But Floyd Mayweather Jr is a five-division world champion who has racked up eight world titles, he's currently the undisputed welterweight world champion and the undisputed super-welterweight world champion, ranked P4P the best in the world by every organisation that matters and was the highest paid athlete of 2012 and 2013.
But there's question marks over Floyd's calibre of opponents and his willingness to fight the best. There was no question marks over whether Lewis was taking on the best. For me Floyd was beaten clearly by JLC the first time around so his unbeaten record means nothing to me. But for me, although Bowe & Tyson both ducked Lewis, I can't say with certainty that either of them in their prime had they taken the fight, would have lost it. There is no one I can think of prime or not, that would have beaten Floyd Mayweather Jr, there are no questions in my mind asking 'what would have happened if Mayweather fought a prime Manny Pacquiao?' for example, as I'm pretty happy he would have seen him off too.
When you are the highest paid athlete in the world for 2 consecutive years and are P4P #1 on everyone's list, when you have captured world titles in five weight classes and 17 years later you still look unbeatable, then it's hard to deny he edges it over the big man.
It's about even. Lewis had more respect. He was always being ducked, not the one ducking. He schooled Holyfield twice as well, he got robbed the first fight. Schooled Tua, basically 12 rounds to 0. KO'd Razor, Morriso, and Bruno. Murdered Golota, and was the nail in the coffin to Tyson's career. Also as a old man, and out of shape put a TKO beating on Vitali. Lewis avenged all his losses, and retired on top. Floyd is undefeated, but his only downfall was ducked major fights, and his great wins were like Lewis's over Tyson. His greats were past prime.
Floyd mayweather. He beat 20 champions and Lewis beat 5.
Hard to compare them because Lewis fought just in the heavyweight division where he even held edge against most opponents in size and power while Floyd has seen action in six divisions from junior lightweight to junior middleweight.
But I think accomplishment and record-wise, Floyd has better resume than Lennox.
I don't get it: Just because Floyd has not yet fought Manny Pacquiao, the quality of his past opponents ,his legacy are already questionable and inferior? Would not that be also applicable to Manny? I think it's totally unfair that just because of one boxer, a fighter who himself has some losses in his record, including by KO, we will deny what is due another fighter who has been undefeated over six divisions. It's also unfair to brand him a ducker for not fighting some foes who boxing fans generally do not give a hoot to or hold in high regards then and now ( Hamed --it was the prince who avoided Floyd according to Arum himself, Casamayor, Margarito, Frietas, even for Pete's sake, Paul Spadafora!--who cares about those guys then?
even though he is a serious cherry picker floyd has the edge in talent .Although floyds opponents have always been of a high calibur most have lacked the key elements to give him any real trouble were as Lewis fought all comers (the full spectrum of what was available to him).
I would say Lewis proved slightly more but floyd is still slightly better.the fact that he claim so many belts in 5 divisions still says a whole lot regardless of opposition
Vitali is not an all time great.
He fought 1 great and lost.
Even though Lewis was an old man.
And he never ruled his division.
Neither Klitchko can be ATG unless they beat the other for me. You can't be at 1 weight your whole career and not beat the only other good fighter on offer all that time and claim to be ATG.
I honestly would have had to fight him if I was Wladimir. I would need the glory. Afterwards its back to being brothers, but they should've fought.
Back to the question, extremely tough call. Lewis beat all the main rivals in his generation and also the best of the generation to follow (I think Vitali would have beat Wladimir). But he was beatable.
Mayweather has always seemed untouchable, but still has the biggest question of his generation unanswered in the shape of Pacquiao. That said, I dont actually think Pacquiao would trouble Mayweather that much. I'm pretty sure we'd end up with a disappointing unanimous decision as always with Mayweather fights.
Floyd, just.
Lennox Lewis. He dominated the heavyweight division from the late 90's to the mid 2000's, defeating the best from that era.
Lennox Lewis at least he didn't put an excuse for not wanting to fight pacquiao.
Too close to call for me. Lennox has a win over a prime ATG in Vitali Klitschko, beat every guy he faced but has two losses. Floyd has no losses on paper but has never been beat. Equal greatness level I think.
