Could Ali handle lennox lewis size?

Contrary to popular belief, he actually did this in certain low risk situations. Against the taller Blue Lewis, he went downstairs perhaps more than in all his other outings combined, and hardly took a backwards step, going low and stalking forward almost entirely throughout. During the rematch with the taller Bugner, he again went downstairs with some regularity, jabbing his left to the body as a guard lowering ploy.

When the bell rang to begin round four in Kuala Lumpur, he tailed Bugner into a neutral corner. Joe covered up his head, giving Muhammad an opening to initiate the action with the best combination I've seen him deliver to the body, a loud and rapid left-right-left tattooing which Don Dunphy described as, "Solid thumps!" (Dunphy's broadcast position was directly underneath this particular corner, so he was able to determine that these were more than the slaps they sounded like.)

Another good combination to the body came late in the first round against Cleveland Williams, immediately after he performed his second shuffle, a five punch sequence starting with a left-right-left-right to the body, concluding with a final left aimed at the head. Had the Big Cat been able to last for any length of time, the champion's body attack might have been more sustained, but there was no reason to do any more of it after the first knockdown. He targeted his left at the body and head equally in that opening round, apparently his first bodywork of any note.

Though Ali was never going to wear down anyone with a body attack, there were instances when he did it to keep an opponent honest (as he did a few times late with Terrell-once with a combination late in round 12, and another in rounds 14 and 15), or for points scoring purposes (as he did in the Spinks rematch, jabbing to both the head and chest). A key punch for Muhammad in New Orleans was a surprise left hook to Leon's ribs which appeared to hurt him, and render him more cautious.

Joe Bugner, Blue Lewis and Ernie Terrell gave him no particular difficulty, but there were some things he did differently when faced with the unusual task of dealing with defensively minded taller opponents in retreat, which suggest how he might have approached Lennox. A left to the body was one of those tactics.

I was stunned to see him hook a couple to Mildenberger's body, and he also struck London below with a quick one-two twice in that brief encounter.

 

I believe Ali's marked advantage in foot speed and all-around mobility would make the difference in a match with a prime Lennox Lewis.

 

Yeah, he handled Terrell, Billy Daniels, and Bugner, he definitely could deal with Lewis.Ali, not much could faze him.

 

This is a bad matchup for Ali.

Lewis is big but also he was smart. Lennox wouldnt have to chase Ali. He could claim the center of the ring and make Ali come in and make the fight. Lewis had a long left hand and Ali with his hands low could be vunerable to that straight arrow righthand coming down on him.

Ali had one of the great chin/hearts in the buisness but he might need all of it here. Ali isnt KOing Lewis.

Interesting fight.

 

Couldnt have said it better:good

 

It would be BECAUSE of Lewis' size that Ali would be so much faster than Lennox. Ali's 1964-75 incarnation would win,utilising his greater speed.

The other elite heavies of the 70s,Frazier,Foreman and Holmes would also prevail,imo.

 

Ali would handle Lewis, too skilled, too fast & big enough not to be manhandled.

 

2 last d distance ? probably , 2 really win ? no

 

Yes. His safety first style would give him problems at first.

 

Its fair to say that Lewis never faced anyone like Ali because there is nobody like Ali.

The reverse is also true here.

Ali never faced anyone like Lennox Lewis.

 

Both men offer unique challenges to the other.

But I will say, mobility is just as, if not more troubling, than size.

Lennox doesn't have the best track record of handling smart, capable jabbers smaller than him. Add speed and footwork, and its a recipe for frustration.

Size is a pretty overrated commodity in fighting. It can tip the scales or cement an edge, but its hardly a universal trump card.

 

Recently i have began to favor Lewis over Ali. I used to think of it as 50/50, but the more i think, the more i watch, the more i understand, i just think Lewis is all wrong for Ali.

 

I personally think it would be a hell of an interesting fight. I think if the fight is fought on the outside and is a boxing match, Ali would probably win. But if Lewis is able to be the aggressor and can tag Ali on a semi regular basis it could be interesting. My hunch says Ali would win a very close fight.

 

Ali would have outboxed him with his jab, speed and movement ... let's keep in mind that in twenty four rounds Lennox had a murderous time landing flush on Evander Holyfield and ALi was bigger, stronger, faster and far harder to hit than Holyfield ... take Lewis off his juice and he has two inches in height and fifteen or so pounds in weight over Ali ... Ali would dice him up ...

 

i thought that to for a time based on size and skilled use of that size. however, watching more ali again recently and i don't see the size being that big a factor. ali would surround that jab with movement and lewis would look incredibly slow in comparison. he'd never corner ali and he would be reduced to throwing single shots due to ali's movement.