How overrated is Lennox Lewis?

Question

Lewis was a decent fighter, and in his last fight with Klitschko, proved that he could gut it out and overcome adversity.
But to call him an all-time great is a stretch.
Ali is an all-time great. Holyfield is an all-time great. Holmes is an all-time great.
Who did Lewis beat? A washed-up Holyfield. An even more washed up Tyson.
Lewis got taken out with ONE SHOT by guys you can only label decent - McCall and Rachman, and was nearly put to sleep by Shannon Briggs.
To listen to British fans talk about this guy, you'd think he was the second coming of Ali.
Give him this - he ducked no one, beat some pretty good guys and was a great ambassador for the title and the sport.
That's it.

Tyson was overrated, too.

There is no way you can compare Lewis to Holyfield. Holyfield beat a level of competition that Lewis never approached, making him a 4 time champ.

a_p_ribafish - you're new to this forum and obviously don't know how things work around here. Nobody here is a 'troll'.

'smitty', you wanna take care of this guy?

Answer 1

he is a little overrated, not better than Ali, late 80s Tyson, etc..but still good

Answer 2

Some people here are really incredible... Lennox never met his potential - well let's see: Olympic champion, the last undisputed world heavyweight champion, man who has beaten every opponent he faced in his professional career and all around one of the most talented, successful and accomplished boxers ever to step foot in the ring. No, that certainly doesn't sound like he met his potential, does it? And let's check out some of the people he beat: Vitali Klitschko - a man who would without any question destroy anyone of your all time greats and Lennox beat him, but hey he's not an American so I guess he sucks too, then Evander Holyfield twice (that's right twice), Mike Tyson, Hasim Rahman, David Tua, Tony Tucker, Shannon Briggs ....and the list goes on. So no big deal, right? Not an all time great by any means.
You know what man, when you tried to match him with that Ibeabuchi punk few days ago, at least, incorrect and false as they were, you posted some arguments. But now you are just bashing a true legend, one of the greatest champions in history of this sport, and being, much like many people here, a bias American troll, whose knowledge of boxing is obviously very limited and selective. And by the way I come from Croatia and I'm telling you this just so you know that the comment was not made by a British fan. Every true boxing fan in the world, outside of the United States, will tell you the same thing about Lennox Lewis, I guarantee that.

p.s.
2 things:
1 - I have been on this forum longer then you and I know how things work here
2 - I didn't mean to insult you. That's just an expression I picked up, when reading some posts, on SHERDOG commonly used for UFC and TUF fans who ignorantly disrespect all non American and non UFC fighters, specially PRIDE stars, and try to undermine their achievements, skills and talent by posting some ridiculous arguments. What you're doing with Lennox Lewis seemed like a similar case.

Answer 3

You could argue that Lennox Lewis was overrated by many people, mainly the british but at the same time he was and still is underated by many americans for basically not being american. He beat every great heavyweight of his particular era addmittedly some of them were on the slide, and the only two losses he suffered he beat them comprehensibly in rematchs. If you think that Holyfield is an all time great surely you have to put Lewis up there with him.

Answer 4

Lennox was one of the best heavyweights of the recent era but cleary not of all time. That is a long list of truly great fighters who had many great opponents unlike Lewis. Tyson's skills were greatly diminished when he fought Lewis. Holyfield was in decline although to a lesser degree. There may never be another heavyweight as great as the 'greats' because the current field cannot compare to the days of Ali, Frasier, Norton etc.

Answer 5

Neither. no person ever stated Ruddock replace into great - he replace right into a valid contender that have been given his *** kicked with the aid of Lewis, yet replace into actual a spectacular 10 fighter in the early ninety's. Lewis replace into actual the final heavyweight over the final 10 years. He beat another heavyweight properly worth combating and occurred to have a pair of stupid losses on the way.

Answer 6

he did do something not to many other champions have done. he beat every man he ever faced. he didnt win every fight. but he won every rematch. i think when you retire on top, you are an all time great. dont fault lennox lewis. there just wasnt anybody left for him to fight after tyson. james toney? roy jones? klitschko again? there just wasnt any fights or good fighters left. so if i get a vote lennox is an all time great. its like saying emmitt smith cant be included in the greatest running backs of all time because he had a great team around him.

Answer 7

how funny. lets talk about who's over-rated.
in the almost 18 years of mike tyson how many times did he lose? Mike tyson i mean? twice out of what 50 fights.
Out of these fights he won 95% of them by KO.
Tyson had never been bruised or cut.
Yet lewis bruised him, swelled up both eyes and cut tyson under both eyes.
I dont know about you but i dont think that he is over-rated at all. Its the public that puts people where they are in our world not just our skills.
Go Lewis!

Answer 8

Yes he was because he fought during a time when there wasn't any good boxers. Any of them that wants a challenge needs to be fighting now, where are they? Fighting has changed know days, can't just show up now you have to fight.

Answer 9

he never met his potential so yes he's ever rated.

Answer 10

GREATLY!!!