Ali, Frazier and Foreman: What do they do against Lennox Lewis?

When I talk of pace I mean the actual tempo. Joe cooking and smoking the way he did for the full three minutes of a round is forcing Lennox to react and respond at that pace too. Lewis needs the time and space to manouvre. He needs to set himself in order to time Joe. He needs to respond. For each step forward that Lewis isn't hitting Joe he has to step off or back up. Each time Lennox misses he has to avoid the reply coming at Fraziers tempo. If he grabs him Joe is already inside. The openings for Lewis are gone too fast. The quality of Lewis's work could be compromised by being hurried, lashing out without having time to set himself, smothering his work.

Lewis can absolutely knock Frazier out, I accept that. But in order to do so Lennox needs to set himself. I can't rule out Frazier tagging him before Lewis sets himself. Frazier was instinctive and spontaneous. Non stop. It could take time for Lewis to set himself.

Lewis is not George Foreman and Joe Frazier in his prime was 1968-1971 not 1973.

 

What I can't rule out is Frazier getting bashed about before he even gets into range to be effective.Why would Lewis back up from Frazier? Does Frazier hit harder than Morrison,Bruno, Tyson,Ruddock?
Lewis beats Frazier up and demolishes him ,and it would be onesided and quick.
No, Lewis isn't Foreman he's better.

 

Ali uses his size , reach and speed to outbox Lennox

Joe was just too small ...

Foreman had the physical skills to give Lennox a fight but was too weak mentally ( first career ) and would be KO'ed ..

 

Holyfeild closed the gap pretty easily. I just watched the first round of the second Holyfeild v Lewis fight. Evander is backing Lewis up with simular rushes. Just movement. If Holyfeild can Joe can. Lewis could still maim Frazier at some point but I think the heat Frazier puts on Lewis would cause problems and could even things up.

 

was holyfeild and McCall really much bigger?

 

Holyfield is 6'2.5" and very strong.

Have a look at Frazier v Joe Bugner, Frazier was dwarfed

Frazier brings nothing to this table but heart.

 

Frazier was 5'11" 205lbs prime with a 73" reach .

McCall is 6'2" 231lbs prime with an 82" reach

Holyfield 6'2.5" 215/217lbs with a 78" reach

You do the maths.

 

most people would dispute that holyfeild was that tall. Even McCall. Touch over six foot both of them. Joe a touch under. Is it that much?
Holyfeild was one and a half inches taller and ten pounds heavier. It's not much at heavyweight.
82 reach sounds a lot for mccall as well.


The point is holyfeild manoeuvred Lewis back with movement not size or strength. Footwork. That's all.

 

Lewis knocks out Ali (pre- or post-exile, the result would be the same, although the fights would go differently) and Frazier (too small, too hittable) and outboxes young Foreman (Lewis chooses to fight cautiously, a-la vs Tua).

 

ok, it's like this:

worst chance, Frazier with his tree stump legs, and single handed attack (consisting of a left hook)

Best chance: Ali who outboxes him Ernie Terrell style and Foreman (who knocks him out in short order). It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of which round; three? four? five?

 

and Lewis' chin was too weak physically and would be ko'd

 

Ok take 2inches from McCall 2.5inches from Holyfield, then take 2" from Frazier still the same disparity same as the reach.You cant move one gaol post you have to move both. McCall is 26lbs heavier than Frazier unless the weigh in for the Lewis fight was fixed.atsch

 

misread

 

The thing with Lennox was he always did what he had too.
He was a thinking mans fighter,not everyones cup of tea but thats how he was.He picked the technique to do the job.At his agressive best he denolished Grant Ruddock Golota etc...in a way most couldnt, yet as a sometimes slow starter and somewhat Lazy ish type of fighter he let guys like Bruno etc give him a harder time than he should have.Lennox was never "chinny"...thats a silly comment.He got droped by 2 huge shots in an entire career.In other fights he took the best that a long long list of competent heavies had and didnt go down.
He has IMO the best resume (and longest)...of fighting credible opponents of any HW champ.Now before anyone pounces on that...read my words again..im not sayin he fought the best when they were at THEIR best ...ie Tyson , which is what lets his resume down (not his fault though)...also his career has a gigantic 'hole' in the middle where the Bowe fight shouldve been....but Lennox fought the longest list of 'live' opponents of any HW champ.
I think he goes out there and blasts Frazier out.
He can beat Foreman any method he likes.
I dont think any fighter in history beats Prime Ali.
Lennox was a great HW...nobody he EVER met was a better fighter than him nobody 'bettered' him in the ring.
He isnt fully appreciated due to timing.
He slowly developed to the point that he was the finished article when his top rivals from that era were past their best.
He fought through the last top era of HW boxing and had both class and longevity.
He came in too heavy IMO at times which slowed him down
If he had've fought and beat Bowe when the fight should've been made 93-95...i think his legacy would have been even better.
In summary for me he takes out everyone bar Prime Ali.