If Lewis turned professional earlier than he did, could he have been the youngest heavyweight champ?

Definitely, he was physically superior to all the champions at the time, but starting late worked out well for him

 

No. In 1985 it's doubtful he can beat Tyrell Biggs, who beat him a year earlier in amateurs.
And Biggs wasn't championship level HW as a pro.

Lewis was too raw and had a lot of technical flaws even in 1990, let alone 1985.

 

Lewis would murder smith

 

Interesting premise... Lennox Lewis comes out of the 1984 Olympics medal-less after losing to Tyrell Biggs; turns pro in November 1984; fast tracks it Leon Spinks style into the top 10 by November 1985; gets his shot against WBC champ Pinklon Thomas in February 1986 (who, in reality, lost his title to Berbick the following month) and wins against the rumored relapsed Thomas. At that point Lewis would've been 20 years, five months, the same age as Tyson was against Berbick. It'd be down to days. Coulda happened.

 

Nope

I made a similar thread a few months ago

Lewis might win a belt but he isn't dominating anything. He certainly isn't beating a peaking Tyson at that age. Lewis was too raw, had too many technical flaws, and hadn't yet put on the weight.

I am not sure if that version of Lewis beats Tony Tucker or an in shape Witherspoon, let alone a rampaging Tyson.

He likely beats Berbick or Thomas but that's where it ends.

 

This. Everybody can’t turn pro early like Tyson and be successful. Lennox needed those extra years in the amateurs.

 

By the bolded your answer might be yes to the actual question. Of course it all depends on so many variables.

 

you're right. I should have said he wouldn't be undisputed champ. Could he pick up a belt? Sure. Even a raw Lewis would be too much for a limited guy like Berbick or a fat Tubbs, Spinks (who was a light heavy in reality) and maybe Thomas too.

Still, i would favour the very best heavies over him at that stage.

 

Yeh his development would have been somewhat different i'd say.

 

Too raw and not as a good as most think early in his career before his refinement.

 

A couple of people have mentioned picking up a belt against Berbick, but even if Lewis does and Tyson has to fight for another of the split titles in November 1986 (maybe against Witherspoon or Spinks), presuming he still wins Tyson is still the youngest belt holder. Who knows, maybe he'd fight belt holder Lewis in November 1986.