Lewis didn't shy away from his self-belief. He told Fight Hype, "I'm the best ever in the heavyweights." But he made sure to give credit where it's due.
"I still got respect for Muhammad Ali because he came before me. Ali was the man that inspired me to join boxing."
Ali's career was filled with iconic moments. He grabbed the undisputed heavyweight title from George Foreman in 1974's "Rumble In The Jungle." This fight became a cultural touchstone, cementing Ali's place in boxing lore.
Through the mid-to-late 1970s, Ali defended his title successfully ten times. He beat some of the best in the business - George Foreman, Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, and Earnie Shavers all fell to "The Greatest."
But even legends face setbacks. Ali lost to Leon Spinks in February 1978. He bounced back seven months later, beating Spinks in a rematch. However, his last fights showed his decline. Larry Holmes beat him in 1980, and Trevor Berbick did the same in 1981. Ali's health had started to worsen rapidly by this point.
Lewis's career had its own highlights. He became world heavyweight champion three times and unified the division in 1999. He beat Evander Holyfield in their rematch to become the undisputed champ. Lewis retired in 2003, leaving a legacy that he feels puts him at the top of the heavyweight pile.
The debate over the greatest heavyweight will rage on. But Lewis has made his case clear - he believes he's the best to ever do it.