Why is Lennox Lewis underrated?

[Verstyle]

Whilst I think you may have a point in the perception of Lennox I dont agree mate with your statement.

Lewis was of similar age to Holyfield and Tyson, he destroyed the vast majority of opponents he fought and was rarely in a dull fight (Shannon Briggs comes to mind)

Razor Ruddock was supposed to be the next big thing he was destroyed in two rounds, Botha and Grant in two rounds, Golota in 1 round. Tommy Morrison was smashed around for about 6 rounds!

He was far from boring in the ring, outside of the ring however he was as interesting as watching paint dry, thats why he was not liked that much, plus he beat Tyson up ableit an older Tyson but Tyson for his faults was the box office draw!

But all the ppl u mentioned were out of there primes so in other words he just fought left overs

[M26]

Lennox Lewis is hardly underrated. People tend to rank him somewhere in the top15 of the all time heavyweights, and this is where he belong. I don't consider Lewis among the top ten. He was really good though.

[kapersky]

lennox lewis just happen to be in right place in wrong time, he fough tyson and holyfield when many though they was wasted up and couldnt ko holyfield, and he got weak chin other wise his skills belong in top10

[Sir_Jose]

Right place right time? How do you call

Olympic Gold Medal
3 Time Heavyweight Champion
16-2 In Championship fights(Both losses avenged)

All this over a 15 year career is hardly a case of right place right time. Thats called being dominate.

Dont forget it was Tyson who paid Lewis 5 Million and gave up his WBC belt so he wouldn't have to fight Lewis. It was Ri**** Bowe who gave up his belt so he wouldn't have to fight Lewis.

You cant blame him for that.

Not stoping Holyfield is a bad thing? Since when did Evander become easy to stop?

He was a dominate champion who is no doubt top 10 all time. I flat out laugh whwen I hear people rank guys like Gene Tunney and Sonny Liston ahead of him.

Lewis also had a much much better chin than people gave him credit for. His problem wasn't his chin it was his focus. Would someone like to explain to me how Rahman and McCall KO'ed him, but couldn't even make him blink the second time around?Or why big puncher like Mercer, Tua and Tyson could hurt him? and please dont say he didn't get hit in those fights. There is no way in hell you can fight 12 rounds in a championship fight and not take some power punches.

Tommy Brooks summed up Lewis chin perfectly.

If Lennox decides he's not going anywhere then he's not going anywhere- Tommy Brooks on Lewis being able to take Tyson's punch.


The era he fought in was probably the second deepest era of all time in the heavyweight division. Peopkle really seem to forget the heavyweight divion ALWAYS sucks and has though out history.

Lewis
Holyfield
Tyson
Bowe
Mercer
Morrison
Rudock
Moorer


Looks pretty damn good to me.

[MickyHatton]

But all the ppl u mentioned were out of there primes so in other words he just fought left overs

What!!!!

Ruddock - Prime, on his was supposedly to the title.
Morrison - Prime.
Grant - Young and on his way up.
Golota - around the same age.
Briggs younger than Lewis.
Tyson - around the same age.
Holyfield - around the same age.

Where was the left overs, its not like he fought old men like Tyson (Tubbs and Holmes)

[Imira]

Looking at his body of work, you can't take away his success in the ring. Most people who underrate him as a champion do so because he wasn't Tyson.

He isn't one of my favorite fighters, but I believe that anyone who is being fair and objective must admit that he has solidified his place as an all-time great.

[tommyhearns804]

Lewis is a top 10 all time great.But some people short change him because his best wins came against a old Holyfield.And i see some fool has Ezzard Charles and Walcott above Lewis..Kid are you mentally ******ed?Neither of these guys were heavyweights.Charels was a natural middleweight and Walcott was a small cruiserweight.Neither of them would last more than 3 rounds with Lewis.
Marciano was a small cruiserweight who would be crushed in less than one round.Frazier was unskilled compared to Lewis and would be beat with no problem.Joe Louis had a weak chin and was dead slow.Few people you actually put infront of Lewis.Ali,Foreman..maybe a prime Bowe or Holmes.If you seen a prime Lyle Fight you could see why he could beat Lewis.But anybody else you put only shows either that you are biased or a complete jackass.And this is from a person who can't stand Lewis.
The only person who i like less than Lewis is Tyson and i wanted Tyson to beat Lewis.

[XionComrade]

Basically the reason people underrated Lewis was because of his cool, calm, laid back style, they think that he is a bum fighting bums because he doesn't move around a whole lot and lands at will, it's just his style.

Nonetheless I have seen Lewis move like a lighting bolt, and be as aggressive as Frazier.(First round of the Tyson fight and the Briggs and a few other fights...)

[kapersky]

he also dont do anything more than neccesary. he got headbutts 6-7 times by holyfield but he didnt headbutt back. in round 12 holyfield headbutt him you could see how lewis like as to saying "please stop headbutts me, i have enough" thats why he is underrated.

[boxstarr]

lewis is a great, in my opinion, there were 3 great boxers in his era...holyfield tyson and lewis himself

people will say that tyson was past his prime, but you forget they were the same age and its just that they peaked at different ages. had they fought earlier no-one would have complained lewis hadnt yet reached his prime had tyson won. they would have said they were the same age so people should also judge this on the same terms

he also hasnt messed up his legacy as so many boxers do

tyson and holyfield both stayed way past when they should have retired and have jeapordised their greatness

people will also underrate him as he was a more genuine nice guy, not attempting to be sensational, thus being harder to remember