Holmes, who ruled the heavyweight division from 1978 to 1985, made these comments in a recent chat with Boxing News. The man known for his killer jab defended his title 20 times during his reign.
In the interview, Holmes didn't hold back about Lewis:
"Lennox Lewis never impressed me. The guy got a punch, he's big and strong and anything can happen. I wish him the best."
Holmes's career spanned from 1973 to 2002. He beat some of the best in the business, including Muhammad Ali, Leon Spinks, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, and Trevor Berbick. But he also tasted defeat, losing his title to Michael Spinks and failing in comeback attempts against Spinks, Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Oliver McCall.
Lewis wasn't Holmes's only target. He also called George Foreman a "fraud" who "couldn't fight".
The heavyweight scene changed a lot in the late 1980s and early 1990s. New stars like Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, and Lennox Lewis took over. Lewis made his mark by beating both Tyson and Holyfield. He became the undisputed heavyweight champ and held that title for over 20 years.
Holmes's comments about Lewis seem to downplay what the British-Canadian champ did in the ring. But in boxing, everyone's got an opinion, and Holmes sure isn't shy about sharing his.