Lennox Lewis is a lock for top 5 heavyweight of all time

I rate Lennox somewhere between 5 - 10. The manner of his two losses - and the quality of the two opponents - keep him out the top 5. Even though he avenged both defeats empahatically. A great fighter nonetheless

 

I have him inside the top 5. He has the big wins over name guys, the longevity, has many contenders beaten and the title defenses. He was also starched twice by one punch. The again he could beat anyone you were to make list of top ten fighters. His legacy I think will hold up for another 30 years. That's the test of a truly great fighter. One who rates highly 50 years after he retires. He is one of the few heavyweights never to lose a decision and he has plenty of knockouts. He is one of the few heavyweights to beat everyone he faced at least once. Is 2 losses that bad at heavyweight? No. Lucky for him he beat a few great fighters, and several good ones in a long career.

 

No lock for top five from me. Not even really counting his two one punch knockouts against him as almost everyone loses at some point.
Thing is he missed out on the best of his contemporaries when they were at their best.
He never faced Bowe. He fought Holyfield who was in clear decline. And he fought the ghost of Tyson.
Lewis peaked later then his best competition and it benefited him greatly. He did beat a lot of sluggers but he had the size advantage on all of them. And many of them Ruddock and Golota were in brutal wars 2x apiece before Lewis finished them.
He makes my top 10 but outside top 5

 

Not top 5 just don`t see it.Wouldn`t argue ranking him anywhere between 6 to 10

 

I have posted the video. Those who have not seen it can make their own decisions about what I have believed for thirty years to be an absurd stoppage.

 

I don't understand how we can have a number of people on here trying to justify it.

 

I have no real issue with the stoppage. Lewis got up, stumbled regained his balance. But then leaned on the ref- the ref with the best view in the house looking directly at Lewis felt he was done. And then right before Lewis puts his arms out to complain- his leg buckled a little bit again. He was done. He wasn’t winning that fight.

 

He fell asleep against McCall and Rahman. not good. The first thing the ref tells you is to protect yourself at all times. It's not as if those two gentleman were beating him to death.

 

What are your criteria for evaluating HWs ? Head to head, skill, competition, impact on the sport, historical significance etc.

I include all of the above, hence:

Ali
Louis
Dempsey
Johnson
Foreman
Holmes
Marciano
Wlad Klit
Lewis
Holyfield

 

I have watched that footage more times than I care to remember and I totally get where you are coming from.

 

McCall stopped it is Lewis his legs. they go like the jelly & a fall upon referee. yes he did bump in & touch referee. this influence referee decisive probable. yes. he could say ok continue it the fight. but if McCall then land killer huge punch & send Lewis out of ring look like dead : we all say 'why he let carry on like this with Lewis no legs! "" ?
lol

yes anyway if you rate the record: i do not hold this loss as much against the Lewis record.
more important is for Lewis who did he beat the opposition? some they say he matched the better opposition a top level. but it is some impressive names but just 'the few' really actual. i liked some of the boxers he did match & beat. but most were not so special . on my opinion. similar of to the Wladimir Klitschko opponent. not so special.

 

The flipside to this view is that, had Lewis been allowed to continue, we might have seen an alternative outcome, i.e., Lewis survives the round and goes on to win the decision. Garcia is celebrated, as having made a great call.

 

Looking at Lewis`s record he was lucky to get the decision v Mercer,barely beat an ex cruiserweight and past his best Holyfield.Also a past it Mike Tyson along with 2 losses and defeating a number of less than top class fighters.Credit for his wins v Ruddock,Golata and Vitali but overall it does not warrant him being in the top 5

 

Foreman is not top 5

 

yes
""great call ' in the alternative you say. i think is likely forgot soon.
compare to if he let a fighter get damage & this will never be forgot. never.
it is difficult area. the gray area
i seen bad early too early stoppings & i do think this is of the type. it is not so bad . due to the punch & the body reaction. serious stuffs. but if i was WBC champion like Lewis or if i was big love fan of Lewis or his manager i would complaint on it a bit .
it is in the middle . between fair & the unfair.
yes.