:good i sort of agree with you, i think a few could of defeated him (excluding ali: foreman, louis, frazier, etc.) but there not certainties. i couldn't see lewis beating ali. the greatest was just too fast!
Sullivan, Corbett, Fitz, Jeffries, Hart, Burns, Willard, Dempsey, Tunney, Schmeling, Sharkey, Carnera, Baer, Braddock, Charles, Walcott, Marciano, Patterson, Ingo, Frazier, Foreman, Bowe, Moorer, Vitali, Wlad ... and all of the 80's alphabet guys excluding possibly a prime, highly motivated Witherspoon if that ever existed ... The prime Lewis was simply the best super heavyweight that ever lived ... too big, too strong, too skilled, too hard hitting ... others mentioned above may have been better pound for pound but HTH I don't see it ...
I am puzzled by your rating of Witherspoon , he was tough and ,could hit a bit with his right, he was also rather easy to find with a jab,[ see the Bruno fight,] tending to try and catch it in his glove, he was also pedestrian and, pretty one paced. I think Walcott and Charles would be harder problems for Lewis to solve. I totally agree with your assessment of Lewis 's standing among the super heavies though. I like Terrible Tim ,and his story ,told in ,"The Life And Crimes Of Don King ",byJack Newfield, is a heart rending one, I just don't see him as giving LL too many problems.
i would favor ali,holmes,liston,foreman and tyson over him. louis 50/50 some slicksters could beat him,say walcott...
I think Tim had a terrific chin, was solid on defense, had good size, was physically strong and had a crushing overhand right hand .. and I only gave him the slightest possibly ... sure wouldn't bet him ...
Just bought the latest Ring magazine,[or my partner has,] It has an article asking who would have beaten Wlad? Russell Peltz ,the oldtime promoter says Witherspoon ,so you are not on your own in your opinion of Tim :good
thats an excellent way to break things down, however the same mistakes are always made, and even by guys that understand there's a difference among greats and especially Era's achievements doe's not automatically equate to GREAT, and though some fighters are among the best of their era - they don't automatically beat so & so, especially from better Era's. as is the continious mistake implied. Its like listning to kids get excited about a fighter without knowing much about thousands of other fighters never mind the history. LL & BHop are prime examples who lose to better Era Greats and even Top men from such times!!!