Lennox Lewis A Top 10 ATG Heavyweight...Really?

[SBleeder]

Really who should Lennox replace on this list

-Ali
-Louis
-Foreman
-Holmes
-Marciano
-Dempsey
-Frazier
-Johnson
-Jeffries
-Tyson

Lewis isn't as great as none of the above.

Of that list, Lewis is superior to Tyson only. However, there are several other heavyweights that belong on that list, so Lewis isn't top ten. Where are Langford, Charles, and Liston?

[irishdude]

Lennox defeated everyone he ever faced. Lennox was a huge HW...kind of like George Foreman...we know how the foreman/frazier fights ended. Too many times on this site people say things with little or no basis to say them. Take this list for example. People automatically associated names with greatness because they have heard the name so much. Shouldn't accomplishments be more important than names?

It is still my opinion that the 250+ lbs fighters of today would still be lighter if they were around before. Foreman was 214 in his first fight! Lennox Lewis was 221 in his first fight may I mention, he was only above 250 once and that was against Klitschko.

Frazier beat better opposition, he was around in the golden age of heavyweight boxing and was one of its sparkling ***els in it's shining crown. I don't think Lewis would be undefeated up to 1971 if he was in Fraziers period.

[K-DOGG]

Lewis is no less than Top 5, in my opionion.

He beat the best of a better than average era, and avenged both loses. The two losses troubled me for a while; but I eventually chalked it up the lack of focus because he grossly underestimated the opposistion.

Either way, he's great.

[sonnyboyx2]

Ali and Joe Louis are the greatest of all time without a shadow of a doubt. With that said, Lennox can be placed anywhere from #3 to #10, depending on your criteria.

George Foreman Never avenged a single defeat in his life. Lost and ran away from Jimmy Young in the PRIME of his career. Lennox has more than thrice as many title defenses as Foreman and defeated everyone he ever faced. I have George ranked #5

Larry Holmes fought in one of the worst eras in Heavyweight history(1980-1986) and his best win was against a Muhammad Ali suffering from Parkinsons. Foreman and Holmes(both born 1949) disqualify each other for refusing to match up in their careers. We will never know how great they really were. I have Larry ranked #7

Rocky Marciano Lennox has twice as many title defenses as rocky. Rocky fought mostly geezers and lightheavyweights, while Lennox fought Prime 27 year olds and SuperHeavyweights. Lennox also defeated the dominant champ of the next era in Vitali Klitschko at a 6 year age disadvantage. Marciano was ALWAYS prime and fought with a youthful edge, then bailed from boxing at 32. I have Marciano ranked #4

Jack Dempsey Took 3 year vacations where he was allowed to keep the title, fought 4 round farces, and he ducked an entire race of people. He shouldnt even be on a top 10 list to be honest, but Ill give him the benefit of the doubt. I have Dempsey ranked #8

Frazier I can see Lennox beating or at least competing with any heavyweight that ever lived...I cant say the same for Joe Frazier because of his performance against George. If Jimmy Young and Lyle can give Foreman a fight why couldnt Frazier? Im not saying Frazier had to win but he didnt even tickle Foreman. I have Frazier ranked #13.

Jack JohnsonJack Johnson had an opportunity to set an example by facing black fighters late in his career, but he refused. He is just as guilty as Dempsey as far as Im concerned, but I think Dempsey is slightly more skilled so I barely give him him the edge. I have Johnson ranked #9.

Jeffries His best win is over a supermiddleweight that he outweighed by 40 lbs! The first guy he faced that was OVER 200lbs knocked his ass out. 37 year old Lennox > 35 year old Jeffries. I have jeff ranked #18.

Tyson Tyson is a year younger than Lennox, and ducked him relentlessly throughout the 90's. Lennox has the head 2 head victory and better overall record, so this is not a tough decision for me. I have Tyson ranked #6.

Lennox is Only 1 of 3 people in history to retire as the heavyweight champion of the world.

- The ONLY undisputed Heavyweight champion in the last 17 years

-Has wins over ATG Tyson, Holyfield, Klitschko, and by way of rematch has defeated every single opponent he ever faced.

-Fought at an age disadvantage for the last 10 fights of his career.

Age of Lennox and his last 10 opponentsAge Difference

Lennox(37) vs Vitali(31) +6
Lennox(36) vs Tyson(35) +1
Lennox(35) vs Rahman(28) +7
Lennox(35) vs David Tua(27) +8
Lennox(35) vs Botha(31) +4
Lennox(34) vs Michael Grant(27) +7
Lennox(33) vs Holyfield(36) -3
Lennox(33) vs Marovic(29) +4
Lennox(32) vs Briggs(26) +6
Lennox(32) vs Golota(29) +3

= +40 years

Physically he is the quickest and most skilled Big man to ever lace up gloves. Defeated every style and archetype of fighter there was. Big, small, fast, powerful, skilled, you name it.. I have Lennox ranked #3

What a load of bull**** you talk, its clear that you have never seen any of the great champions which you try to assassinate on a daily basis so as to try to imply that Lewis was on a par or greater than them... but you will never succeed... lets look at the crap which you have spewed out.

1/. George Foreman never RAN from Jimmy Young, Foreman was "Robbed" against Young... Foremans title defences against Norton, Roman & Ali was Awesome displays of power whereas Lewis title defences against Tua, Akinwande & Mavrovick was "snoozers" and so boring to watch that Lewis could never be talked of in the same breath as Foreman.

