How Good was Lennox Lewis Really????

I have always been a fan of Lennox. IMO he could have been champion in any era he was that good. I also believe that when in proper shape ( I say that because we all know Lennox had a habit of looking past guys and coming in out of shape a bit) he had the ability to stand in with any greats of the past and if judging by prime vs prime at peak shape he would have beaten most of them...

IMO Lewis beats Patterson, Liston, Frazier, Marciano, Holmes all in prime....His biggest opp would have been Louis, Ali, Foreman and a prime Tyson....

Lewis has wins over every top HW in his era and avenged both losses in fantastic fashion, Both losses were flukes IMO as well more due to Lennox looking past his guy then anything...

With HW boxing being what it is I have just been thinking about this lately and how you don't realize how much you appreciate a fighter until he is gone. Lewi8s left no doubt who the REAL HW champion was and who the best in the division was....

I think Lewis was always under appreciated as a champion and will go down in history pretty much as Holmes where it is not until long after his retirement do the critics and fans start to mention him as one of the ATG and compare guys to him...

Just curious on everyone's opp of him as a fighter

Lewis is def an ATG hw in my books, at the very least a top 10 HW (maybe even cracking the top 5). I'd pick him against the smaller champs of yesteryears like Marciano, Louis, ect. But I think Holmes and Ali would clean his clock.

Not sure he beats Holmes, but prime Holmes is the most underrated HW imho. It's so hard to compare the best of one era to the best of another other than by judging how strong or week an era is, and you can't blame a fighter if their aren't good fights out there. Lewis was clearly the best of his era, and there was some good talent around then. Lewis beat everyone that mattered during his run. It wasn't as strong as the late 60's and 70's, but it was definately stronger than today. The golf great Bobby Jones once said "all you can do is beat who is around when you are around" and that's exactly what Lennox did. He didn't duck anybody, beat every quality HW of his era, and avenged his losses.

Mike Tyson and Holyfield are favourites of mine but to be fair I think Lennox is better than both . He would have beaten Ali too IMO

Lennox is possibly the greatest heavyweight ever both statistically and actually

Lewis is an all time great to residents of the UK.




Here in America, he's regarded as just another over-rated heavyweight.

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Originally Posted by frozensolid_702

Lewis is an all time great to residents of the UK.




Here in America, he's regarded as just another over-rated heavyweight.

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That's a silly generalization. Real boxing fans know the difference, anywhere. Overall, he's probably rated higher in the UK than in the US, but that doesn't mean he's considered "just another overrated heavyweight" in the US.

I have to admit I never was a big fan of Lewis's but he most certainly is a top heavy p4p.I picked Razor Ruddock On that Halloween night too many years ago and was left with my jaw on the ground.absolute and total destruction.He was so uncoordinated and almost clumsy back then but really developed into great talent.
I dont see him Beating a prime Holmes and Imo He lost the rematch with Holyfield by a smidge.
I still wonder how that match with a Prime Bowe would have turned out but Bowe did a chump move and tossed the Belt into the trash can.Lewis Beat his azz In the amateurs though Tk2 Lol.

A definite Top 10 Greatest as far as I am concerned.

His only real weakness was his motivation against lesser opponents. When he was motivated or had something to prove, he was an incredible force to reckon with.

My only regret is that he never got a chance to fight Bowe as a pro, but that is not his fault. He definitely would have been Motivated for Bowe ;D and Bowe knew that also.

Ive never been a fan Daxx, Probably because I spent a lot of time round him. But looking back I got it wrong he was a great fighter make no mistake on his day he would have held his own with most certainly top ten all time.

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Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

I have always been a fan of Lennox. IMO he could have been champion in any era he was that good. I also believe that when in proper shape ( I say that because we all know Lennox had a habit of looking past guys and coming in out of shape a bit) he had the ability to stand in with any greats of the past and if judging by prime vs prime at peak shape he would have beaten most of them...

IMO Lewis beats Patterson, Liston, Frazier, Marciano, Holmes all in prime....His biggest opp would have been Louis, Ali, Foreman and a prime Tyson....

Lewis has wins over every top HW in his era and avenged both losses in fantastic fashion, Both losses were flukes IMO as well more due to Lennox looking past his guy then anything...

With HW boxing being what it is I have just been thinking about this lately and how you don't realize how much you appreciate a fighter until he is gone. Lewi8s left no doubt who the REAL HW champion was and who the best in the division was....

