Lennox Lewis vs. ...

[Mersey]

How do you think a fight would go between these guys...

Lewis vs. Foreman

Lewis vs. Frazier

Lewis vs. Ali

Lewis vs. Holmes

Lewis vs. Prime Tyson

Lewis vs. Joe Louis

[Sugarj]

Quick answers, some may be unpopular:


Lewis vs. Foreman: I'd fancy Foreman's chances to find a KO at some point.

Lewis vs. Frazier: I think Lewis would score a KO/TKO within the first half of the fight. Frazier would have a left hooks chance though!

Lewis vs. Ali: Ali by a very tough, fairly close decision.

Lewis vs. Holmes: Holmes also by a tough, close decision.

Lewis vs. Prime Tyson: Tyson by KO, probably within 5 rounds. A peak Tyson will almost certainly find Lewis's chin.

Lewis vs. Joe Louis: Sorry guys, I think Lennox scores a late stoppage, he has so much more than the Schmelling of 1936. But really.......if Louis found Lennox's chin first he'd have a great chance too.

[sonnyboyx2]

Quick answers, some may be unpopular:


Lewis vs. Foreman: I'd fancy Foreman's chances to find a KO at some point.

Lewis vs. Frazier: I think Louis would score a KO/TKO within the first half of the fight. Frazier would have a left hooks chance though!

Lewis vs. Ali: Ali by a very tough, fairly close decision.

Lewis vs. Holmes: Holmes also by a tough, close decision.

Lewis vs. Prime Tyson: Tyson by KO, probably within 5 rounds. A peak Tyson will almost certainly find Lewis's chin.

Lewis vs. Joe Louis: Sorry guys, I think Lennox scores a late stoppage, he has so much more than the Schmelling of 1936. But really.......if Louis found Lennox's chin first he'd have a great chance too.

Lewis v Foreman -- Foreman KO2
Lewis v Frazier --- Frazier KO4
Lewis v Ali ----- Ali KO7
Lewis v Louis --- Louis KO5
Lewis v Holmes -- Holmes KO9

Lennox Lewis does not have what it takes to beat these great fighters, if McCall & Rahman can put Lewis lights out then these ATGs would have no trouble doing it, Foreman would be far to much of a beast for Lewis and i see it going similar to Foreman v Norton, Lewis ran backwards to get a decision over David Tua yet Tua did not know how to cut off the ring and Bob-and-Weave his way in But Joe Frazier was the greatest ever at it and i see Frazier Bombing Out Lewis, Muhammad Ali beats Lewis at every aspect of this sport and would play with Lewis before knocking him out, Joe Louis was an unbelievable fighting machine and would have no trouble measuring up Lewis then poleaxing him, Larry Holmes although not in the same league as the other 4 ATGs would still have far to much for Lennox Lewis and after softening up Lewis in the first half of the fight Holmes would move in for the kill and knock out Lewis.

[Sugarj]

Hi Sonnybox, wow....individual round predictions of knockouts!

You missed Tyson, there was 'six' all time greats, but I know you agree with me on this prediction!!!!

I did actually pick most of the guys to beat Lewis and I did give Frazier and Louis good chances too. I'm suprised that after seeing Lewis fight live you dont rate him a bit higher. Did you lose money or a bit of reputation on the McCall fight?

To be fair though Lewis's chin did tend to hold up to most punches, McCall and Rahman certainly have harder right hands than Ali and Holmes, which is why I think these two get decision wins for me.

[sonnyboyx2]

Hi Sonnybox, wow....individual round predictions of knockouts!

You missed Tyson, there was 'six' all time greats, but I know you agree with me on this prediction!!!!

I did actually pick most of the guys to beat Lewis and I did give Frazier and Louis good chances too. I'm suprised that after seeing Lewis fight live you dont rate him a bit higher. Did you lose money or a bit of reputation on the McCall fight?

