I don't know if you Lewis fans realize it, but LL was KO'd twice by 2nd tier guys

Rahman is a 2 time champ, Mccall until a few weeks ago was rated number 2 by the WBC, thats gotto make most other guys out there 3rd or 4th tier i suppose then!
At least Rahman beat Purrity and Sanders who both ko`d Wlad!

 

He went head to head twice with Evander, utterly schooling first time and spanking him decisively the second time.

As for Holmes, do you think Lewis would have been careless or unprepared for a fight of that magnitude?

I have Lewis behind Ali and Louis, and maybe (just maybe) big George. Other than that, I would favour him over any other heavywt.


Ali lost to Spinks (past his best , admittedly) and to Smokin' Joe and Norton when he was near his best.

Louis lost to Schmeling by KO.

It doesn't change their rankings in my book.

Your posts in the lounge are pretty good, but your logic in this forum is sometimes tainted by bias.

 

Ah but unlike Joe Louis, Lewis didn't get taken out when he was a kid - he was 29 when McCall did it, and 35 when Rahman did it! And yeah, Ali lost to Frazier and Norton in the heart of his career, yes - but in neither fight was he knocked out like Lewis was. And Frazier and even Norton are hardly on the level of McCall and Rahman!!

Oh, and his beating a past his prime Evander Holyfield hardly proves his superiority for the era - particularly considering that Holyfield beat a prime Bowe and a still-dangerous Tyson, while Lewis faced a declining Holyfield and a washed-up Tyson. And even then, in their second fight, quite a few ringside journalists gave Evander the nod.:yep

 

Great thread!

 

Ya if ya like reading the same old arguments year in and year out. :yep

 

Nopes . . . haven't forgotten that, that's part of Lewis' boxing history . . . and despite that . . . he was able to rebound from it and still made a very remarkable career.

Lewis' boxing career didn't end there my friend.

 

You also fail to mention that Holyfield also lost twice to a prime Bowe, who threw his belt in the bin rather than face Lewis. That just about says it all doesn't it :deal

Love the fact that Tyson was 'still dangerous' against Holy yet was washed up against Lewis - maybe so, but Tyson had ducked Lewis for years, as had Holyfield, which was the ONLY reason Lewis got them later in their careers. Holyfield had to fight Lewis because he literally ran out of choices/excuses, and Tyson needed the payday so badly he decided he'd finally take his beating like a man.

Oh and a few half-drunk ringside journalists giving Evander the nod proves **** - he lost on everyones card who watched the fight without Holyfield coloured specs on.

 

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And Ali was dropped and nearly out by 180 LB Henry Cooper....
but it doesn't take away Alis' skills.he was stil geat

 

Cooper could hurt anyone with that left hook.....he was an unusual fighter in that he was orthodox but his best punch was his left hook - he could surprise anyone with that shot. Ali took him too lightly and almost paid the price.

 

How does Lewis schooling Holyfied head to head fit into your world view?

 

Also..as you said, it;s the ones you do not see that can get you..surprise..But LL could have been decked by guys, hat he was better than, and it happened to Wlad as well..:hi:

 

Since when are Rahman and McCall shitty fighters? These guys were in their primes in these fights. McCall is a former crack head and is in his 40's but he is still fighting well and handling some good fighters. Rahman looked great in that fight with Lewis. He was at his peak. He would have given anyone trouble that night. Rahman also went on to win a HW belt 5 years after the Lewis fights. These are good fighters with big punches. They have the ability to ko any fighter with one shot.

 

He beat him the first time, although not by as wide a margin as Lewis fans like to make out. Second fight could have gone either way. The fact that Lewis fought close fights with a Holyfield on the decline indicates that, prime for prime, Holyfield would likely have emerged the victor. :yep