It's really sickening how blind Klitschko fans can be. Do you really belive he would have a 83% korate in the 90's. He climbed up from the shadows when all the good ones where gone. Wladimir would have been knocked the **** out against lewis. Wladimir is good but he isn't THAT good. Remember how a out of shape 37(ish) old lewis who we well past hes prime and undertrained gave vitali a run for hes money. Do you really belive that the weaker brother with the suspect chin and weak meantallity would have lasted one of lewis uppercuts let alone right hands.
Agree with a lot of this - good post. Just highlighted a bit, though: I don't believe Lewis was truly the underdog against either Golota or Tyson. Golota was coming off a pair of losses vs Bowe and the version of Tyson he fought was the guy who had lost to Holyfield twice and fought only weak opposition after. I certainly expected Lewis to beat both those guys back in the day - in fact, I can't remember any fight where he was the underdog at all - very much like Wladimir today. I agree that he Lewis a somewhat better resume (but not a lot better) and should be ranked higher in the atg rankings, though. Also, his "ko" of Bowe in the amatuers wasn't at all what we think of as a KO in proffessional boxing. It was a very quick ref. stoppage and shouldn't be used to gauge how a fight against a prime Bowe would have gone (a true 50-50 fight imo - would have loved to see that).
simple question: if the era's were swapped (wlad in lewis's era, lewis in wlad's era) where would both be in terms of ranking?
:deal Its not a debate in my mind, Lewis's resume is head and shoulders above Wlad's, and only a ****** woulf think otherwise.
Fans can be blinkered, it's true - but the haters come across as equally so and that's what makes the forum spin day after day. Regarding Wladimir vs. Lennox, I personally would have loved to see it - it could very well have turned out to be a chess match, but there would also be a chance that either guy could get knocked out. I'd favour Lewis, but not by much. He'd maybe have to get out of his comfort zone to win and while he could certainly do that, he sure didn't like it. It didn't happen often enough in his career imo (just like Wlad btw.)
Lennox: 1- Better resume vs opponents overall - Definately agree 2- Better movement - Agree 3- Hits harder in both hands - not too sure, about even 4- Monsterous Uppercut - definately agree, not a punch you see with either Klitschko really. 5- Better balance - About even, Wlad's appears better at times due to his unwillingness to take chances etc 6- Better killer instinct - Definetely agree 7- More exciting to watch - Lennox could be boring but i always got the feeling it was his choice how he wanted to box, Wladimir fights the way he does out of necessity. 8- Better inside fighting game - Definetely agree 9- Better fighting mentality - Definetely agree 10- Overall smarter in the ring - I'd say Lewis had more ring smarts and could mix it up, but you cannot deny how formidable Wladimir has become by perfecting his style of fighting. 11- Similar hand speed - think Wlad is faster myself.
As for a potential matchup, i'd take Lewis TKO2. Anyone who thinks Wladimir would be able to clinch and smother Lewis. I could see Lewis quickly asserting his size and bullishness with Wlad, he would ask questions of Wladimir's heart and chin very quickly with aggresion and maybe even recklesness. Lewis would make Wladimir feel so very uncomfortable with unpredictable attacks, i can see Wladimir trying to hold onto Lewis trying to slow the pace and turn it into a boxing match not a brawl and then BOOOOOOOOOOOOM, he gets decked by a savage uppercut, out of shock and from what he has learnt from the past he would try to lean in again only to get hammered by the exact same punch, he would back off a little bit groggy and shocked. Left Hook, right Hook and Wladimir slumps onto the ropes and after a further barrage the fight gets called off after a mercy stoppage from the referee. Honestly how i see it.
You're right. Wlad's accomplishments exceed Lewis' by a few orders of magnitude. I'm glad you've finally realised this:good
Wlad would be a champion in any era, wheres Lewis would be competing for a WBA regular belt today at most. In fact, I would give Povetkin a slight edge over him as well.
You are out of your damn mind. A focused determined prime Lewis has a very great chance at defeating any HWT of any era.