Al Bernstein: "Lennox Lewis Is The Greatest Heavyweight Of All Time"

[edgarg]

Bowe trashed the belt and reneged on following through with the mini tournament he gave his word on. He than tried lowballing Lewis with a 90/10 offer. I was around then too.

I'm not concerned about what the offers to and fro were, I was just responding to the guy who said that Bowe didn't fight Lewis because he was afraid of him. I seem to recall that Lewis turned down a big payday, can't recall how much.

I just checked on the internet and you are right about the 90-10. Which is probably where you got the info. I just didn't remember and I have an excellent memory. Still, he was a challenger and it was over $3 mill. probably by far his biggest payday. I've read someone who said that Lewis demanded 50%.

[JAB5239]

Even you could do it. Historians have a habit of saying nice things about people, and I'd pay more attention to those who were around when Marciano was, rather than latecomers who are only reading what other latecomers have written.

Let me challenge you. Look up Marciano's opponents. Note their weights, ages, experience, Physical builds, (on one case, Carmine Vingo, supposed to be one of Marciano's best wins, the kid was 19-20, about 6'4" physically immature, Marciano a solid 27 adult, and a few fights against real set-ups) numbers of fights and how frequently.... Then....Look at the records of Marciano's opponents and note the same things about them. Look at the records of the old, worn out fighters who were almost, if not completely washed up, like Lee Savold, with nearly 150 fights and dragged out of retirement for this last one.....

Don't forget to take into consideration that Marciano's manager, trainer, promoter etc were all "connected" with the Mob, and Marciano himself was a "favourite son"....

Just as a side note, the plane in which Marciano crashed to his death was owned by the Mob Boss of the Des Moines Louis Fratto, and either the pilot or the other passenger was Fratto's son, a long-time close friend of Marciano. In other words, although supposedly "squeaky-clean" he was up to his eyeballs in mafiosos all his life)

What you'll find is that it was a clear a case of thimble-rigging as you could find. It's no accident that his best, later fights were against a few former greats, who had deteriorated enough down to Marciano's level, to make them "good" fights. Roland LaStarza aged 22 actually beat him, but with a little imaginative arithmetic between the judges and ref Marciano emerged the winner.

Look it up, do a bit of research, then think about it.......

I've done all the research and there was nothing to suggest the Mafia ever did anything for Marciano's boxing career. That's kind of way off base considering I commented on you claiming no one should rank him higher than 30-40. Fact is he beat all time greats, was undefeated and everyone he fought a champion was top 10 ranked. I don't judge based on unfounded assumptions but on what a fighter has actually done.

[taansend]

No it doesn't, relatively speaking Jack Johnson is a coward and only a borderline top 10 HW.

Why? Please tell why Johnson is a coward.

[beez721]

Pretty sure Foreman said he 'wouldn't want to be the ring with Lennox'.

foreman also said he was afraid of norton and frazier lol. lewis is an atg for sure but foreman would have been a bad matchup for him. too strong and durable for lewis

[StarshipTrooper]

Why? Please tell why Johnson is a coward.

My su****ion is it's because Johnson drew his own "color line" after winning the title. Which is a valid knock on Johnson though I wouldn't go so far as to label him a coward for it.

Poet

[hitman smax]

Bowe wasn't scared to fight Lewis, why don't you do some research into it before you open your moth and spout opinions. I was areound then, and it was well enough publicised. I think it was through a dispute between his manager and promoter, something like that, absolutely nothing to do with Bowe.

The man trashed his own belt as an alternative to fighting Lewis.

Perhaps it's time you woke up.

[hitman smax]

Marciano is probably the worst of all the Heavyweight champions including Marvin Hart.

Anyone who includes Marciano in anything but a top 30-40 heavyweight list just doesn't know boxing.

What a ridiculous thing to say. The truth is, pound for pound, Marciano is arguably the greatest heavyweight of all time. His determination, resolve, and conditioning are unmatched in any era.

Imagine the same guy with an actual heavyweight frame.

[A-Wolf]

lol Bernstein, of all his contemporaries, with his vast amount of exposure to this sport, always comes off as the least mastered.

He still, to this day, refers to lead punches as "counterpunches."

Often.

Everything is a "counterpunch" with this guy. I like Bernstein but he's a bit of an inadvertent idiot.

[KiloTeague]

A prime Cus demato trained Mike Tyson would eat Lennox Lewis up. A Prime Evander would outwork him.

[Reloaded]

The greatest of all time in any weight division does NOT get knocked out cold twice in their prime ,you just cant have the best ever and KOed in their prime in the same sentence , its an oxymoron .