How would you rate Lewis

Agree completely. Lewis, imo, belongs just outside the top ten. He is very overrated by many boxing fans today.

 

I'm with you guys.

Lewis has negatives for sure. His two losses, the fact he sometimes fought down to his opposition and labour to a win - see Mercer, Holyfield 2.

But the positives outweigh those.
Most big punchers beaten.
Beat everyman he faced.
14 title defences.
Did the unexpected, ie noone thought he'd beat Grant, Golota, Ruddock or Tua the way he did.
Clearly ducked by another ATG HW who knew he was in for an ass kicking.
Retired beating another ATG who's gone onto be top two in the division for 4 years.
Retired at the right time.
H2H he's at least 50-50 against any HW in history barr Ali.

 

he did great for someone with no one to fight

 

I think many would beg to differ. His retirement was quite controversial due to the circumstances. Many look upon his retirement at that particular time as a duck.

Unless if what you mean by that is that he would have lost to Vitali the second time around, and it was a smart move, then I understand.

 

Not what I mean at all. When a fighter comes in at his heaviest weight ever and obviously doesn't have the timing, or speed he once had it's time to call it a day.

To back my argument he'd mentioned retirement 1-2 years before he actually did!!

Great timing, he didn't need a rematch, didn't need the money and certianly didn't need another W on his record with the name Klitschko beside it.

Let me ask you, if he beat Vitali again would it have made the slightest difference to his ATG standing? IMO no, therefore = right time to retire.

 

Around 13-15 ATG heavyweight.

 

As a fighter, on a scale to 10 I would rate him an 8.5, maybe a 9. Overall 15-20 ATG for his accomplishments

 

Top 5 for me, no doubt.

 

He rates fairly high on my list.. He medaled in two olympics. Beat every man he ever faced, including the two that he lost to via rematch.. Fought a sick list of big punchers who were rated, in their primes, undefeated, etc.. And ultimately beat the best men of his era.

Here's my list

1. Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis
3. Rocky Marciano
4. Larry Holmes
5. Lennox Lewis
6. Mike Tyson
7. George Foreman
8. Joe Frazier
9. Evander Holyfield
10. Jack Johnson

 

How is the dude who beat tyson twice 3 spots behind him?

 

Mainly because Tyson established a stronger prescence in the division, by beating more rated fighters, losing to less men, setting the record for youngest champ ( depending on your view of Patterson's reign, ) fought far more heavy weights, and ultimately retired with a much better record..

Holyfield beating Tyson twice is a valid observation, but if that's all we're going by, then Iran Barkley would rate higher on an all time list than Thomas Hearns.

 

For the same reasons Frazier is often being ranked above Foreman.

 

So Mike Tyson = Joe louis
and Evander Holyfield = Marciano

?????

 

frazier victory resume sucks. 1 great win and the rest of his victories don't come remotely close to lewis'.

when people are tryin to hype up jerry quarry, jimmy ellis, and buster mathis - you know that theres no substance to ever placing him above lewis.

 

Good argument.
I have it.

Ali
Marciano
Louis
Foreman
Frazier
Lewis
Holy
Tyson
Klitschkos

No Holmes, and I couldnt see Jack Johnson beating any of the above in a modern fight.

Tyson should've been the GOAT. Holy fought to far after his ability, and Lennox got out to soon. With a decisive win over both of the K bros, he coulda been # 2.
I have Marciano higher than Louis, well it aint hard to figure that one out. Marciano KO Louis.

Foreman couldve been the GOAT, but his heart failed him, and he quit. Tough, tough loss, in a fight he should've won, and cemented his legacy. His comeback brought him into the top 10, and his successful comeback made him top 4.
Barring a Foremanlike comeback by Tyson, I see both Wlad and Vitali surpassing Tyson Holy and Lewis.
3 more top wins by Vitali, and 6 more for Wlad, without loss, and retiring HW champ. will bring the K bros into the top 5. Tied of course.