"Lennox Lewis wouldn't be THAT good if he fought in the 60s or 70s"- James Toney

This is a very good point and i myself often forget lewis had a late start as a pro when tyson and holyfield had already been champions who fought several contenders and other champions. Their bodies had already gone through wear and tear from ring wars, sparring, training, etc while lewis was making his debut. This cant be glossed over when assessing who was dominant in that era.

Lewis fans like to point out he was a year older than tyson but lewis was an amateur giant fighting mostly very young men in short bouts with headgear for an additional 4 years.

 

I do, but then that's because I consider it evidence worth taking into account. We each have our own ideas about opinions and facts, which might be deemed relevant or not.

One, of course, has to accept that both Holyfield and Tyson were the more seasoned professionals, by the time Lewis entered the pro ranks in '89. However, I am not quite clear on the value of your historical breakdown above or where this information really leads us.

The fact remains that the respective careers of these three Heavyweights converged during the 90's, at a time when each was fighting at the highest level. By the end of '95:

- Holyfield was 31-3-0 (and a Former 2-Time World Heavyweight Champion)
- Tyson was 43-1-0 (and a Former World Heavyweight Champion)
- Lewis was 28-1-0 (and a Former World Heavyweight Champion)

Differences but not vast differences between their numbers and heavyweight achievements, by the mid-'90s.

 

Apply your subjective opinion on the respective forms of Lewis, Holyfield and Tyson, to a finely detailed set of individual timelines - and add your hair-splitting definition of "contemporary", if you will. It does not make your position a correct one.

Lewis, Holyfield and Tyson were all top-flight Heavyweights, competing at the same time, for the bulk of the '90s. That makes them contemporaries.

Perhaps, as far as the '70s goes, you could apply the same approach to Muhammad Ali; Joe Frazier; George Foreman; Ken Norton; Jerry Quarry; Jimmy Young; Ron Lyle; Oscar Bonavena; Earnie Shavers; Joe Bugner.

I wonder how many other 'eras', spanning any given decade, in any given weight class, we could apply your method to, so as to detract from the dominant fighters of their times?

 

I've already agreed that both Holyfield and Tyson were more seasoned as professionals, prior to Lewis turning pro. However, you said "it is wrong" to think of Lewis as a contemporary of Tyson and Holyfield; that "They were well on their way out when [Lewis] was hitting his prime".

As far as my take on the '90s Heavyweight scene goes, I disagree with both your definition of a contemporary and your statement that Tyson and Holyfield were both well on their way out. I had already explained why I do not think this to be the case and supplied a little historical data and facts to support it.

You're not a Lewis fan, I get it - and that's fine. I do find, however, that non-Lewis fans seem to take any opportunity they can to level the Lewis Heavyweight legacy, by way of a focus on and emphasis of the negatives; sometimes to a borderline point of invention, which more often than not, deviate from the original point(s) made.

I have no problem with applying an appropriate context to any boxer, bout, era, etc etc. But, as I have suggested before, we all interpret the facts differently. A key area of disparity is quite likely to be on how relevant one feels a given fact or detail is to the initial/original point(s) made.


dominant
adjective

1. ruling, governing, or controlling; having or exerting authority or influence: dominant in the chain of command.
2. occupying or being in a commanding or elevated position.
3. predominant; main; major; chief

contemporary
noun, plural con·tem·po·rar·ies.

1. a person belonging to the same time or period with another or others.
2. a person of the same age as another.

detract
verb (used without object)

1. to take away a part, as from quality, value, or reputation (usually followed by from).

You really didn't start out by giving Lewis much credit at all, did you?