Is Ali the No.1 h2h Heavyweight?

Lennox Lewis is the only top ten heavyweight, who was ever stopped by a single punch, and the men who did it were what they were.

A great great champion, but I submit, not the head to head GOAT!

 

I argee he loses

 

Lewis doesn't control how his opponent prepares or behaves out of the ring tho. McCall looked like McCall early and was looking to land that right hand haymaker again but it was a different Lewis by this time obviously. The more forlorn things became the worse he was mentally. He was never beating Lewis again in any shape.

The Mercer fight was close but most certainly no robbery. How did you score it? I scored it for Lewis by two points and other posters i take particular notice of also scored it for him. Holmes had controversial wins over Witherspoon and Williams and for a minority even Norton himself, Louis over Walcott, Ali with some Norton bouts, Young and Shavers and the list goes on. I certainly wouldn't be taking the Mercer win off Lewis personally.

The Vitali stoppage might be controversial to fans on the level of a mendoza or to people that are big fans of Vitali and/or haters of Lewis but most that realise a cut stoppage is a legitimate way to win a boxing match should know better. Vitali was an absolute MESS and the stoppage was not only warranted but a necessity unless we want fights to the death or where one guy suffers irreversible damage. I didn't see no evidence of Lewis looking ready to pass out. The vast majority scored the final round for Lewis and Vitali himself looked exhausted as he slaved across the ring back to his corner. He fell into Lewis right near the end and took a hard uppercut just before the bell.

 

Yes, no champion is without wins that there are some controversy about, so that's a card that's fairly arbitrarily pulled out. The Mercer fight could have gone the other way (as just about all close fights can), but I fail to see how it's controversial that Vitaly had to be stopped because Lewis had damaged his face so badly with punches. There were several cuts as well (two I think).

 

I didn't suggest Lewis controls his opponents condition. My point was that he didn't "defeat" McCall. I do not take that word lightly. Unless your opponent is rendered unconscious, is stopped because they cannot handle your punches, or you win a decision, you did not "defeat" them.

I was basically taking issue with the claim "Lewis defeated every opponent he faced". McCall was mentally ill and would not even fight at times, just walking around and looking bizarre. Lewis only "won" by default.

McCall never beating Lewis again is pure speculation. Anything can happen in rematches if both guys are healthy. Look no further than Pac vs Marquez 4.

I had it a draw the last time I watched it.

I'm not singling out Lewis. I'm well aware other champions have close fights or verdicts that could have gone the other way. Again, the point being it's a little iffy to claim Lewis defeated every opponent because that statement is very emphatic and encompassing as if he left no stone unturned in his career and that definitely isn't the case with Mercer. That should have gotten a run back. Beating someone by 2 point isn't the most convincing thing in the world. That's means if someone scored a round differently or one boxer was just a little bit busier it could have changed the entire verdict.

Of course the stoppage was legitimate. It just wasn't very convincing that Lewis was flat out the better man between the two of them that night. Wasn't Lewis behind on scorecards and being outlanded? He wasn't putting on a dazzling display of sweet science, he just happened to open up a nasty cut and targeted it. Credit to him, that's what any intelligent professional would do, but it was more about Vitali's skin failing him than Lewis outclassing him. You could argue that it's partly Vitali's fault for a lack of of defense, but this is definitely one fight that should have gotten a rematch to set the record straight. Neither guy had a full training camp either.

 

I have Holmes as the H2H best heavyweight. I think he has the style to beat all types of styles.

 

wrong he wouldnt beat mike lennox holy fury and mutiple others so why say he could he wouldnt you have him overrated bad

 

If Vitali couldn't beat Chris Byrd how would be beat Ali?

 

I said it because it's my opinion. It's all speculation anyway because we will never know

 

I'm not sure it even makes sense to compare Ali to guys that are 240+ 6'4+ given he never fought any guys that size in the top 10
But where would he rate if we exclude guy over 220?

Does anyone feel Usyk could beat him?

 

it's a dumb opinion that you shouldn't have

 

I never said chris why did you say that

 

Joe Louis certainly takes him.

 

funny

 

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