I think Lewis was always under appreciated as a champion and will go down in history pretty much as Holmes where it is not until long after his retirement do the critics and fans start to mention him as one of the ATG and compare guys to him...

Just curious on everyone's opp of him as a fighter

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Daxx I agree with a lot of what your saying actually most of it.
The only parts I disagree with are when you put parenthesis and or make comments about the loses being flukes.
If you set those kind of standards/judging techniques about wins and loses then you can do the same for all of the top Heavys and you'd never really match then equally cause an excuse will alway come up for a loss or bad performance.
Take Tyson for example how many excuses can be made for his loss to Buster? I can think of 10 and god knows theres more.
I also think Lennox was a great Champ. I also think Lennox would have been Champ during any era like you I think he could fight the all time best Heavys and beat some and loose to some but I won't go into too much detail on that.
Is Lennox top 10 all time?
My answer is yes.

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Originally Posted by CutMeMick

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Originally Posted by DaxxKahn

I have always been a fan of Lennox. IMO he could have been champion in any era he was that good. I also believe that when in proper shape ( I say that because we all know Lennox had a habit of looking past guys and coming in out of shape a bit) he had the ability to stand in with any greats of the past and if judging by prime vs prime at peak shape he would have beaten most of them...

IMO Lewis beats Patterson, Liston, Frazier, Marciano, Holmes all in prime....His biggest opp would have been Louis, Ali, Foreman and a prime Tyson....

Lewis has wins over every top HW in his era and avenged both losses in fantastic fashion, Both losses were flukes IMO as well more due to Lennox looking past his guy then anything...

With HW boxing being what it is I have just been thinking about this lately and how you don't realize how much you appreciate a fighter until he is gone. Lewi8s left no doubt who the REAL HW champion was and who the best in the division was....

I think Lewis was always under appreciated as a champion and will go down in history pretty much as Holmes where it is not until long after his retirement do the critics and fans start to mention him as one of the ATG and compare guys to him...

Just curious on everyone's opp of him as a fighter

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Daxx I agree with a lot of what your saying actually most of it.
The only parts I disagree with are when you put parenthesis and or make comments about the loses being flukes.
If you set those kind of standards/judging techniques about wins and loses then you can do the same for all of the top Heavys and you'd never really match then equally cause an excuse will alway come up for a loss or bad performance.
Take Tyson for example how many excuses can be made for his loss to Buster? I can think of 10 and god knows theres more.
I also think Lennox was a great Champ. I also think Lennox would have been Champ during any era like you I think he could fight the all time best Heavys and beat some and loose to some but I won't go into too much detail on that.
Is Lennox top 10 all time?
My answer is yes.

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I use the word fluke Mick because neither Rahman or McCall really beat Lennox,,,Lennox beat Lennox.....He did not bother to prepare and came in wayy out of shape...for Rahman 1 he quit training weeks b4 the bout to film a 2 sec role in Oceans 11,12 or 13 cant remember which was which.........

I agree with what you stated about ttyson and douglas....I should have worded it different

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Originally Posted by Deanrw

A definite Top 10 Greatest as far as I am concerned.

His only real weakness was his motivation against lesser opponents. When he was motivated or had something to prove, he was an incredible force to reckon with.

My only regret is that he never got a chance to fight Bowe as a pro, but that is not his fault. He definitely would have been Motivated for Bowe ;D and Bowe knew that also.

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I should have worded my fluke sentence more like that...Lewis lost more due to lack of motivation going into those fights then anything...

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Originally Posted by Scrap

Ive never been a fan Daxx, Probably because I spent a lot of time round him. But looking back I got it wrong he was a great fighter make no mistake on his day he would have held his own with most certainly top ten all time.

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I can understand that scrap....when something is around you a lot you tend not to look right at it....I have the exact same scenario with Hector Camacho Sr......My family has known him since he was an amatuer and spent time around him and he never shuts up especially about himself...he also has no respect for ANYONE but himself....But whan I look at his career now it is hard to deny he had talent

I think Lennox is up their in the list he beat Evander in both just the second was closer and the first well Evander lucky they gave him the draw because he clearly lost that one when wins over everyone in his era he is something that this division now wish that they had him

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Originally Posted by frozensolid_702

Lewis is an all time great to residents of the UK.




Here in America, he's regarded as just another over-rated heavyweight.

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If anything he is severely underated in Britain. Most people would think of Frank Bruno first if they thought of a 90's British Heavyweight. I put it like this, take any HW from the history of boxing and put him in with a prime Lennox Lewis. He has a chance against any of them. If only there were time machines!

