Lennox Lewis, Greatest Heavyweight of all time

Performances also figure when we're talking about 'greatness'.

The decision was bogus of course, but had Lewis stepped it up in the first Holyfield fight (like he should have) then he may have got that defining win.

Instead, the image of Lewis tentatively pawing with his jab won't leave.

 

It's not whether one of those guys was as powerful as Shavers (and I believe several were)... It's the consistency and depth of power in the division at the time Lewis fought. Every fighter, even a great one, has lapses. In the 1990's, those lapses could prove brutally costly.

 

Quite a spread, but yeah.

I see it more like 5-9, but at a push I suppose you could find arguments to nudge it as far in either direction as you have.

 

Very much so. He liked to sell out in early exchanges, a flaw.

In the Rahman KO, he was just no prepared, partying with the Oceans Eleven crew and getting to camp late. Again, a flaw. But the kind of flaw that in Jack Johnson's era resulted in a draw against a pasty light heavy but in the 90's got you knocked the **** out.

 

Even so, we cannot overlook the fact that he was the only top 10 heavyweight, who was ever taken out with a single punch like that.

Neither can we overlook it when comparing him to other candidates for the top slot.

 

Jack Johnson got taken out by Willard.

 

This content is protected

 

He's arguably no1 because he has possibly the best wins resume combined with beating every man he faced including the next Ring Champ at the age of 37 after fighting at world level for 12 years.

Most because none of them could hang onto it long enough. Anyway Lennox beat how many? Holyfield, Tyson, Briggs, Rahman and arguably Vitali so 5. Lennox's era was much better than Joe's too.

 

Joke post right ? Old,fat Johnson,semi-active at best ... This is a measuring stick ? I am stunned that anyone puts any stock in Willard`s `victory` ...

 

Welcome to the era of super heavies.

 

Steward smoothed out his rough edges... But,he did not improve his chin. he taught him how to fight better and protect it. When comparing chins,here`s some examples... Old, slowing down Ali, gets nailed way more than prime Ali did,FACT. Norton, Foreman, Lyle Shavers etc etc... But, as his mighty skills waned,his iron chin did not. Holmes same thing never KO`d until Tyson(when Holmes was well past it) Lewis chin did NOT improve ! He learned how to hide it and be more cautious in his approach. Similar to what Emanuel did with Vlad and his shaky chin. Fellas,if you want to start talking about being a true TOP ATG. Youi can not have a chin that could be gotten too ( and was) by less thans ... Dropped is MUCH different than dropped and stopped ...Lewis chin could be had and he is NOT THE top heavy,period...

 

There are two reasons why he cannot be ranked above the men who occupy the top two slots, messieurs Barrows and Clay.

1. They both fought approximately twice as many top 10 opponents.
2. He has two losses that are significantly more damaging than any that they sustained.

The argument based on the strength of his era, is not in itself sufficient to overturn these two objections.

 

Great points made !