I think George-era Frazier would have landed the left and shaken Lewis mightily. The problem is the jab and right (I'm only talking about the Steward-Lewis here, not the one-handed fighter who fought through the 90s and probably would have been kayoed early by Joe). Steward-era Lewis gets rocked by the hook and perhaps gets knocked down, but ends up jabbing Foreman-Joe just enough to keep him off and set up the right hand. I see a series of rights and hooks putting Joe out in the sixth. I don't see anyone doing what George did to Joe, not that early and not that domineeringly. It was a case of Joe's style being perfect for Foreman...and the bizarre fact that Joe just didn't seem to care for putting in what he needed to in order to train properly for George. He obviously ignored the films of George's bouts before, didn't train anywhere near enough, and perhaps was experiencing some PTSD from the FOTC. I personally think FOTC-era Joe would have given Steward/Lewis a fight much more like a prime Tyson would: getting inside the jab and banging the crap out of LL in the body. The problem there is the uppercut: Lewis didn't have Bowe's uppercut (perhaps only Foreman did), but it was a righteously powerful punch and would have worn Joe down. Maybe. I say maybe because it's tough for me to put FOTC Joe losing against ANYBODY. His fury made him the baddest heavyweight alive against the greatest heavyweight (maybe greatest fighter) of all time. And forget what people say about Ali's being so past his prime...he kicked the crap out of quality fighters during his comeback imo. He was still markedly better than anyone besides Joe at the time.
I can see that . The younger Lewis , which struggled against Bruno and lost to McCall ,he could be in serious bother with Frazier .I can imagine Frazier getting him before the fight s half way over with the dreaded left hook .
Lewis grew out his hair once he got with Steward so like Samson I think Lewis was good because of his magical long hair. Notice that he wasn't as good when he hair was short. Coincidence? I think not.
Yes , I too have noticed this ! And the shorter Mike Tyson s hair got the less effective he was ! Surely there's something in this Samson theory ???
I remember watching Tyson vs Donnie Long and being certain Long would win on the basis of his beautiful Afro compared to Mikes short back and sides. It wasn’t to be.
You might be on to something, Jake. If there'd been a bit of 'fro to cushion the blow, Tommy Hearns may not have broken his hand and then, well, anything could have happened.
I’m glad someone mentioned the uppercut! Lewis loved to throw it and he did it with venom behind it! Great points JT
If he goes out as fast as he did against Ruddock he might but I doubt it He would have to be more explosive and definitely deliver more KDs than he did against Ruddock And before Mark says that Joe was better than Razor, I know.