To be fair though Lewis's chin did tend to hold up to most punches, McCall and Rahman certainly have harder right hands than Ali and Holmes, which is why I think these two get decision wins for me.

in the early 90s i thought Lennox was the next great heavyweight champion in waiting, but i cannot forget what i seen the night McCall KOd him, it was not a lucky punch, it was not a fast count, it was not called off to quickly, McCall had his number, when the fighters made their ring entrance McCall came into the arena with Eddie Mustapha muhammad, Greg Page and Manny Stewart, Page was shouting and psyching up McCall as was Eddie Mustapha, McCall`s body looked like he was carved out of ebony, he looked rock hard, Lewis also looked confident, before the introductions Don King was introduced and he held up a large-sized cheque which he had placed with William Hill bookmakers in London, it was a £200,000 win at odds of 5/2 McCall.. 14000 Lewis fans in attendance and McCall silenced us all with one devastating right-hand, Lewis hit the deck hard and it was complete silence in the arena, the referee waved the fight over when Lewis almost fell into him with no legs under himself, McCall jumped up in the air with his legs out in front of himself and touch his toes, he walked around the ring shouting to us fans,"i told you, i told you all i would KO him"... we all sat there stunned, after around 10 minutes Lewis and his handlers started to leave the ring, Lewis had to be helped down the steps, as they went past me (6ft away) i could see that Lewis eyes was still glassy,"he was still out" and on unsteady legs... i knew there and then that Lennox Lewis was not The real deal.. i had watched him beat Ruddock at Earls Court on a fantastic night for British Boxing, yet on reflection i think Ruddock was "Damaged Goods", i watched Lewis struggle to beat Bruno in Cardiff, it was terribly one-sided IMO in favour of Bruno.. i just cannot give Lewis any hope of beating ATGs like Louis, Frazier, Ali, Foreman, Tyson etc

[StarshipTrooper]

in the early 90s i thought Lennox was the next great heavyweight champion in waiting, but i cannot forget what i seen the night McCall KOd him, it was not a lucky punch, i was not a fast count, it was not called off to quickly, McCall had his number, when the fighters made their ring entrance McCall came into the arena with Eddie Mustapha muhammad, Greg Page and Manny Stewart, Page was shouting and psyching up McCall as was Eddie Mustapha, McCall`s body looked like he was carved out of ebony, he looked rock hard, Lewis also looked confident, before the introductions Don King was introduced and he held up a large-sized cheque which he had placed with William Hill bookmakers in London, it was a £200,000 win at odds of 5/2 McCall.. 14000 Lewis fans in attendance and McCall silenced us all with one devastating right-hand, Lewis hit the deck hard and it was complete silence in the arena, the referee waved the fight over when Lewis almost fell into him with no legs under himself, McCall jumped up in the air with his legs out in front of himself and touch his toes, he walked around the ring shouting to us fans,"i told you, i told you all i would KO him"... we all sat there stunned, after around 10 minutes Lewis and his handlers started to leave the ring, Lewis had to be helped down the steps, as they went past me (6ft away) i could see that Lewis eyes was still glassy,"he was still out" and on unsteady legs... i knew there and then that Lennox Lewis was not The real deal.. i had watched him beat Ruddock at Earls Court on a fantastic night for British Boxing, yet on reflection i think Ruddock was "Damaged Goods", i watched Lewis struggle to beat Bruno in Cardiff, it was terribly one-sided IMO in favour of Bruno.. i just cannot give Lewis any hope of beating ATGs like Louis, Frazier, Ali, Foreman, Tyson etc

Wow! I see a feud with Inferno on the horizon

Poet

[Sugarj]

Hi Sonnybox, the fights you have attended make you very priviliged! Fantastic.

Are you sure you're not being a bit harsh on Lennox for not having a great ability to hold a punch? I know both knockouts were one punch affairs but it only happened twice in 15 years or so of a pro career. Once early, once late in his career.

