The case for Lennox Lewis being GOAT

You bore me. Have a great day.

 

I love how the argument for Lewis is always "He's a lot bigger than great heavyweight x,y,z and would therefore beat him in a fantasy matchup and is therefore a greater heavyweight".

You're really shitting on past great fighters if you think them incapable of overcoming height/size advantages.

We had a great HW champion recently who was not a natural heavyweight by the name of Evander Holyfield. Unfortunately, he made the (corageous) mistake of standing toe-to-toe with bigger/stronger fighters when he had the skill and athleticism to do otherwise.

 

I understand what you're saying Jimbo, and I feel that it has some merit. I have nothing against Jack Dempsey, but I simply can't see him beating Lennox Lewis. It would be one thing if Jack was fighting some big shithead who couldn't box, but Lewis was much more than just a big fighter. He was an all time great big man who possesed many fine attributes and qualities. While I don't consider size to be the end all be all criteria of picking fighters in fantasy matches, you can't ignore that the difference in size dimensions between Dempsey and Lewis would be significant. Not to mention, Jack spent most of his career fighting men smaller than 200 Lbs. Lewis was also a deadly puncher with great tactical skills to compliment it. He over came many great challengers, and did so in a variety of different ways. His chin was well tested against the likes of men like Klistschko, Mason, Bruno, Mercer, Ruddock and Tyson. He went the distance on a variety of occasions and outboxed fighters to win via decision. He lost a couple bouts to lesser fighters, but showed great mental resolve in winning the rematches.

Again, I have all the respect in the world for great champions of the past and believe that some of them were better than Lennox Lewis. Jack Dempsey however, is not one of those fighters who I'd pick to beat him, and for numerous other reasons than just mere size.

 

So then why did the likes of Holyfield and Spinks decided to add extra weight to their bodies when taking on bigger game. Surely, by your rationale, they should have stayed at their best fighting weight.


ps. And like i've said before if a fighter is a big enough draw it won't matter if he's 185 pounds, they'd still bend the rules accordingly. But this will never happen- ever.


pps. This 'next cruiser' that steps up will likely add 15/20 pounds at least too. Wonder why?

 

He has been a mind-numbing bore already. No doubts there. Although his favourite athlete being 'Kevin Keegan' was odd (and seemed a total lie). :huh

 

I would be verry interested to here who these fighters are who equal or with Dempsey in his best areas. I personaly don't know of any.

Dempsey is not just a 185 lb fighter, not even just a 185 lb all time great like say Rocky Marciano.

He is an aberation. A pound for pound great who belongs with the likes of Duran and SRL not with the likes of Ali and Frazier. Thing is he just hapens to be a heavyweight.

 

They could but didn't. Obviously advised to put on as much weight as possible without sacrificying too much in speed and movement. However, they had to give up some quickness in reality. Holyfield bulked up to 205 or so and STILL saw fit to put on almost a stone extra when he was well beaten by Bowe. It made sense, he was fighting a much bigger guy and foolishly traded with him. Bad mistake. This was no Willard or Carnera.

Of course, but not against someone that might take him out early.

Not necessarily, Dempsey was there to be hit more than, say, Spinks. Bulking up is always a good idea for anyone stepping up. Even light middleweights would generally come in around 159 if they were taking on the middleweight champ.

 

Dempsey's wife? Give me a break. No one that might be a bit neautral. Believe what you want believe little man.