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Originally Posted by frozensolid_702

Lewis is an all time great to residents of the UK.




Here in America, he's regarded as just another over-rated heavyweight.

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Can you say shit stirrer? ::**

Can you say knows nothing about boxing and is butt buddies with Juhda but o well what can you do

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Originally Posted by Mr140

Can you say knows nothing about boxing and is butt buddies with Juhda but o well what can you do

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;D

when i sit and think lennox lewis any time would dominate and like only thre fighters would give him a hard time

and he beats a prime tyson O0

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Originally Posted by 'Big' (Yoits)Dan McCarthy

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Originally Posted by frozensolid_702

Lewis is an all time great to residents of the UK.




Here in America, he's regarded as just another over-rated heavyweight.

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If anything he is severely underated in Britain. Most people would think of Frank Bruno first if they thought of a 90's British Heavyweight. I put it like this, take any HW from the history of boxing and put him in with a prime Lennox Lewis. He has a chance against any of them. If only there were time machines!

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I tend to agree with the big fella on this one. I've always liked Lewis and rated him highly from early on. I would tell people that he will be the world champ and people used to laugh at me or if they weren't really into boxing just ask "who?". I don't live in the UK, i live in Australia and remember many years ago whilst watching one of Lewis' earlier fights with some UK tourists telling them I thought he would be the next champ.. They laughed, they didn't rate him at all.

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Originally Posted by bikersk

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Originally Posted by 'Big' (Yoits)Dan McCarthy

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Originally Posted by frozensolid_702

Lewis is an all time great to residents of the UK.




Here in America, he's regarded as just another over-rated heavyweight.

---

If anything he is severely underrated in Britain. Most people would think of Frank Bruno first if they thought of a 90's British Heavyweight. I put it like this, take any HW from the history of boxing and put him in with a prime Lennox Lewis. He has a chance against any of them. If only there were time machines!

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I tend to agree with the big fella on this one. I've always liked Lewis and rated him highly from early on. I would tell people that he will be the world champ and people used to laugh at me or if they weren't really into boxing just ask "who?". I don't live in the UK, i live in Australia and remember many years ago whilst watching one of Lewis' earlier fights with some UK tourists telling them I thought he would be the next champ.. They laughed, they didn't rate him at all.

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I am guilty of Slamming Lewis big time early on.Nationalism ,skepticism and
a somewhat bias press make facts & reality abit blurry.
At first Yes...I dubbed him "Lummox losse's" as a prediction as to what we would see. ;)
Do you know howmanyF!!!!!! times overhere I heard and read.."Can he be the next British born Heavy weight Champ"??? And the having all of the drama about his TRUE nationality "straight up,robotic and European" became a mantra!

Jamaica....Maaaann Canada.....WTF ??? England......Oii By the glory-boys at the Networks.He struck me as clumsy and Uncoordinated But Impressively brutal and professional.His Battle with Ray Mercer was the turning point for me ;D.But I will never say he defeats any p4p Heavy easily at all though.

I think he's the best BIG heavyweight to ever fight. He had it all speed, skill, strength, KO punches, jab, left hook, right cross, right uppercut. This guy was a real specimen when he fought.

He was an exceptional heavyweight. Strong jab, quality range of punching,and had real power. Might scrape in to top ten, but that would be down to sheer size.

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Originally Posted by Taeth

I think he's the best BIG heavyweight to ever fight. He had it all speed, skill, strength, KO punches, jab, left hook, right cross, right uppercut. This guy was a real specimen when he fought.

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So now he gets a Sub-class?Remember when Max kellerman was all over that and the NEED for a "super" hvy. division.The future is 6'5 and over 240 or so LLOOLL. He was Top notch...but not Impervious to a good "chin check"
out of most all I see Holmes working him over big time.

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Originally Posted by GAME

Mike Tyson and Holyfield are favourites of mine but to be fair I think Lennox is better than both . He would have beaten Ali too IMO

Lennox is possibly the greatest heavyweight ever both statistically and actually

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I kinda agree with you , i think best of 3 fights Lewis could have beaten anyone , u have to consider that he was so much bigger than anyonefighters from the 60's and 70's ever fought . but it goes back to u can only beat guys in your era.

Lennox i feel is ATG material.
A bit complacent when he was young, but a great boxer and indeed puncher.

Lewis is IMO, the best Heavyweight fighter I've ever seen. At his best, Lewis can be unstoppable. I would give him a shout to be the best Heavy ever. (I know most won't agree, but it's opinion)

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Originally Posted by hitmandonny

Lennox i feel is ATG material.
A bit complacent when he was young, but a great boxer and indeed puncher.

