Lennox Lewis Amongst the Great Heavyweight Part II: The Competition by Ronnie McCluskey Feb 24th 2005

Lennox Lewis, three time world heavyweight champion, and the most successful British fighter ever, is often left off boxing fans and experts all-time top ten lists. I myself have him just outside at eleven, although I feel an argument can be made for his inclusion at a higher position. I'm certainly not the foremost authority on this debate. I just feel there are other great heavyweights worthy of the top ten spot. The heavyweight division is perhaps the most illustrious and celebrated division in boxing history. It has always harboured the most colourful and interesting fighters, and is more explosive than the lower divisions, thanks to the sheer strength and power of the big men. Here is the low down on Lewis' competition for that sought-after all-time top ten spot, the great heavyweights of the past century. Muhammad Ali Easily gains entry to the top ten spot, in fact he is probably number one on the list. If not, number two, behind "The Brown Bomber" Joe Louis. Ali, like Lewis, was a three-time heavyweight champion, and defeated fellow greats such as Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier and George Foreman. One of the most important factors, deciding Ali's inclusion was that he reigned during the greatest heavyweight era in history - the 70's. And to think he wasn't even in his prime, and had suffered a three-year lay-off. Joe Louis An unparalleled 25 world heavyweight title defences, Joe Louis made competition look downright awful (and at times it was) in his "Bum of the Month" campaign. Joe's power and precision ushered an era of supremacy in heavyweight boxing which has never been seen again. Notable victories include wins over Jersey Joe Walcott, Billy Conn, Max Schmeling, Jack Sharkey and Max Baer. At the time of his retirement, Louis had compiled a record of 68 wins, with only 3 defeats (one of which was avenged, the other two were during his decline). Louis can be ranked no lower than number four on the all-time list, in my opinion. Larry Holmes 'The Easton Assassin' ruled for six long years, and in that time, defended his WBC title sixteen times, and his IBF crown twice. Holmes fought in a relatively weak era of heavyweight boxing, an era which had many out-of-shape, uncelebrated contenders, but he did catch the late 70's, and knocked over guys like Earnie Shavers and Ken Norton. He famously put an end to Muhammad Ali's career (well, almost), although the self-proclaimed "Greatest" was by this time a mere shell of his former self. Holmes, in my opinion, cannot conceivably be left out of the top ten list, as his reign was long, and his run so impressive. He went TWELVE years unbeaten. That's indisputable. Rocky Marciano It's difficult to argue with a perfect record, and the Rock's famous 49-fight win streak is still unmatched. He's the only heavyweight champ ever to retire unbeaten, and on those grounds alone, he gets a top ten spot. It helps too that he knocked out Ezzard Charles, Jersey Joe Walcott, Joe Louis, and Archie Moore. Marciano would not survive amidst today's physically enhanced fighters, but that does not mean he should be omitted. He was a mere 5' 11' and 190lbs, yet he dominated against bigger and stronger opposition. George Foreman A two-time heavyweight champion of the world, George Foreman is universally regarded as one of the most destructive punchers in boxing history. Famously knocked out 'Smokin' Joe Frazier in 1973, to claim the undisputed championship, and went on to toss aside durable Ken Norton, inside two rounds. Although his reign was only one year (1973-1974) he did lose to Muhammad Ali, in what was a thrilling 'Rumble In the Jungle'. Even that fight was close, Foreman pummelling Ali for most of the contest, before succumbing to the most daring and clever heavyweight bluff of all time. He was slightly compensated for this short stint, by coming back at the age of 45 to regain the title once again, knocking out Michael Moorer in 1994. Foreman, in my mind, is easily top ten. Jack Johnson A blast from the past, you might say. Jack Johnson dominated heavyweight boxing in the early 1910's and enjoyed a famous seven-year stint as champion. Remember, this was during a period where there was only one champion, and boxing was not degraded with numerous alphabet titles. Johnson's reign would have been a damn sight longer if not for boxing politics, and the racism of the time, which resulted in the powers that be denying him a shot until he finally could be ignored no longer. Johnson was the original boxing stylist, a defensive master, and a crude puncher. His best victories include wins over Jim Jeffries, Stanley Ketchel, Tommy Burns and Bob Fitzsimmons. Remember, three of these men were also heavyweight kings, at one point. Evander Holyfield "The Real Deal" stands alone as the ONLY man to have captured the heavyweight championship FOUR times. He fought in an incredibly tough era, and yet still managed to become undisputed champion, despite the fact that he started out at cruiserweight and often had to fight men physically superior to himself. That in itself is a feat worth praise and applause. Once you consider also that he beat Mike Tyson, Riddick Bowe, Michael Moorer, Larry Holmes and George Foreman, it's hard not to include the American amongst the other famed greats. Jack Dempsey Jack "The Manassa Mauler" Dempsey is one of boxing's enigmas. The man who inspired Mike Tyson to heavyweight dominance almost sixty years after his own reign ended, a furious and