Every year this poll must be done. Prime Lewis vs Wladimir.

[beez721]

This is a good fight but Lewis wins, probably via stoppage. Wlad has a great stick and Lewis struggled with good jabbers (Mercer, Holyfield II and even Rahman) so I could see that being a problem for him. However, Wlad has similar issues (a washed-up Mercer turned his eye black by landing a few solid ones) and Lewis has the better jab of the two. And is better adept at coming forward behind that jab, threw mean combinations and had devastating power in both fists. Wlad fights cautious against light hitters. He'd be on his heels a lot against a fighter actually longer than him, more powerful, as quick if not quicker and able to take a better punch. This would be a decent scrap but given their styles, I don't see Wlad lasting the distance.

not sure how you figure lewis had the better jab,,,hit harder or was faster. wlad is clearly a bit quicker and has the heavier hands but Lewis's power is no joke either of course

[IMDAZED]

not sure how you figure lewis had the better jab,,,hit harder or was faster. wlad is clearly a bit quicker and has the heavier hands but Lewis's power is no joke either of course

Eyeball test. Klitschko has crunching power but Lewis was simply a better offensive fighter. He could jab just as well coming forward as he did on his backfoot, something Wladimir isn't as good as doing. Plus, Lewis has the longer reach.

Lewis also has a greater variety of punches in his arsenal and frequently threw them to the head and body. He was explosive. Could fight on the inside. Would go to war if he had to. And for a man of his size, was surprisingly light on his feet, able to glide around the ring and jab. Look, it's no knock on Wlad. Lewis is simply a cut or two above.

[////]

Wlad has more 1 punch KO power but Lewis could sustain offensive barrages for much longer.

[BattlingNelson]

i respect your opinion but in 20 years from now when people will see lennox beat tyson & klitschko to close out his career. 2 of the most recognizable HWs of an era...if it ended in 2014 for they would say who are leapai & pulev?

I have no doubt that some will look at the record and take it by face value. It's kinda like Floydstans saying that Mayweather is TBE. Lummox also has some very ignorant fanboys.

[mann187]

Lennox better than wlad due to his ring iq and the ability to fight on the inside aswell as out. Wlad could trouble him but lewis had better footwork aswell so id favour lewis.

[Weltschmerz]

50/50 fight...

[Elroy1]

You don't know that for sure. Was Vitali winning prior, yes. Did he look the fresher? yes, sure but we don't know who would of won if it had continued. Its speculation.

Then why didn't he? Because Byrd would of continued hitting his shoulder! He quit! He surrendered.

It doesn't matter who was winning at the time, we see come from behind wins all the time. That is the beauty of boxing, its not over until your hands raised. Its not how well you start, its how you finish.
I don't understand the whole freak accident thing - Lewis cut so many fighters. These guys throw leather at each other with bad intentions, everything thrown is to do damage. It wasn't even one shot it was from an accumulation. It wasn't like it was just a single cut, he was busted up, cut in several places in fact. His mouth, his cheek, all around his eye.

You can say you think he'd of won a rematch with either/both, I'd agree but to say they wasn't clear wins or something, that is silly talk.
He gave a great account of himself, he was winning at the time but they overcame adversity and found a way too win, Vitali never. He lost just like every other fighter to quit through injury or get stopped under Doctors orders due to substantial facial damage.

I didn't claim those decisions ought to be overturned..

I merely pointed out that those were pretty weak losses.

Certainly much weaker than, say, being both outboxed and sparked cleanly by Rahman.

The HBO team and all the fans in the arena were besides themselves, one of the most outrageous things ever seen in pro boxing. Vitali quit an UNLOSABLE fight!

And the crowd booed Lenox and cheered for Vitali, Lennox was hammered by Merchant in the corner, Lennox ran for cover after that. These don't seem like things surrounding a clear victory, it was commanding a rematch.

Lewis might have won the bout, but the fight, the event, was won by Vitali.

[JasonBoxing]

yea,,,,its pretty amazing how many overrate lewis. he was great but far from unbeatable and he never faced a heavyweight his size as good a two fisted puncher as wlad. there's vitali but he hadn't near the snap and quickness of wlads punches. it would be a dangerous fight for both and anyone saying otherwise doesn't know boxing

I don't think Lewis was overrated, I think Wlad is underrated. It will be a close fight, but saying Lewis never faced anyone as good as Wlad? Vice versa too.

One thing we do know is that Lennox never fought anyone as good as Wlad but the versions of Holyfield/Vitali he did fight was closer to Wlad in skills than any version of any fighter Wlad fought that's close to Lennox in skills.

[JasonBoxing]

I have no doubt that some will look at the record and take it by face value. It's kinda like Floydstans saying that Mayweather is TBE. Lummox also has some very ignorant fanboys.

Not to the extent of Klittards,*******s, or *****s though. Not even close. But I agree with that. Lewis had flaws, but he was a great fighter. As was Wlad.

Saying Wlad knocked Lewis out of the top 10 ATG HW standings though is absurd and ******. Wlad might surpass Lewis in resume someday soon, but that still won't knock Lewis out of the top 10. Even if Wlad pass Lewis, there isn't 9 other Heavys with better resumes/h2h skills. There just isn't. You can say it is but the vast majority of the boxing World disagrees.

When it comes to Lewis the likes of Elroy and these other posters in this thread actually is more intelligent than you. Your hatred blinds you and that's sad. Especially sad because I think you have been posting for a decade or something.

[Robbie Barrett]

Lewis had so much more to his skillset than Wlad.