all the ability in the world doesn't mean anything to me without those achievements.

Next 3-4 years or so will determine Wlad's place in history, crucial time for him.
Taking on Iggy is a big step in the right direction, a unification fight.

 

:roll:atsch