Where does Lennox Lewis rank among the best heavyweights of all time

In general I would agree that it's mostly subjective banter, and I agree that most fights don't happen because of financial reasons, not because a particular fighter is scared of another fighter. But that line of thinking is off the table once contracts are signed, then if one of the two fighters reneges on his commitment, it then is neither banter nor subjective. (with the exception of a injury). Here's another fact, but for two punches, Lewis may very well have been undefeated in his career.

 

Bowe blatantly ducked Lewis. He threw titles in the trash to get out of fighting Lewis.

 

And yet Zak seems to blame Lewis for the fight not happening.

 

I would think it's common knowledge that BOWE was the reason the fight didn't happen.

 

Here is proof that Bowe blatantly ducked Lewis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMfWCOiIl3I

Zak, tell us again how it's LEWIS'S fault the fight didn't happen. The video clearly shows Lewis calling Bowe out.

 

True but these sort of things must also be consistently factored in when assessing other HW's career. Then you also have the H2H factor. If everything is factored in for every HW then I think Lewis is still ends up with a high ranking.

 

More proof:

http://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/15/sports/boxing-bowe-trashes-his-wbc-title-belt.html

 

hes such a bad commentator

 

It is and Zak knows it is, he just likes to spin it in a way that detracts from Lewis`legacy.

 

Rid**** Bowe tried to make the bout with Lewis, but the Lewis team was insisting on options on Bowe's next 5 fights (pricing themselves out) should they lose to Bowe.. 2 days before Bowe was to be stripped of his WBC belt, Bowe dumped the belt in the trash-can saying, "Up you" to the WBC.. Lewis knew that if he dragged it out without agreeing to face Bowe, that Bowe would be stripped.

 

What the Lewis Fans don't want to mention is that after Lennox was handed the WBC title in the mail, Bowe's camp offered him a 60/40 split(w possibility of being 50/50) and guaranteed 11 mil purse for a unification bout which would have made Lennox 10x times more than he had ever made in his career until that point but he and his team turned it down.

http://articles.latimes.com/1993-07-21/sports/sp-15342_1_lennox-lewis

 

Wow! I never knew that and the source is solid being the LA Times.

 

WHAT a find!!! :good I think this pretty much explodes Lewis' fans arguments that somehow Bowe and his team were to blame for the fight not happening.:yep

This nonsense that Bowe "ducked" Lewis was based on Lewis camp propaganda of the period, which those who like to overrate Lewis take a gospel. Clearly, it isn't,:-(

 

I'll show you a good list. Pay attention.

1) Louis
2) Ali
3) Marciano
4) Lewis
5) Johnson
6) Dempsey
7) Holmes
8) Foreman
9) Tyson
10) Frazier

 

Ya instead he went on to fight the legendary Michael Dokes and Jesse Ferguson. I bet he made a bundle off those fights.

And legacy wise if Bowe had won that would have given him victories over prime Holyfield and prime Lewis, this may have put him, in or close to, the top 10-15, instead he`s an after thought.