2 billion: More reasons why Lewis is an ATG top 10

[Steak]

to be honest these figures did nothing for me. greatness is not determined by stats.

that being said, I think Lewis is pretty clearly top 10 at Heavyweight. I dont really give a damn about losses that much, **** happens sometimes when you get caught or are unprepared, and he avenged both very dramatically.

has notable wins over
Donovan Ruddock
Tony Tucker
Frank Bruno
Phil Jackson
Tommy Morrison
Ray Mercer
Oliver McCall
Henry Akinwande
Andrew Golota
Shannon Briggs
Evnader Holyfieldx2
Michael Grant
David Tua
Hasim Rahman
Mike Tyson
Vitali Klitschko

thats a very respectable lineup. he could have made it better with a win over Bowe, but I honestly think that fight was out of his hands, and he did crush Golota who beat up Bowe twice even if Bowe wasnt prime when he faced off against Golota.

Sure, you could dissect his record a bit, but I really find it difficult to find 10 guys that should be rated above him. Louis and Ali are no brainers, but after that you need some pretty strong arguments to rate ATG heavyweights above Lewis.(I do not have him as #3)

[Mugwump]

I'm not convinced that Lennox had a bad chin. Or even a modest one. Yes, the two losses he sustained were to single shots. But he also ate thunderous punches throughout his career (vs Briggs, Grant, Holyfield, Bruno, Vitali etc.) and barely flinched.

Had his chin been half as bad as many claim he'd have as many losses as victories against his record.

I think a far better accusation is - at times - he lacked the kind of focus other heavies never struggled with. When Lennox wasn't particularly motivated he could switch off. And that made him vulnerable to the surprise haymaker.

It certainly fits with Emmanuel Steward's (often exasperated) criticism that Lennox took things far too easy and could easily have been twice the fighter had he motivation. Indeed, it was very common to see Steward apoplectic with rage in the corner (especially in the Tyson fight where I thought he was on the verge of quitting) whilst Lennox sat there with customary indifference.

[$Bullsfam$]

Lost to 2 C level fighters and never had that career defining win is why I wouldn't put him top 5.

[JAB5239]

Tyson, Frazier, Marciano, Dempsey all spark him within 5 rounds.

Ali, Johnson, Holmes, beat him widely.

Dempsey lost to fat Willie Meehan who started out as a flyweight on more than 1 occasion so don't even bring his name in here unless you're prepared to discuss that.

[JAB5239]

Lost to 2 C level fighters and never had that career defining win is why I wouldn't put him top 5.

He destroyed both those fighters in rematches and the first Holy fight is his defining win even though it was a draw.

[$Bullsfam$]

He destroyed both those fighters in rematches and the first Holy fight is his defining win even though it was a draw.

True but would Ali, Louis, Foreman, and Holmes lose to them in the first place? And Evander Holyfield was totally past his prime. It goes to show how weak the division has been for years that Holyfield can be competitive even today.

[JAB5239]

True but would Ali, Louis, Foreman, and Holmes lose to them in the first place? And Evander Holyfield was totally past his prime. It goes to show how weak the division has been for years that Holyfield can be competitive even today.

I think it would be different if he never avenged those losses and had shown what he was made of when focused. When Louis lost to Schmeling it was a bigger upset than either McCall or Rahman fight. We get past that today because of the way he showed up in the rematch.

As far as the 1st Holy fight.....Evander was the second best heavyweight in the world and still fighting at a high level. How many ATG's can we say fought another ATG while both were still at their peaks? Outside of Ali and Frazier the list is pretty thin, and many would argue Ali wasn't even peak nor prime when he fought Joe the first go round.

[StarshipTrooper]

When Louis lost to Schmeling it was a bigger upset than either McCall or Rahman fight.

There's one VERY important difference: Schmeling was a former Heavyweight Champion and perennial top contender. McCall and Rahman were club level fighters who were fringe contenders at best.

Poet

[IronDanHamza]

I think it would be different if he never avenged those losses and had shown what he was made of when focused. When Louis lost to Schmeling it was a bigger upset than either McCall or Rahman fight. We get past that today because of the way he showed up in the rematch.

As far as the 1st Holy fight.....Evander was the second best heavyweight in the world and still fighting at a high level. How many ATG's can we say fought another ATG while both were still at their peaks? Outside of Ali and Frazier the list is pretty thin, and many would argue Ali wasn't even peak nor prime when he fought Joe the first go round.

Correct me If I'm wrong but are you saying that Evander Holyfield was in his peak when he fought Lewis the first time?

Because he wasn't.

[JAB5239]

There's one VERY important difference: Schmeling was a former Heavyweight Champion and perennial top contender. McCall and Rahman were club level fighters who were fringe contenders at best.

Poet

You're wrong my friend. Both were top 10 rated by The Ring and McCall was the WBC mandatory if I remember correctly.