Lennox Lewis Poll

[VictorCharlie]

I personally didn't think he beat Evander in the second fight(the first one was highway robbery though). Neither did Ring Magazine or the AP press. Nor did I think he beat Mercer. Not that it matters though. LL has just as good a resume of fighters if not better as Tyson/Holmes/Louis/Marciano/Dempsey. He is a very disciplined and very smart fighter. Plus he just knew how to fight tall very effectively. Other than the Mercer and VK fight you can argue he beat everybody put in front of him soundly(at least once). In regards to ATG status I include talent, opposition, and legacy. so here is where I rank LL ...tear it up at will

1.Jack Johnson
2.Ali
3.Joe Louis
4.Foreman
5.Holmes
6.Evander
7.LL
8.Frazier
9.Dempsey
10.Tyson
Honorable Mention: Marciano, Walcott, Charles, Patterson, Tunney, Liston.

I'd only question two;

Jack Johnson because it's hard to gauge that era of fighter and prime vs prime Jim Jeffries was clearly more dominant...Johnson was stopped by 5-2 fighters in his prime!...So I would re-think that one.

Tyson...other than being the youngest he has little legacy as a dominant champ...being thoroughly trashed by a "c" level douglas regardless of circumstances hardly can put him ahead of Marciano or Tunney...Tyson did not face the best of his era ala the rest you mention so he is clearly not an ATG...Mike Tyson had some great fights and showed flashes of greatness but never had the consistancy that makes an ATG...

I agree with you on the Tyson issue, but the public perception and many in boxing feel differently. All though i think Mike of as being grossly overrated there is a large contingent that feel a prime Mike couldn't be beaten. So I meet them in the middle and put the guy at 10. You should read Johnson's biography. It was a great read. Afterward I went out and found the few fights of his and was very impressed. The guy learned to fight in the ring and the scoring of the day is a little suspect so some of the decisions are shady as well. Take it for what you want. I think the guy was the most talented HW i've ever seen.

[bigragu]

SC me if you must, i have said this from the start. Prime LL is the best HW ever. its just my opinion, which means nothing. but its my honest answer.

it takes alot to be that honest.....

[Wacko3205]

I am putting together a dvd of all the heavyweight champions, in order, and this is area that is questionable, I would appriciate your imput.

Good poll & good discussion.

Lewis is one of the most unappreciated & widely unaccepted heavies period.

I thought Lewis was a hell of a fighter. He was good at what he did & he's one of the only fighters of the last two decades at 200lbs + that had a decent run IWO.

[Wacko3205]

SC me if you must, i have said this from the start. Prime LL is the best HW ever. its just my opinion, which means nothing. but its my honest answer.

Nice.

Not sure about EVER...but he was one hell of a boxer.

[lb4lb]

Lennox was a good champ. IMO.

I second that. He took out the good boxers and the fakes. He would have done it in his prime but everyone ducked him. He fought Tyson and Bowe as amateurs, so they were aware of what he could do. Also, he didn't give in to the money and sign on with Don King. I'll take it a step further and say one of the greatest champs.