What Lennox Lewis' wins are better than Usyk's wins over Joshua x2?

Those cuts didn't appear out of thin air.

 

I'm not blaming Lewis at all, I'm just saying those names would be one hell of a resume. He was robbed of possibly being the greatest HW

 

Morrison might just stop Joshua...Tyson that Lewis beat destroys Joshua...Holyfield outworks him big time...Tua crushes him....Michael Grant is a toss up....Mercer crushes him....Tucker is a toss up as well.... and Vitali stops him as well.

 

Absolute nonsense

 

That's a fair comment.

 

Golota lest we forget. Ruddock (went to to toe with Tyson) Makvrovick...we could keep going

 

I like your take because at least it's novel in this thread. Rahman 2 was a top 3 Lewis win imo.

However, Lewis showed a lack of heart/confidence in the Holyfield rematch. Denied by the judges, fighting a 37 year old ex-190 pounder who wasn't a big puncher and had been KO'd in 8 by a faded Bowe 4 years prior and what did Lewis do? Tried to pointfight to a decision in America again, this time in a much closer fight. He didn't have the confidence in his ability to take it out of the hands of the American judges who denied him the first time, at least not in a safe manner.

And the Lewis who rematched Rahman was a far more mature Lewis who had come back from a KO defeat before. AJ was coming off his first defeat when he fought Ruiz and a far more embarrassing one at that. Lewis did not rematch McCall immediately, Joshua rematched Ruiz immediately.

 

I don't think we can give Usyk P4P credit in a discussion of the best HW wins.

If we're going to critique Lewis's opponents for having HIV or being past their best or being fat/inactive etc. then we have to evaluate Joshua in the same manner and say that he was just two fights removed from suffering the most humiliating defeat in combat sports history to a 25/1 underdog fringe contender. And his best win was 41 years old, 17 months inactive, winless in 2 years, KO-less in 2.5 years, dethroned in his previous fight via schooling at home, fighting away from home as the B-side Wlad, who took Joshua life and death over 11 rounds and was arguably stopped prematurely.

On paper I'd say that Usyk's wins over SHW KO artist Joshua are better than any of Lewis's wins save Vitali, especially when you consider the A-side advantages Joshua had in those fights. Holyfield was much smaller, a much lighter puncher and was about to go 1-1-1 with Ruiz. The area where Usyk has the greatest advantage over Lewis is being 20-0 as a seasoned champion, rather than being sparked out twice by fringe contenders.

 

I except OP's point but still say Lewis has as special resume due to depth, and to the number of big, strong hard-punching heavies he beat.

Usyk also has a special resume for being a two-divison guy, but I have Lewis #3 or #4 heavy of all time.

Vitali and Holyfield (in context) are ARGUABLY better than Joshua, though I do have Joshua ahead.

 

I guess the question would be: if Lewis fought and beat the Usyk version of AJ, where would it rank on his resume?

For me, I'd go 1. Holyfield 2. V. Klitchscko 3. Mercer 4. Joshua

Some might disagree, but an older Holyfield was still his best win. Holyfield was an ATG, he still had enough in the tank to beat Rahman and Ruiz (and Valuev, whom he got robbed against) after Lewis. Vitali was number 2, who went on to be the best HW after Lewis for the era. Mercer had uneven performances but when he was on, he was very, very good. And Lewis fought a prime version. I'd place Joshua fourth on the list and I'd have him ahead of Tua, Golata, Rahman, and a faded Mike Tyson.

 

How does Usyks wins over Joshua compare to Michael Spinks moving up from 175 and beating an undefeated ATG in Larry Holmes twice for the lineal title!! His win over Cooney is also>>>>> than Chisora!!!

Olympic gold? Spinks has that as well.

 

I hate the comparisons between Lewis and Usyk. It's too early. Let Usyk get the fourth belt and then we can talk about it.