lewis is a top 10 atg heavyweight
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That's not bad list but I can't imagine Marciano being top 3, let alone top 5. Yes he was undefeated, yes he beat Louis, Moore, Walcott and Charles but how many of those guys were in their prime and how many of them were shot? Louis was shot, Walcott all but shot and Charles wasn't anywhere near his best anymore yet almost all these guys gave Marciano hell. What saved him was his relative youth, punch resistance and power. Imagine if these names were primed and ready, I don't think Marciano beats a single one of them.I think this is a decent list:
10 - Sonny Liston or several potential others
9 - Jack Dempsey or Jack Johnson
8 - Mike Tyson or Evander Holyfield
7 - George Foreman
6 - Joe Frazier
5 - Larry Holmes
4 - Lennox Lewis
3 - Rocky Marciano
2 - Joe Louis
1 - Muhammad Ali

Haven't really mentioned Moore cos he could never make it at heavy.
Baer isn't great but Louis can only beat the best put in front of him.
Take away Tyson and Holy from Lewis' resume and your left with a who's who of c and b level sluggers.Comment
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Was Max Baer not considered a brute force in his time? Yes.
The boxing game has evolved yet, but you have to take into consideration what the fighter's standing was in his time, was he in his prime etc.
Taking those details into consideration, it is clear that Louis has better wins than Lewis.Comment
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This.
The heavyweight division has been the elite crown ***el in world sport for the last 100 hundred years. Nowadays it's the laughing stock of the world. Very few general people in the world today would not be able to name the current heavyweight World Champions.
Abject champions fighting in the worst heavyweight era since boxing began.Comment
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Top ten in terms of what? In terms of impact, character, resume, appeal? Because that's what most of the ATG lists seem to be...It's not about who would beat who in a BOXING match, its some other bull**** romantic criteria.
If the list is actually about who would win a fight, than most DEFINITELY(say it like Lewis) he is in the top 10.
I would say he would be a 65+% favorite to beat anyone outside anyone's top 3 list. And 50/50 against obvious top 3 guys, like for example, Ali/Foreman/Holmes?
But it's hopeless talking HW boxing on these boards when guys pick Louis and Marciano against a Klitschko or Dempsey against Lewis.
Come out of your nostalgia induced coma...It's a different age, it's the age of the superheavyweight and Marciano ain't got **** on a 6'6" 250+ modern athlete boxer, I got Deontay any day.
I have utmost respect for the old timers, but I'm sorry the sport evolves, just like any other sport.
That is not to say that ATG lists shouldn't be about "resume, appeal, impact"Last edited by Banderivets; 02-03-2014, 08:50 AM.Comment
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Well the thread starter asked you if Lewis was a top 10 ATG heavyweight.Top ten in terms of what? In terms of impact, character, resume, appeal? Because that's what most of the ATG lists seem to be...It's not about who would beat who in a BOXING match, its some other bull**** romantic criteria.
If the list is actually about who would win a fight, than most DEFINITELY(say it like Lewis) he is in the top 10.
I would say he would be a 65+% favorite to beat anyone outside anyone's top 3 list. And 50/50 against obvious top 3 guys, like for example, Ali/Foreman/Holmes?
But it's hopeless talking HW boxing on these boards when guys pick Louis and Marciano against a Klitschko or Dempsey against Lewis.
Come out of your nostalgia induced coma...It's a different age, it's the age of the superheavyweight and Marciano ain't got **** on a 6'6" 250+ modern athlete boxer, I got Deontay any day.
I have utmost respect for the old timers, but I'm sorry the sport evolves, just like any other sport.
So it's really pointless talking about fiction and fantasy as opposed to who actually did what in which era.Comment
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