Lennox Lewis: the Clever Con-Artist

Is it just me, or did you fail to rebutt any of McGrain's points?

Btw, you do know that Lewis is ranked 9th on Cox's list and Holyfield's outside the top 10, don't you?

And personally, I'm not all that comfortable ranking Jeffries all that high considering the limited number of fights he had. So ranking him ahead of the likes of Lewis, Tyson and Holyfield is a little suspect to me.

 

I notice you ignored Monte Cox. There are others I could point to also. It is hardly out of the norm to rank Dempsey in the top ten. Nor is it, among boxing historians, out of the norm to rank him higher than Lewis.

I will concede I probably rank him higher than most, but I believe strong weight should be given to the opinions of those who actually saw someone fight. If the old-timers thought Dempsey was on a par with, or better than Louis, that's good enough for me.

And I know as much about boxing as anyone who has followed this sport closely for over 30 years and read widely would know. I followed Lewis's career from beginning to end and am frankly astonished how overrated he has become.

 

Personal insults. The last refuge of the scoundrel without a solid argument. Here again, at the link below, are further lists that support that the view that Dempsey should be ranked highly is within the mainstream of boxing opinion - not "ridiculous" as you have asserted.

http://coxscorner.tripod.com/heavylists.htm

 

The fact Cox rates Dempsey is irrelevant. Plenty of fans today, will be rating the Klitschko's or Tyson too high when people judge the heavyweights in 30 or 40 years. Cox is certainly a good historian and I, and I'm sure McGrain too, respect his opinion but it doesn't mean it's definitive. A lot of the older historians overrate the champions from before their era, because of the mythical status they hold. Go back to the 50's and you will constantly read about John L. Sullivan and, for me, I'll always be reading about Ali. These fighters are the ones your dad tells you about, when he's reminiscing about a great era. I think Cox is as guily of that, as anyone, so it's an understandable opinion but it certainly doesn't make it undisputed fact.

I respect Cox, Sugar etc., but I'm able to form my own opinions. Based on how good Dempsey was and how good his opposition was, I think a top 3 rating is undeserved.

 

Like I said earlier, when lewis rejected that offer, he did so to fight Bowe and he recieved a promise that he would fight Tyson post-Seldon. In hindsight, maybe you can apply some fault on lewis' side simply because he didn't accept, but I think this is hugely unfair. Had everything gone to plan, Tyson would have beat Seldon, as he did, Lewis would have beaten Bowe and Tyson and Lewis would have met in a massive match-up for the undisputed title in their next fights.

 

:thumbsup

 

Right, but if the order was instead:

1) Ali
2) Louis
3) Lewis

would you still find it laughable?

Personally, I don't have Lewis in the top three (because Holmes is in there) but am certainly willing to entertain arguments from those who do have him there without dismissing or ridiculing them.

No, Lewis shouldn't be above Ali - that is laughable. Being right behind Ali and Louis, though? Even if it isn't how you see it, it isn't that much of a stretch all things considered.

 

:rofl

What a ****wit.

 

That's fine, and your entitled to hold that opinion, as Mr. McGrain is. However, what you are not entitled to do, or perhaps more accurately are not justified in doing, is to impugn others personally who may not share that view.

My point is clear and direct, Dempsey should be rated higher than Lewis (as should quite a few other HWs, btw). McGrain suggested this was "ridiculous." I have shown that, it is not at all "ridiculous" - i.e. obviously worthy of or subject to ridicule - for whatever you may think of their views, there are MANY noted authorities who hold a similar position.

 

:rofl

A bad list Zakman for every reason McGrain has offerred.

 

nothing will change the fact that a fat, under-trained, unmotivated, old as fk Lewis TKOd a prime Vitali within 6.