The more that I watch film and reflect on his career, I'm not at all convinced that Lennox Lewis would be some kind of god among men in today's heavyweight division. I think we tend to remember Lewis' strengths and his great moments while ignoring his flaws and struggles. And I think that the usual subjective "Great" vs. "good" vs. "very good" categories that boxing fans use greatly exaggerate the differences in fighters' talent and quality. If a young Lewis were coming along today, I doubt that many here would assume that it was just a matter of time before he took over and completely dominated the division. Lewis would likely do extremely well today, but he'd probably face some tough challenges and scary moments, and he might even pick up a loss or two. And by extension, I also think that guys like Fury, Ortiz, Wilder, and Joshua could have done very well in Lewis' era (or any other era). What exactly is it about Lennox Lewis that supposedly makes him categorically different from and so much better than these fighters?
Let's look at Joshua's last fight against Povetkin. Joshua held every single possible advantage over him. Povetkin led with a hook every single time. Hook rt hand over and over all Joshua had for him was body jab. Lousy fundamentals. Ortiz is sloppy and relys on power. Your asking me something that you should be able to watch and figure out.
Lewis was much better schooled, fought a better class of competition, and about the same size as most of today's heavy's . Yes he would absolutely rule today's heavy's .
You seem to be describing something other than what I think of as fundamentals. Anthony Joshua has very good punching technique, keeps his balance well, and has good defensive form too. He is clearly a very well-schooled fighter. I don't see what his struggles against Povetkin, who he ultimately knocked out, had to do with fundamentals. Ortiz is a highly-skilled counterpuncher. I get calling Deontay Wilder sloppy but Ortiz?? How much of these guys have you even watched?
Lewis also struggled against, and occasionally got knocked out and stopped by, men who I don't think were better than any of them. And some of today's top heavies are plenty well-schooled.
I think today's heavyweight division is probably the best ever h2h. Joshua, Wilder, Fury, Povetkin, Ortiz, Miller, and Joyce are a deep, talented group. Joshua is hard hitting, and fundamentally sound, Wilder is probably the hardest hitting heavy ever and he carries his power the entire length of the fight, Fury is 6-9 with boxing instinct, reflexes, and movement that rival FMJ. Povetkin is nearing 40, but his technique is as good as it gets and he is as good on the inside as any heavyweight I've seen, Ortiz is a left handed fighter with a deep amateur background, and Miller is over 300 pounds, busy, and keeps pressure on his opponent, Joyce is similar, 6-5, 260ish, and he is also a pressure fighter. I don't think Lewis would have an easy fight in that group. Some don't consider Miller a top contender, but I do. If Lewis struggled with Mercer, Miller looks to be bigger, stronger, and a much busier pressure fighter than Mercer. All 7 of the fighters listed would have a good chance of beating Lewis or any other past boxer in a head to head match up. Coming up is a deep group of prospects. And there is a group of good heavyweight just out of the top 6 who would be a problem for anybody. Jennings, Kownacki, Breazealle, among them. Lewis was a good fighter, but he would have his hands full today.
ortiz wouldnt get a look in during a lewis reign. 40somethings like him are only getting title shots because wilder is so bad. I suspect you know this already, you cant be that naive. Lennox would unify undisputed today, though it might take him a little while. Sure he might lose one fight based on your argument that he did lose, but your argument also means that he wipes the floor with them in a rematch. You arent looking at what your argument means, I tihnk deliberately.
Good points. I'm sure if young unpolished Lennox came in today's division, he'd lose sooner than later (a-la McCall fiasco). Young Lewis had too many defensive flaws to stay undefeated against current top fighters. And even more experienced, more skilled Lennox would've had tough time against some of today's elite HWs.
Outside of Fury and his awkwardness. The fighters that stopped Lewis probably stop Joshua, Wilder, Miller and the rest of the ranked heavy's in today's era. Theirs nothing special in today's heavy's other than size.
