Who'd win in a battle of the jabs: Lennox Lewis or Wladimir Klitschko?

[billeau2]

If one is to believe LL, he claims to train to fight each opponent individually. I actually believe him. lewis at times employs a jab and other times does not use it so much. If he fought Vladimer he would not get into a jab fest. I believe he would treat the immobile clinching Ukranian like he did Michael Grant. he would get inside and lay an uppercut on the china chinned Slav.

Lewis is a chess player. Seeing how Vlad responds to pressure, studying how Sanders did it would be his ploy.... Under these conditions Lewis would press and press and tire Vlad out eventually catching him.

Vitalie is a much better match up for lewis, Vlad would be Golatated.

As far as who has a better jab....Vlad when using it properly has a text book delivery. Lewis uses it more as a setup and its a decent jab but not a particularly noteworthy one, so I think Vlad has a better jab in the abstract. Wouldn't do him any good against Lewis though.

[Scott9945]

I think Lewis was the better fighter, but I would rate Klitschko's jab higher in that specific category.

[- Ram Raid -]

Wladimir's jab has a special significance because modifying it resurrected his career. The majority of what he does defensively comes off the way he uses his jab.

By leaving it out there once he's thrown it (and keeping his chin behind the shoulder) he effectively takes away his opponents ability to land a looping counter right and also makes it difficult for them to close the distance and get on the inside.

Although it's mainly used in an ultra defensive manner it's one of the very few things that he does inside of the ring that impresses me. I can't fault him for it because it's enabled him to stay in the sport.

Where I can find fault is that once he added that to his arsenal (and really steadied what was a fast sinking ship) I was looking for him to build from that foundation and add more layers to his game. Instead he's been content to settle for one dimensional risk aversion.

So his jab is of note, but it needs to be, because if we're comparing him to Lennox Lewis he brings very little else to the table. Defensive jab or not he wouldn't hear the final bell against The Last Great Heavyweight.

[billeau2]

Wladimir's jab has a special significance because modifying it resurrected his career. The majority of what he does defensively comes off the way he uses his jab.

By leaving it out there once he's thrown it (and keeping his chin behind the shoulder) he effectively takes away his opponents ability to land a looping counter right and also makes it difficult for them to close the distance and get on the inside.

Although it's mainly used in an ultra defensive manner it's one of the very few things that he does inside of the ring that impresses me. I can't fault him for it because it's enabled him to stay in the sport.

Where I can find fault is that once he added that to his arsenal (and really steadied what was a fast sinking ship) I was looking for him to build from that foundation and add more layers to his game. Instead he's been content to settle for one dimensional risk aversion.

So his jab is of note, but it needs to be, because if we're comparing him to Lennox Lewis he brings very little else to the table. Defensive jab or not he wouldn't hear the final bell against The Last Great Heavyweight.

You got that right!

[LacedUp]

Wladimir obviously but in fantasy land Lewis.

Put it this way it wouldn't be the guy who not only got outjabbed by Bruno but outjabbed by Ray Mercer

Wlad was just outjabbed by Kubrat Poolev. If he could, surely, Lennox could.

[dan_cov]

Wlad was just outjabbed by Kubrat Poolev. If he could, surely, Lennox could.

I don't think he was. Pulev had some success with the jab for sure but I don't think he did outjab him in any round except the fourth when Wlad abandoned his jab a bit looking to step across and land the left hook as he threw it.

I've never felt Lewis had a great jab personally, certainly not one of the best ever like many claim. Like Stiverne he brings it up before firing it & it had a good bit of elbow flare.

[LacedUp]

I don't think he was. Pulev had some success with the jab for sure but I don't think he did outjab him in any round except the fourth when Wlad abandoned his jab a bit looking to step across and land the left hook as he threw it.

I've never felt Lewis had a great jab personally, certainly not one of the best ever like many claim. Like Stiverne he brings it up before firing it & it had a good bit of elbow flare.

I think Wlad was as much outjabbed as Lewis was against Bruno.

[dan_cov]

I think Wlad was as much outjabbed as Lewis was against Bruno.

I'd have to watch that fight again, I haven't seen it in years but recall Bruno badly outjabbing him and giving him hell with that jab. No shame in it he had mega long arms and a very good jab in his own right and IMO it was straighter than Lewis's or maybe it appeared that way as Lewis had to bring his up.
Mercer definitely outjabbed him badly.

For the record I was not massively impressed by Wladimir last night though it was nice to see him go to the body for once.
I think he should of got him out in 1 or 2 rounds, Lewis would of if he had a guy in there right in front of him with his chin that high offering no movement just flailing his arms like a cat on a scratchpost

[LacedUp]

I'd have to watch that fight again, I haven't seen it in years but recall Bruno badly outjabbing him and giving him hell with that jab. No shame in it he had mega long arms and a very good jab in his own right and IMO it was straighter than Lewis's or maybe it appeared that way as Lewis had to bring his up.
Mercer definitely outjabbed him badly.

For the record I was not massively impressed by Wladimir last night though it was nice to see him go to the body for once.
I think he should of got him out in 1 or 2 rounds, Lewis would of if he had a guy in there right in front of him with his chin that high offering no movement just flailing his arms like a cat on a scratchpost

He had a good few problems with Bruno, who also had a strong straight and stinging jab. Yeah he was, but even so, this was a Lewis who in my opinion hadn't really learned the pro game yet. he was still amateurish and right hand happy. He didn't work as much off the jab then as he did later. His jab vs Tyson was outstanding.

I think he mixed it up quite well against a limited opponent. I think it was a concious choice not to KO him in the first, as he wants to have a show and give the fans some rounds. The left hook was a cracker though!

I know, and people are trying to tell me Pulev is massively skilled and has an outstanding jab.

[Weltschmerz]

It would be Vladimir - best jab in HW history.