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Agreed about when he was younger...if you followed his career you can see the transition from a guy with great potential who needed to settle down a bit then once he it 34 or so he had become the patient boxer that made him what he is

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Originally Posted by bzkfn

Lewis is IMO, the best Heavyweight fighter I've ever seen. At his best, Lewis can be unstoppable. I would give him a shout to be the best Heavy ever. (I know most won't agree, but it's opinion)

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I won't say best ever but best of our era easily...I put him above Tyson, Holyfield and Bowe..like I satated in the beginning on the right night he could have beaten or at least given any of the top 5 HWts the fight of their career at minimum

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Originally Posted by frozensolid_702

Lewis is an all time great to residents of the UK.

Here in America, he's regarded as just another over-rated heavyweight.

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Not all American's think along this line...in fact...most boxing fans don't. ::** :dummespost:

Lewis is regarded as the best heavy of this time frame.

I'm just glad he didnt come back

Lewis was born in East Ham and lived in England until he was 11 - so he is BRITISH!!

Frustrating and not always exciting, but without doubt one of the greats of the modern era

I'l agree with Big H there.

While he was about i hated Lennox's style, i thought that his fights were horribly dull and incredibly tedious to watch, however since his retirement i hav realised his brilliance, he could negate an opponents every move, similar to tactics employed by lighter tacticians such as Floyd and Pernell Whittaker. The difference was when he wanted to throw he could blast holes in anything in front of him.

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Originally Posted by Daxx Kahn

I have always been a fan of Lennox. IMO he could have been champion in any era he was that good. I also believe that when in proper shape ( I say that because we all know Lennox had a habit of looking past guys and coming in out of shape a bit) he had the ability to stand in with any greats of the past and if judging by prime vs prime at peak shape he would have beaten most of them...

IMO Lewis beats Patterson, Liston, Frazier, Marciano, Holmes all in prime....His biggest opp would have been Louis, Ali, Foreman and a prime Tyson....

Lewis has wins over every top HW in his era and avenged both losses in fantastic fashion, Both losses were flukes IMO as well more due to Lennox looking past his guy then anything...

With HW boxing being what it is I have just been thinking about this lately and how you don't realize how much you appreciate a fighter until he is gone. Lewi8s left no doubt who the REAL HW champion was and who the best in the division was....

I think Lewis was always under appreciated as a champion and will go down in history pretty much as Holmes where it is not until long after his retirement do the critics and fans start to mention him as one of the ATG and compare guys to him...

Just curious on everyone's opp of him as a fighter

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He would not beat Holmes Lewis always struggled with jabs aka Mercer aka Bruno.

Lewis was good champion im not a fan of his but i give him his props he beat everyone there was to beat.

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Originally Posted by ICE COLD BOXING

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Originally Posted by Daxx Kahn

I have always been a fan of Lennox. IMO he could have been champion in any era he was that good. I also believe that when in proper shape ( I say that because we all know Lennox had a habit of looking past guys and coming in out of shape a bit) he had the ability to stand in with any greats of the past and if judging by prime vs prime at peak shape he would have beaten most of them...

IMO Lewis beats Patterson, Liston, Frazier, Marciano, Holmes all in prime....His biggest opp would have been Louis, Ali, Foreman and a prime Tyson....

Lewis has wins over every top HW in his era and avenged both losses in fantastic fashion, Both losses were flukes IMO as well more due to Lennox looking past his guy then anything...

With HW boxing being what it is I have just been thinking about this lately and how you don't realize how much you appreciate a fighter until he is gone. Lewi8s left no doubt who the REAL HW champion was and who the best in the division was....

I think Lewis was always under appreciated as a champion and will go down in history pretty much as Holmes where it is not until long after his retirement do the critics and fans start to mention him as one of the ATG and compare guys to him...

Just curious on everyone's opp of him as a fighter

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He would not beat Holmes Lewis always struggled with jabs aka Mercer aka Bruno.

Lewis was good champion im not a fan of his but i give him his props he beat everyone there was to beat.

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Lewis aged like fine wine,,,as he got older he got better.....The version of Lewis that fought Mercer and Bruno and the Version from say 99 on up were almost two different fighters in a sense of patience and savvy....When I think of Vintage Lennox those are the years I think of.....

