It was the Golden Age of Boxing because you had some of the greatest fighters ever all near their prime and fighting each other. Foreman, Ali and Frazier all would have been the best of their era had they not shared an era. Lewis just didn’t face that competition.
By the 00s you have the problem of which belt, too many governing bodies, no more certainty. We are no longer in a situation for casual fans or non-fans to know who the heavy weight champion is. And again the talent pool just isn’t there.
remember Ernie Shavers? He really hit Ali hard. Honestly, I think that is the fight where Ali got some permanent damage.
Well Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Vitali Klitsco were not tomato cans. Each was a legitimate Heavyweight Champion in their own right in slightly different periods.
Mike Tyson is quoted as saying "I never could have beaten Lennox, not on any day".
Of course Lennox's idol was Ali, that's who he wanted to be like, so even in promoting Lennox as a great you do get back to Ali's legend.
Hasim Rahman, David Tua and Tommy Morrison, all of whom Lewis beat, were the equal of many of Ali's second tier of opponents.