Let's face it, Ali has nothing that will trouble Lewis.

I don't think either fighter "toys" with the other.

 

Jeesas even had to write it down.

 

He stopped Quarry with the uppercut in round 7, the punch that prompted the ref to step in.

He used the uppercut in combination against shorter fighters.

 

He sure isn't gonna hit Lewis with it.

 

I take my hat off to the thread-starter, for having the courage to make this case. And I agree with him. If Henry Cooper and Sonny Banks were dropping Ali and Chuvalo was extending him for 15, imagine what Lewis could do. Ali could move, but he wouldn't be able to hurt Lewis who would do a Ken Norton on him and then some. Yes, if the judges give Ali points for moving and for missing jabs, then it could be a contest. Otherwise, he loses.

 

I do get what you're saying but Ali never really had trouble with big men. Lewis was very talented but a big man nonetheless. He faced fighters with similar styles to Lewis.

 

Lewis was a big HW but Ali was no dwarf either. At 6'3" 212-225lbs with an an 80" reach he had plenty of size to compete with today's super heavies. Now throw in his hand and foot speed, excellent jab, concrete chin, stamina and will to win and we have a heavyweight more than capable of beating Lewis. Too much emphasis is put on size. There are other factors that come into play as well when discussing heavyweights. If Ali could take the shots of punchers like Foreman and Shavers and survive and win it's not hard to imagine him surviving shots from Lewis. I also think Ali would would find a home for his fast right lead against a tall stand up straight fighter like Lewis. Against the right opponent Lewis looked unbeatable but that wouldn't be the case if he fought Ali. Tough fight for sure but no cakewalk for Lennox. Maybe no win either.

 

Perhaps Lewis's biggest asset, his jab, would not be a factor as it was inferior to Ali's in EVERY. WAY. POSSIBLE.

 

go watch lewis v mer-cer

 

Prime Ali would knock him out.
I suspect Lewis would lose to a prime Holyfield too.

 

No it's not. That's the point of having the greats face fellow greats in fantasy fights. People regularly pick Foreman to dismantle Tyson, but he's never shown to have done so against a fighter of similar quality. Tyson, Holmes have thin resumes, but you get a mixed bag whenever they're pitted against a Holyfield or Louis.

For me, the focus isn't on Ali. I'd take Holmes to pick Lewis apart also because Lewis' outside game is overrated.

 

I thought Holyfield almost outboxed him in the 2nd fight, and Holyfield was well past his best by then.
Ali was faster and more skilled than Holyfield, and as big, probably longer reach.

Mercer outjabbed Lewis for a lot of their fight. Mercer was just a fat slow brawler in comparison to Ali, yet he outjabbed Lewis.

Lewis didn't have the style and pace of a Norton to give Ali trouble, and a prime Ali would have handled Norton anyway (close but with a definite edge, I reckon).

As others have already noted, Lewis hardly fought any good fast boxers with superb skills. His reputation is based on beating big lumps, most over-hyped, and short stumpy fighters. His best wins really are against a faded Holyfield, and that 2nd one was very close, and possibly against Vitali Klitschko in a skill-less slugfest.
There's no indication that he could beat Muhammad Ali.
But there's no shame in that.

 

Beat me to it. Ray was shorter than Ali, had a shorter reach, and didn't have Muhammed's handspeed or jab. Yet he managed to outjab Lennox. Partnered with his movement, Muhammed's jab is in Lennox's face all night long.

 

You beat me to it also:good. Nicely put, man!

 

Ali didn't exactly have a spotless career either.