Also during that time was the most dangerous Lennox Lewis....One who when mins set on the fight was patient boxed you until the time to kill can.....IMO the Lennox Lewis in the second Rahman fight was one of the most incredible HWTS I have ever seen perform

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Originally Posted by Daxx Kahn

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Originally Posted by ICE COLD BOXING

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Originally Posted by Daxx Kahn

I have always been a fan of Lennox. IMO he could have been champion in any era he was that good. I also believe that when in proper shape ( I say that because we all know Lennox had a habit of looking past guys and coming in out of shape a bit) he had the ability to stand in with any greats of the past and if judging by prime vs prime at peak shape he would have beaten most of them...

IMO Lewis beats Patterson, Liston, Frazier, Marciano, Holmes all in prime....His biggest opp would have been Louis, Ali, Foreman and a prime Tyson....

Lewis has wins over every top HW in his era and avenged both losses in fantastic fashion, Both losses were flukes IMO as well more due to Lennox looking past his guy then anything...

With HW boxing being what it is I have just been thinking about this lately and how you don't realize how much you appreciate a fighter until he is gone. Lewi8s left no doubt who the REAL HW champion was and who the best in the division was....

I think Lewis was always under appreciated as a champion and will go down in history pretty much as Holmes where it is not until long after his retirement do the critics and fans start to mention him as one of the ATG and compare guys to him...

Just curious on everyone's opp of him as a fighter

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He would not beat Holmes Lewis always struggled with jabs aka Mercer aka Bruno.

Lewis was good champion im not a fan of his but i give him his props he beat everyone there was to beat.

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Lewis aged like fine wine,,,as he got older he got better.....The version of Lewis that fought Mercer and Bruno and the Version from say 99 on up were almost two different fighters in a sense of patience and savvy....When I think of Vintage Lennox those are the years I think of.....

Also during that time was the most dangerous Lennox Lewis....One who when mins set on the fight was patient boxed you until the time to kill can.....IMO the Lennox Lewis in the second Rahman fight was one of the most incredible HWTS I have ever seen perform

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Oh i agree but still even the older version of Lewis got caught remember Briggs fight im not fan of Lewis like i said but i give him props for not ducking anyone and beating everyone there was to beat people say Lewis is boring but he was in some exciting fights aswell and his chin is also underrated he took shots against big punches like Gary Mason, Tony Tucker, David Tua, Ray Mercer, Frank Bruno, Vitali Klitschko, like i said great fighter im not a fan but i got to admire the guy.

You know what ICB...I was never a Lewis fan until he retired...after that is when I began to really appreciate him and with the crop of HWTs seemingly in chaos after he left "or should I say after Vitaly left because for the little time Vitaly was here there were no doubts who was the best out there"....I like his fights when he was still fighting but it was when he retired I realized like many others exactly how good he was....

I agree his chin was underrated....People tend to forget he got caught with thunderous punches by 2 VERY BIG punchers in their primes....Both McCall and Rahman at their best could bang with the best of them...add that to the poor shape Lewis allowed himself to come in at for those fights and it is easy to see why he was KO'd......But then again Lewis made it a point to avenge both losses and show everyone that those guys were fly by night fighters who had their moment of glory but he was the one who decided how long that moment would last....

Like I said he was one of those that are missed the longer he is gone....

Lewis was pretty damn good.. i think he could have used another a gear ..was stale at times, over all a very smart fighter. did what he needed to win, but usually never more than that.. another words he was not the most exciting of heavyweights ,

I used to love watching lennox fight and thought he was a great champ - but beating Marciano? come on guys :o

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Originally Posted by fugaziuk

I used to love watching lennox fight and thought he was a great champ - but beating Marciano? come on guys :o

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Of course Lewis would beat Marciano.

Lewis is 6 foot 5 with 84 inch reach and weighs about 240.

Marciano is 5 foot 10 with the shortest reach in history of any Heavyweight world champion's i think it was 66 inches and his weight was in 180's range.

It would be Heavyweight vs Cruiserweight.

i see your point but i suppose its hard to compare fighters of yesteryear to modern day as it was so different.
I suppose its just me and my "marciano greatest of all time" mentality

Lewis was definitely not a bad fighter, but i would never include him in the top 10 heavyweights of all time. Lewis had a good jab and dominated most fights but i believe so strongly that many past champions would have beaten him. Ali, Marciano, Holmes all would have beaten him and Prime Time Mike Tyson would have annihalated him, such a shame that fight came so near the end of Mikes career! :'(.

But yeah Lewis is a good fighter, not top ten material for me though!

Sorry but with that post Unit you going to get a sad click.