Joe Louis was knocked out early and late in his career too. Joe Frazier's chin wasn't cast iron either. I'd wager that the right hands from McCall and Rahman would possibly knock these guys out too were they to have landed.

As for poor Frank Bruno, with the exception of the Tyson fights, he outboxed every guy he fought. Even when he lost to Bonecrusher, Witherspoon and Lewis he was ahead on the cards at the time of stoppage. Could it be that you are underselling Bruno's vastly underated boxing ability? With a better chin, stamina and defense Frank Bruno could have done so much better. He could have been one of the more outstanding heavyweights of the 90s.

[Mersey]

I honestly think a fully fit and focused Lewis could beat most of them on the list. If not all of them.

[Sugarj]

I suppose when you see Lewis at his best destroying the likes of Ruddock and Golota its easy to think that he'd beat anyone in history. If I was a real nuthugger I'd have a go at arguing how he could beat all the guys from your list, I just wouldn't hand on heart believe what I'd be writing though.

The problem is, Lewis got knocked out by single punches. No matter how fit and focused he is, Foreman and Tyson have the skills and the power to find that chin. They in turn have the chins to absorb what Lennox could throw at them early, so even if Lennox were do do a boxing masterclass early it would be crazy to think he would avoid their bombs all night. It would only take one from either, no one would dream of arguing that Rahman or McCall could punch as hard as Foreman or Tyson.

No two ways about it Lewis was a superb technical boxer when he wanted to be, every punch in the book, speed, power, combinations, good defense. But sadly bettered for ability by peak Ali and peak Holmes, who quite simply had faster hands and feet and were harder to catch clean. I do think they'd both struggle though with Lennox's power, reach and sheer weight and strength in the clinches. I doubt either Holmes or Ali would win convincingly.

[Kid McCoy]

in the early 90s i thought Lennox was the next great heavyweight champion in waiting, but i cannot forget what i seen the night McCall KOd him, it was not a lucky punch, it was not a fast count, it was not called off to quickly, McCall had his number, when the fighters made their ring entrance McCall came into the arena with Eddie Mustapha muhammad, Greg Page and Manny Stewart, Page was shouting and psyching up McCall as was Eddie Mustapha, McCall`s body looked like he was carved out of ebony, he looked rock hard, Lewis also looked confident, before the introductions Don King was introduced and he held up a large-sized cheque which he had placed with William Hill bookmakers in London, it was a £200,000 win at odds of 5/2 McCall.. 14000 Lewis fans in attendance and McCall silenced us all with one devastating right-hand, Lewis hit the deck hard and it was complete silence in the arena, the referee waved the fight over when Lewis almost fell into him with no legs under himself, McCall jumped up in the air with his legs out in front of himself and touch his toes, he walked around the ring shouting to us fans,"i told you, i told you all i would KO him"... we all sat there stunned, after around 10 minutes Lewis and his handlers started to leave the ring, Lewis had to be helped down the steps, as they went past me (6ft away) i could see that Lewis eyes was still glassy,"he was still out" and on unsteady legs... i knew there and then that Lennox Lewis was not The real deal.. i had watched him beat Ruddock at Earls Court on a fantastic night for British Boxing, yet on reflection i think Ruddock was "Damaged Goods", i watched Lewis struggle to beat Bruno in Cardiff, it was terribly one-sided IMO in favour of Bruno.. i just cannot give Lewis any hope of beating ATGs like Louis, Frazier, Ali, Foreman, Tyson etc

I wonder if the never-heard-from-before-or-since Mexican referee who stopped Lewis on his feet despite beating the count got a slice of that?

Considering most of those guys listed never beat someone with Lewis' combination of size, power and skills, I dunno how you can't even give him a smidgen of a chance against any of them. Well actually I can. For me, Lewis on his best night has a great chance of beating any great heavyweight in history.

vs Ali - Ali SD
vs Frazier - Lewis TKO
vs Foreman - Foreman KO
vs Tyson - Tyson KO
vs Holmes - Lewis UD