2/. Larry Holmes title reign was vastly superior than the "Tomato-Cans" who Lewis chose to fight during the 90s Holmes fought Carl Williams, Leon Spinks, Bonecrusher Smith, David Bey, Michael Spinks, Tex Cobb, Mike Weaver, Witherspoon, Cooney, Shavers, Norton, Berbick all of who would destroy any of the bums who Lewis fought like Botha, Grant, Tua, Butler, Jackson, Fortune, Mavrovick, Akinwande, Golota or Briggs who Lewis chose to fight so as to avoid all the fighters in the division who was "At the Top of their Game" like Bowe, Holyfield, Tyson, Foreman, Sanders, Witherspoon, Hide, Ruiz, Byrd, Moorer & Holmes who Lewis ran from when he was well into his 40s.

3/.Rocky Marciano - Lewis does not have "Twice as Many" title defences like you repeatedly try to claim as Rocky Marciano... Rocky was undisputed champion of the world and fought the No1 contender in his title fights... Lewis was very fortunate to be given the decision over Holyfield and win the undisputed title as 42 of 49 ringside reporters had Holyfield the clear winner.. BUT Lewis then "REFUSED" to fight the No1 contenders like Great Champion of the past always did... So Lewis was Stripped of every belt for refusing to fight the Top Fighters.. Lewis should never be mentioned in the same breath as Rocky Maciano, Rocky had the guts to fight the best... Lewis ran from the best.

4/. Jack Dempsey - The most ferocious champion in history who used contenders as "Sparring partners" such was his superiority over them, if journeymen like Rahman & McCall can poleaxe Lewis in a couple of rounds then Dempsey would massacre Lewis in the opening round.

5/. Joe Frazier - Dominant champion from 67-72 beating every top contender, won Fight of the Century`.. voted Fighter of the Year twice and took part in 4 Fights of the Year.. avoided no-one unlike Lewis who avoided evey fighter who was at the Top of their Game`.

6/. Jack Johnson - Dominant undisputed champion who fought the best in the world, a defensive master who suffered racism on a scale unheard of in todays world.. Johnson would beat Lewis within 3rds.

7/. Mike Tyson - Dominant undisputed champion whose out of ring antics cut his career short.. Tyson offered Lewis £13 million in 1996 yet Lewis turned it down and waited another 6yrs and several more prison sentences later until Tyson had completely "self-destructed".. Tyson had been beaten 12yrs earlier by Douglas & 6yrs earlier by Holyfield by the time he fought Lewis he was just a shell of the former ATG, defeats to Williams & McBride proved Tyson was finished.. if Lewis was to have fought Tyson during the 1990s it would have ended in a 1st round KO for Tyson.

8/. Rid**** Bowe - Undisputed Champion who was avoided by Lennox Lewis in 93 & 95

9/. Evander Holyfield - Brilliant 4 times heavyweight champion who fought everyone their was to fight, Holyfield was "Robbed" of his titles against Lewis with 42 of 49 ringside reporters have Holyfield the clear winner of their 2nd fight.. Holyfields 1st fight with Lewis had British Judge scoring fight for Holyfield... Lewis wanted no part of a 3rd and deciding fight with Holyfield

10/. Jim Jeffries - incredibly fit, strong & dominant champion who would be a tough fight for any fighter in history, if McCall & Rahman two mediocre journeymen can poleaxe Lewis then Jeffries would "Fold Lewis over and wipe his arse with him"

Lennox Lewis will be remembered as the boxer who won the undisputed title against Evander Holyfield by one of the most disputed decisions in history with Lewis then refusing to fight the No1 contenders so being "Stripped of every belt"... Lewis never in his career fought a single opponent who was "At the Top of their Game" ... Lewis was a weak-chinned mediocre fighter who was on the same level as Frank Bruno.

[Vadrigar.]

Lewis barely sc****s top 10, I'll put him in Tyson's place only.

[GJC]

2/. Larry Holmes title reign was vastly superior than the "Tomato-Cans" who Lewis chose to fight during the 90s Holmes fought Carl Williams, Leon Spinks, Bonecrusher Smith, David Bey, Tex Cobb

C'mon Sonny you are really stretching there my friend!

[frankenfrank]

Joe Frazier in his prime would never be KO'd by the likes of Rahman or McCall, or struggle with aging Holyfield. Frazier was past his very best, by the time he fought Foreman.

And at least when he did get knocked out for his title, it was by a ATG fighter in Foreman, not by a medicore contender.

Frazier would have been KTFOd by McCall and Rahman and struggle against the 48 years old Holyfield. Frazier is tailor made for Holyfield.

[frankenfrank]

Lewis did have the habit of being lazy in training when he took an opponent lightly. We all know that. He did get revenge though, in a devastating fashion. The part in bold is not factual. Holyfield gave EVERYBODY problems...and last I checked, he is still fighting so please stop with the 'aging' thing. And Lewis didn't struggle. He couldn't knock him out, but he was clearly winning both fights...that is a fact.

Clearly winning both fights ? no

[frankenfrank]

He;s a top 3 HW and if you don't think so you're a moron. 2 losses which he avenged by KO, wins over tyson and holyfeild ( who idiots rank higher than him even though he demolished them ) and countless others.

Lewis ruled HW boxing for his time.

Lewis was not even close to KO McCall , even when McCall stopped defending himself because of a mental breakdown which was caused by rehabilitation difficulties which without Lewis' team knowing about them , Lewis would have avoided a 2nd fight with McCall forever.

[sonnyboyx2]

C'mon Sonny you are really stretching there my friend!

GJC .. are you saying that Bonecrusher, Bey, Cobb, Witherspoon, Cooney, Spinks, Carl Williams, Berbick would not beat Botha, Akinwande, Butler, Fortune, Tua, Grant, Rahman, Mavrovic or McCall ?

Rahman could only get a decision over a 43yr old Berbick

McCall lost to an old Frank Bruno who was hammered by both Witherspoon & Bonecrusher

i would not fancy Lewis to beat the majority of Holmes opponents