vicious puncher. Dempsey, like the aforementioned Jack Johnson, ruled in an era which stated only one man be considered champ. His stint was also seven years and his competition no less impressive. Among his unfortunate victims were Jess Willard, the world light-heavyweight champion Georges Carpentier, Jack Sharkey and Tommy Gibbons. Dempsey was primarily a knock-out artist, but he also fought with tremendous determination and heart, coupled with ring craft. Mike Tyson The most recognisable boxer of all time, save for maybe Muhammad Ali. Tyson's notorious and unsavoury behaviour in the ring is matched with his character outside it, but let's not discuss that. Bullshit aside, Tyson was a heavyweight whirlwind. He effectively mopped-up the heavyweight division in the late eighties, becoming the youngest heavyweight champ in history, and unifying the three belts with awesome, previously unseen power. Tyson was a young kid of Brooklyn who took names, and backed up his talk inside the ring. He ushered an era of heavyweight supremacy in 1988 by sparking unbeaten IBF king Michael Spinks in a round, and also beat guys like Larry Holmes and Donovon 'Razor' Ruddock. Tyson does not automatically gain entry into the top ten list of course; his reign was relatively short (four years) and he suffered KO losses to the best fighters he fought (Holy and Lewis). Mind you, these were at a time when Tyson had lost most of his interest in boxing. Gene Tunney Went 72-2-1 (according to most – it's difficult to know the exact record of a guy who fought during the 1920's), and famously beat Jack Dempsey, on two occasions. Tunney never truly compiled a tremendous resume, in fact aside from middleweight Harry Greb and light-heavy Georges Carpentier, Jack Dempsey is the only name on his record that seems recognisable. The fact that he ended Dempsey's mean streak though is incredible, and the way he did it was similar. Tunney was one of the first thinking fighters, a sophisticated craftsman who had brain as well as brawn. In this way, he developed Jack Johnson's style. There you have it. The shortlist. That is what Lennox Lewis aspires to, these are the men he has to compete with for a place in the all-time top ten heavyweight list. Do YOU think he should be there? Or are the ten guys I mentioned just a notch above? Well, it's very difficult to say. Lets look at the pros and cons for Lennox's inclusion. Pros 1) Lewis' reign was long. No bones about it. In 1992 he picked up the WBC heavyweight title, and ten years later he still had it. Give or take some stop gaps in which he lost it, then brutally regained it. He unified all the titles, fought and beat EVERY MAN HE EVER FACED. Its hard not to include him once considering these stats. 2) He was ducked, by guys who never ducked anyone. Riddick Bowe body-swerved him in ‘92, at a time when he was whipping guys like a prime Holyfield. Tyson paid Lewis not to fight him. And Holyfield could have fought Lewis around 1997, if he'd really been interested. The fact that these three great champions avoided Lewis bears testament to the Londoners skill and ability in the ring. 3) He fought in a tough era. The 90's were a watered-down version of the golden 70's. We had Bowe, Tyson, Ruddock, Holyfield, and although Lewis never fought these guys in their prime, that's mainly because of boxing politics. He did trash Ruddock inside two rounds, and when he got his hands on Mike and Evander, they paid. Cons 1) Lewis lost twice to journeyman-level opponents. Hasim Rahman and Oliver McCall were never world-beaters, and if they hadn't beat Lewis, they would have remained relative unknowns, to the general public at least. Considering Lewis got chin-checked by both, at a time when he was world champion and really shouldn't have lost, it is a major negative against his name. Can you imagine Muhammad Ali, George Foreman or Joe Louis losing to two underdog one-punch wonders, during their time as champ? No chance. 2) His best wins were against spent forces. Evander Holyfield in ‘99 and Mike Tyson in 2002. Holyfield was what, 36 when he fought Lewis? A veteran of countless wars, he hadn't looked great since the first Tyson fight in late ‘96. Tyson was over a decade removed from his colourful prime, and after one round basically stopped believing he could win. I'm sure we can sit here all day and tick off pros and cons. I'll tell you what I think, no nonsense. Lewis is fringe top ten. Yeah, he was undisputed champ, but he doesn't match up to guys like Ali and Louis, in the upper echelons of the top ten. Louis was a comparative midget, and Lennox would've beaten him, but that doesn't mean Lewis should be any higher. Joe fought in a different era, whereas modern heavyweights have enhanced training methods, nutritionists and the like. We must rate each individual fighter, based on the time they fought. Louis' era was in many ways tougher than Lewis'. The fact that Lennox got beaten by two journeymen hurts his standing badly. He did avenge these losses by brutal KO, and he did take them lightly when he lost, but nevertheless...You're allowed one slip-up, not two. That Rahman fight just eliminates him from top ten recognition, but I still feel, based on ability, he gains the spot. Make your own minds up. That's it folks. Lewis, a truly remarkable heavyweight champion, a guy who never felt the need to fully let go on his opponents, and who always seemed to know something the other guy didn't. An undoubted Top 15 all-time heavyweight, and a fighter us Brits should be proud of.

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