LENNOX LEWIS: Could he be the greatest heavyweight in history H2H?

No, it's not possible, in fact i'll go so far as to say it's impossible. To many different types of great fighter, and he has his weaknesses.

But that does not preclude him from being the best head to head - that is, doing better against the entire field than any other given fighter.

In my opinion he has a case - along with Liston, Louis and Ali.

My problem with this is that it doesn't include what may have been Lennox's best performance in Rahman II. Certainly, that should be included in his peak.

Lewis takes bombs in this video. He has a fine chin. But...does he take a flush shot in this video? One where he is not turning away from the punch or slipping slightly? I'm not sure he does...but regardless, it has been proven that if you catch him absolutlely properly at the weight, he will go, unlike, for example, Muhammad Ali.

Whilst Lewis has good punch resistance, undeniably, once he is gone he has trouble. Watch Ali casual get to his feet after Frazier laid him out for a counterfoil. It was like Muhammad had slipped on a banana skin and he was a bit put out. That shot would have killed you or I.

100% correct. The way this forum leaps on his chin like it would lose him any big fight is a ****ing disgrace.

I pick Lewis over all these guys, but I don't like your dismisal of them based purely on size at all. It is insulting to Lennox AND these smaller men...Dempsey, I think, would be a real danger to him. A very dangerous assignment.

I think Liston should be favoured slightly. I think Louis should be favoured slightly. I think Ali should be favoured slightly. I think Tyson is a 50.50 fight.

I think Lewis would dominate the rest of the field.

Now - let's look at Louis. I think he could get a job done on Liston, Lewis and Ali. I'll get into details for anyone who wants me to, because I know this isn't a normal view. But it is STILL possible to rate Lewis over Louis head to head because I would pick fighters much, much further down the H2H ladder to beat Louis on styles. Tunney, perhaps, should be favoured, Jack Johnson would do him. So it depends on how you calculate these things, and very confusing.

In a straight tournament format, I think there is no way Lewis wins it. To many great punchers to beat, to many styles for a fighter I consider technically short in this theatre - but in a league system with points scored for wins and losses, I think he could possibly top an imaginary table.

 

I think he has tacticl shortcomings and a weakish chin in this type of company. I would add those ass weaknesses.

One more thing - how many rounds? Lewis would not enjoy fighting at any sort of pace for 15 rounds I don't think - I do not say he has a stamina problem, but he does when compared to Frazier or Johnson, guys we are comparing him to.

 

I think that a great puncher who was also a great finisher would always, always be dangerous to Lennox. Add speed and you have a really difficult proposition. Because we've all seen Lewis totally dominate Tyson it might be hard to see it, but Tyson might just be the man for the job. Lewis showed tactical inflexibility in leaving Mike "live" for so long in their real match, if he repeated that peak for peak then he would have trouble.

Having said all of that - Lewis is such a good defencive infighter and Tyson is so determined to fight at mid-range, that I think Lennox could smother his way through the really dangerous moments. 50.50 fight.