Was Lennox as much a benefactor of his time as a good fighter?

Question

No Bowe fight, an old, faded Tyson, two horrendous bouts with a fading Holyfield, KO's at the hands of McCall and Rahman; what if he'd had to contend '91 - '92 versions of Bowe and Holyfield and Foreman, a '94 version of a still faded (yet dangerous and determined Tyson) or ultimately a rematch with Klitschko?

Or was he just lucky enough to never deal with any of that?

Answer 1

thumbs up to ironcletus, excellent answer.

however lewis in my opinion would be in my top 15 all time heavyweights.

Answer 2

first, bowe refused to face lewis, and was eventually stripped of his title for it. foreman admittedly ducked lewis as well. as for tyson, tyson was still in prison in 94' so we'll go with a 95' tyson, and lewis still would of beat him because mike was doing drugs and partying too much at that point in his career, add that with tyson's weak self-esteem and we have another lewis knockout. as for holyfield, he would have beaten lewis, lewis was just to hesitant to fight warriors like holyfield. lewis was also lax in his training habits, hence the two kayoes he suffered. as for the klitschko fight lewis was getting to old at that point and needed to retire, a prime lewis defeats klitschko easy, but you are correct, he is a bit overrated, but still a good fighter and deserved champion

Answer 3

Lewis was a very big and technically sound champion and would have been tough for anyone to have beaten.

I do agree, though, that he he would have had much less success against a better crop of fighters.

Answer 4

Lennox Lewis places 4th on my list.  He was lax in training A FEW times but he holds a victory over every man he has faced in the ring.  He can't be held responsible for Holyfield being past prime.   He fought Holyfield and beat him.  

It's also Not his fault that Bowe was clearly afraid of him.   Look at the Bowe-Holyfield post fight and see for yourself.   Tyson had his own troubles but Lennox tried to get a fight with Mike before, only to be offered money to NOT fight Tyson.  Again,  not Lewis's fault.   Tyson ALWAYS had trouble with Tall, Stronger fighters.......Lennox was the Best of the Big Men.  He still beats Tyson no matter what.

ALI

LOUIS

HOLMES

LEWIS

FORMAN

Lewis has the best chance to trouble Ali or defeat Louis

Forman's best chance for a victory would be against Louis.   Ali beats them all with his toughest challenge coming form Lewis and Holmes.

Holmes loses to Louis and Ali and struggles with Lewis.

All the rest loses to these 5 with Holyfield having a good chance against Young George.

Answer 5

lewis fought a bunch of washed up fighters and bums he was a fair fighter in perhaps one of the worst times in boxing he would of been destroyed by a prime tyson or holyfield  and ill throw a prime holmes in there the fighters who beat lewis were bums he did win the rematches but these were guys who should of never beaten lewis to begin with he had a glass jaw ill give him credit he did have a good jab but not much power some say he had good punching power but he didnt impress me with his punching power bowe after winning the title got fat and lazy and he was scared of lewis ill admit that but bowe was not a great in my book the best fighters lewis fought was david tua  a pumped up cruiserweight val klitsko who is slow dull boring etc raham another bum mcall who beat lewis in their first fight and cried in the second lewis well known names were washed up and i think he retired afraid of klitsko lewis was overated