Lewis, overated or a true Heavyweight great?

[SonnyG8R]

nice work sonny, i dont agree with all the positions but its a pretty conclusive, i dont do lists of heavies by the way nor all time p4p, find em futile and pointless but as lists go thats a goodie.

Thanks man. I felt pretty safe listing those as the top 20. But certainly you can argue with the positions. I go back and forth with the positions myself.

[SonnyG8R]

It looks like most of us agree that Lewis belongs somewhere between 8-15.

[J !]

i dont but hey im a big fan one of the reasons I dont do a serious list as such cos I cant be subjective about it.
Had too many great nights surroudned by friends screamin him on at 5 am, you cant be subjective when you have those memories you know.

[SonnyG8R]

i dont but hey im a big fan one of the reasons I dont do a serious list as such cos I cant be subjective about it.
Had too many great nights surroudned by friends screamin him on at 5 am, you cant be subjective when you have those memories you know.

So you'd put him in the top 5?

[hollister]

Old Gringo,

Alright, Dempsey had a lousy reign, that much has been established. I just felt that he was being depicted as a coward, and I became frustrated when Jose wouldn't answer my questions directly. I still feel that politics played a major role in his not fighting blacks after he became champ, as he fought many before he was champ, and never had a problem with it then. Even though I feel that many times you and Jose tag team other posters, I apologize for saying the personal things I said about you guys. I realize that most likely neither of you care whether I apologize or not, but I want it to be known that I know I crossed the line, and regret saying those things. I do feel that Dempsey is yet another very good fighter that never really realized his potential. I'll just have to agree to disagree and leave it at that.

[hollister]

And I don't feel Lewis is an all time great. A very good fighter that made good use of his size, but I'll probably question his greatness until he dies, if I don't first.

[Torino]

what truth is htting hard?

You dont even know what surounded him losing those belts.

unanswered questions?...maybe for you. After 100's of amature fights, 40+ pro fights, a 15 year career and 19 World Title fights there are really no more questions left to answer. Were pretty much gonna know all we want about a guy if he has a career like that.

We've been down this road and it never ends good for you. Your gonna get like 10 people disagreaing with you, your gonna run back to ******** with your tail between your legs and after a few weeks you'll come back...etc.

your bringing nothing to the table over here.

LOL!!!!!!!!

It's so easy to get you going. Honestly, I have "yet" to go to ********. I post exclusively on boxingscene. Don't see the need to post anywhere else.

Funny how you say no one agrees with me, when it's you that always seems to be arguing with everyone. All these people that you say are supposed to disagree with me, seldom do. Those that do disagree, are always the same three. (3) Including you.

The people that followed Lewis's career, know the truth. No matter how much you try to cover up for him. I'm not sure if you are trying to convince me of your BS, or yourself. Oh, and once again, the unanswered questions are about Lewis in his fight with Vitali, not Lewis's career, no matter how hard you try to get away from that. Nice try!

You can deny it, but honestly, you can't accept any negative posts about Lewis...... . . even if they're true. Your obsession can't be healthy, but keep it up. It always makes me laugh. I hope you don't live near him. And.... oh ...god....... I hope you don't have Lewis magazines under your bed. Sick!

Also, I love the fact that I can reduce someone to such an unstable emotional state by typing words into a computer screen. Amazing! lol

[whdempsey]

Sorry Great One, but Lewis would have beaten Tyson in his prime too, two reasons, first, Tyson has never been good at fighting really tall fighters, he had trouble with everyone over 6'3". Second reason, Iron Mike, even in his prime has always become very ordinary after the 5th round, check the stats, his win % dropped immediately after the 5th. Lewis would tie him up when he got too close, and beat him just the same way he did when they finally stepped into the ring in Memphis.

Marciano, as great as he was, would be no more than an good sized Cruiserweight by todays standards, he is simply too small to beat a Lewis, who would, as he did Tyson and so many others, just simply rain down punches from above while keeping him at bay with that long jab of his. Marciano was tough and might have made it to the final bell, but the decision would be a loppsided one.

As for the rest of your list I agree with the names with only a slight difference in rank....

I'm gonna disagree with you. Tyson was too ferocious when he was young for Lewis. Remember, Lewis was pretty dman vulnerable when he was a rookie, and if they had gotten together then, Tyson would have knocked him out because Lewis, thought he does not have a glass jaw, has never been good at recuperating from getting hurt. The other problem with your theory is that Lewis would be able to keep Tyson at bay with his jab. In '91 his jab was not educated enough, and he has never moved fast enough, to make it a uesful weapon. The only time any made good use of a jab was when Douglas beat him in 90, and that had as much to do with Douglas's mobility. I'm telling you, the reason Tyson lost the fight with Lewis is that he was too old. In his prime, the pressure that he would have exerted would have been far too much. If you need proof, rewatch the first round of their fight. Tyson outjabs Lewis. If he were able to keep that pressure up, he'd win.

As for your argument about size...please. Time and again, small fighters have risen in weight and proven that the adage "A good big man will always beat a good small man." is bull ****. Disagree and I'll find the records to back it up. In fact, if you or anyone else wants to know why the heavyweight division is so poor today, look somewhere between 175 and 200 pounds. Saying that Marciano was a cruiserweight is absurd, because the class is really made up of what should be small heavyweights. Marciano would have to be given the same chance at beating Lewis as Tyson, because they exert the same amount of pressure, and Marciano had this crazy habit of knocking people cold.

[J !]

So you'd put him in the top 5?

sorry mate had logged off was going home time in the uk! Yeah I would but I do realise part of this is based on bias and fond memories, however I do think that like holmes, Lewis real ranking in the great scheme of things wont be properly established for maybe ten years, only then will his career and legacy asd he likes to call it, but put into perspective.

tends to be the way with the more technical fighters.

[ferociouso]

lennox

i think lennox is 1 off the best I've ever seen the way he beat frank bruno, tyson, holyfield he's an honour to the sport to bed he quit.