If Lewis went pro in 1985.

If Lennox Lewis lost to Tyrell Biggs in 1984, didn't medal and decided to turn pro, I think he'd have turned pro in Canada in 1985.

Razor Ruddock had been his amateur rival. I think they'd have climbed the ranks together in 1986, '87 and '88. By 1989, Razor Ruddock was a top 10 contender. Lewis would've been too, but probably lower ranked than Ruddock.

Tyson signed to defend against Ruddock in November 1989, then he backed out at the last minute because he got the flu. Before the fight could be rescheduled, he went to Japan and lost to Buster Douglas in February 1990.

Had all that played out, I think Ruddock and Lewis would've been a natural matchup in Canada in 1990. Had they fought. Lewis stops Ruddock.

That would make Lewis and Mike Tyson the top contenders for Holyfield's title. In 1991, Lewis and Tyson meet to decide who fights Evander. Lewis knocks out Tyson to become the top contender.

In 1992, Holyfield (after wins over Foreman and Holmes) decides to defend against Lennox Lewis. Lewis edges Holyfield in a cautious affair.

In 1993, the top contender is the 1988 GOLD Medal champion Rid**** Bowe, who has just won a 12-round decision over Tyson (who has begun to spiral out of control).

Lewis makes the first defense of his undisputed title against Bowe in Madison Square Garden. Lewis surprises everyone by stopping Bowe in three rounds.

In the fall of 1993, Lewis outpoints Holyfield again in their rematch.

Lewis becomes Canada's greatest sports hero. He decides to defend his title solely in Canada.

In addition to Bowe and Holyfield, Lewis goes on to defend against Tony Tucker, Tommy Morrison, Ray Mercer, Bruce Seldon, Michael Moorer, Andrew Golota, David Tua, Frank Bruno Larry Holmes, Ruddock again ... and, in his final two defenses .... Lewis destroys the undefeated Michael Grant and the 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist Wlad Klitschko ... both by brutal second-round knockouts ... and he retires as undisputed, undefeated heavyweight champion in 2000.

In 2004, The Ring Magazine ranks Lennox Lewis the number-one heavyweight in boxing history.

 

Ruddock has a win over Lewis in the amateurs..i don't see lewis being overly better than Tucker or 38 year old Holmes then,if at all.He was one of those fighters who became better as he aged,the total opposite of Tyson.

 

Tyson would Tyson him

 

And prescient enough not to face McCall or Rahman!

 

He stopped Ruddock in two rounds in 1992. If they fought in 1990, I don't think Ruddock does a whole lot better. Ruddock had to get off the floor to beat Bonecrusher Smith in 1989.

 

There wouldn't have been any reason to fight Rahman. He was an optional defense in 2001. Lewis would've been retired.

And McCall was an optional as well. If Lewis had the WBC, WBA and IBF belts, he'd basically be facing mandatories and a one-off here or there. McCall wouldn't have brought more money than fighting Ruddock again or a Holmes, let's say.

 

You don't understand that Ruddock was done after the Tyson fights.

He took so much damage that his chin and durability were gone.

 

In 1991 and thereafter, Tyson didn't "Tyson" many people. Ruddock went 12 with him that year.

Lewis was a helluva lot better than Razor Ruddock and he won every round against Tyson when they fought each other when they did.

If Lewis and Tyson had turned pro in 1985, they wouldn't have met before Tyson lost to Douglas. And Tyson never would've beaten him after the Douglas fight.

I don't see Tyson winning many rounds with Lennox ever.

 

No he wasn't. He destroyed Greg Page and Phil Jackson after the Tyson fights. He was the top contender after the Tyson fights. And Lewis wiped him out. And basically no one ever did that to Ruddock before the Lewis fight or AFTER the Lewis fight.

 

If Lewis had turned pro in 1985, he'd have had an EASIER time of it. And he would've retired sooner.

He wouldn't have had a "more" difficult time.

 

I think lewis was the better fighter but even Lewis had stated Ruddock was more talented at that time.You also cant go by after 2 brutal Tyson fights,along with switching trainers and so forth these were all mishaps when he went into the ring with lewis in 92.i wouldn't quite rule out ruddocks chin,he took some heavy blows from Morrison and Tyson,not sure what state mentally he was in for Smith,who is not remotely on Tyson or lewis level.I cant see Lewis still standing if Tyson hits him with the same punches he hit Ruddock with.

 

And I can't see Tyson standing after Lewis pounds the hell out him, either.

Lewis was stopped twice, both times by one shot. OTHERWISE, he took every punch everyone ever threw at him just fine.

Tyson, on the other hand, tended to fold up when guys fired back.

Lewis would've fired back. He'd have certainly thrown a lot more punches at Tyson in 1991 than Ruddock did. Razor had his left hook against Tyson, and that's about it.

 

Ruddock hit harder than Lewis.A 250 Lewis?Maybe not.


Tyson never tented up at the time we are talking about.Razors hook was a crushing blow equal to that of Lewis overhand right.Throwing more punches doesn't necessarily give you an advantage over Tyson,it always opended one up to more counters.The only way to defeat a 80's Tyson would be to fight exactly like Ruddock did with limited picked shots and hope one will land and continue smorthering him physically,but he wasn't stronger than Tyson tyo do that and he was 240 pounds.Tysons chin was tested,lewis didn't get hit by a Tyson like puncher,Ruddock didn't land any punch if I remember correctly against lewis.


"I never fought Tyson in his prime,by the time I turned pro he was already past his.When I first saw this guy on t.v,i was like wow that guy hits hard ,he was like a whirlwind knocking everyone out" L.lewis

 

And both options he may have taken. McCall was in the 90s mix and a King fighter as well. It's no less a fight than Seldon or another go with Ruddock, who was pretty much out of the picture after facing Lewis anyway.

Just found it a tad convenient that in this alternate universe he steers clear of the only two men to beat him. Incidentally, if Lewis is retired by 2000 then all Vitali has to do is blow his shoulder while training for Byrd and he retires unbeaten as well.

 

Lewis might pick up a belt, but then if he ran into the Tyson train it makes for a short reign..it was Tysons time and nothing Lewis couldve done about it, i dont think he would be ready for Tyson until well into the 90s..If Lewis felt that confident he could beat Tyson then he wouldve turned pro, he knew better..