Is Lennox Lewis Overrated?

I tend to think of it as a bit of mix of the two BUT you can't really judge a fighter's skill level etc... unless he's fought the best, or at least enough good names, to be able to properly gauge his jab, chin, power, heart, etc...

 

Lewis is overrated, all the top contenders were on the slide or avoided him (Bowe) and he also avoided corrie sanders and took no chances with his legacy....Blah! did not fight the best only the one's the slide.....sad!

 

Strange that Louis and Holyfield are noted for losing and being on the slide at 37 - where lewis at 37 managed to find a way to win against the next Ring Champion!

 

Some overrate, some underrate him. I was never a big fan of his when he was fighting but I respected his talent. Now that he has been retired for several years I have a huge amount of respect for him and what he did in his career.

He beat Bowe in the '88 Olympics. On the way up he beat a past prime Ocasio W8, beat his first big test Gary Mason KO7 and knocked out past prime fighters like Weaver KO6 and Biggs KO3.

He was the underdog vs. Ruddock in '92 but stopped him in 2 rounds. As a result of the win he was next in line for a shot at the HW title but was ducked by Bowe. The WBC proclaimed him as their Champ after Bowe put the belt in the trash.

Lewis beat Tucker W12, Bruno KO7, and Phil Jackson KO8 before being upset by McCall LKOby2. It would be almost 7 years before he would lose again. Let's look at that stretch-

13-0-1 (8KO) overall and 9-0-1 (6) in HW World Title fights. Among others he faced Tommy Morrison KO6, Ray Mercer W10 (very close but Lewis did go toe to toe with him), Oliver McCall KO5 (I know he never hurt McCall though, it was for the WBC belt... Tyson was stripped of it when he ducked Lewis), Henry Akinwande WDQ5 (he wouldn't stop holding), Zeljko Mavrovic W12, Evander Holyfield D12 and W12 (most felt that draw should have been a win), Michael Grant KO2, Frans Botha KO2, and David Tua W12 before being upset by Hasim Rahman LKOby5.

He beat Rahman KO4 in the rematch 7 months later.

He beat Mike Tyson KO8 and Vitali Klitschko KO6 before retiring as HW Champ. He was 38 years old.

41-2-1 (32) overall and 15-2-1 (9) in HW World Title fights. He avenged both losses. He was only down twice (once in each loss). At 6'5" with an 84" reach and 240+ Lbs. he is a beast in the H2H "Mythical Matches".

 

So according to this thread Lewis fought at the 88 Olympics to avoid Tyson? Wining gold had **** all to do with it obviously.

 

Well it obviously speaks for itself that every single successful amateur boxer will challenge for the heavyweight title within a year after turning pro.

This is, of course, according to those smart individuals making such claims. :tired

 

i have him at no.2 in the all time lists

 

Wherever he's placed, he should rank higher than Holmes, who didn't accomplish as much in 20 title defenses and 7 1/2 years as champ as Lewis did in his championship career.

 

I think in addition to Ali and prime Tyson, others might have beaten him, such as prime Foreman.

 

When he met his Rahman and McCall he accomplished not getting starched. :blurp


Edit:...Actually...when he met the actual McCall...

 

yeah, getting KOed vs those two is not the best for the resume.

 

I gotta disagree a bunch, fg! I think his best win was either Holyfield or Vitali. No way was the Tyson win as good as the Vitali win! As far as names okay but the Vitali Lennox beat was WAY BETTER than that version of Tyson!

 

His best win is Holyfield.

Tyson win is nothing special.

Vitali among Lewis' other good wins like Ruddock, Mercer or Tua.

Or Bowe

 

Boy Bowe's never gonna live that down is he? Just my opinion but I think Vitali>>the other wins beside Holy.