Could The Best Of Lennox Beat The Best Of Joe Frazier?

I like Frazier here. Here's why . As some have mentioned Lewis was bigger than Foreman, yet they fail to mention the complete different way they fought . Foreman was a bulldozer, he used his great physical strength as a tool to push opponents off balance and into range for his bombs.
Lewis though bigger than Foreman, fought in a traditional European style, jab, right hand , repeat. Little head movement and lateral movement, his physicality was used more to get a breather and tie opponents up than a actual weapon like Foreman did.
That IS the key difference. If Lewis could be trained to use those tools he had to their fullest advantage, we probably would see a similar result as Foreman vs Frazier.
But just going on what is on film and his lack of adjusting to win fights its very doubtful he'd be able to adjust his style.
What we than would have is a traditional stand up boxer against Frazier's unique ability of slipping and countering very quickly and his ability to close the distance to relative safety inside of Lewis's reach.
What would Lewis do when Frazier isn't giving him the punching range he needs to get his power shots off? Meanwhile, Frazier is constantly slamming his ribs and hips with hook after hook.
If prime Frazier can slip the lightning quick and better accuracy jabs of Ali , I'm sure he'd have little problem of slipping the heavier, but slower jabs of Lewis. Lewis also wasn't as near as active with his jab as Ali was.
Lewis also would have problems trying to land his right hand on Frazier cleanly because of his size. Frazier would see it , just as he saw most of Ali's quicker right hands. Again, Ali fought at a faster pace than we've ever seen Lewis fight in the FOTC.
Prime vs prime Lewis would need to change what he normally did and fight much more aggressively and physically. Catch Frazier early before he can begin to "Smoke". If Frazier gets past 5rds and the fight begins to become a war of attrition. That means Lewis hasn't done the damage necessary to win, and that great size begins to become a serious issue for his endurance.
As Lewis begins to slow Frazier's pace would only increase, the constant blasting to Lewis body and hips would slow him even more.
If the fights a 12rd fight Frazier wins a split or majority dec. Could be controversial depends on where its held.
But in a 15rd fight. Frazier wins a unanimous dec, possibly a late stoppage. All that great size advantage Lewis has would become a major detriment in a long grueling fight in a phone booth.

 

You may be right but the uppercut could be a dangerous punch for Lewis to throw as well. At his peak Frazier's hook was like a whip. I don't think Lewis is as physical a fighter as Foreman. Some of the tactics Foreman was using was next level stuff.. He had Archie Moore and Saddler. I could see Lewis laying on Joe, smothering him.
I can't dispute a Lewis victory as he does have the tools to do the job. Joe Frazier wouldn't go easy.

 

Frazier never went easy. I think Lewis would take Frazier's hook and tie him up if need be. The fight changing single punches are going the other way for me.

 

This is a very salient point.

 

Yeah no, it’s not. It’s trivial at best and more realistically downright terrible. Frazier would’ve never HAD to avenge losses to McCall and Rahman while Lewis almost undoubtedly would’ve picked up a couple losses that he’d need to avenge which I’m not certain he’d be able to do (tbh I’m not sure if he beats any version of Foreman and/or Ali that faced Frazier.

 

I don't think Lewis could have beaten either of them, no. Foreman had the Lewis kryptonite, and even the 71 Ali was just too good as well.

But that's just my opinion.

 

*cough* Foreman

 

I mean what are Frazier’s options on the inside against Lewis?

 

No

 

The fact is i feel Joe Frazier is a better all round fighter than Lewis and that is the reason he wins.Not only because he beat Rahman and McCall but you simply cant ignore those losses.By the way i never claimed to be the sharpest knife in the drawer,maybe i am wrong and you are that particular knife

 

Frazier avenged his loss to Buster Mathis at the Olympic Trials by 11th round TKO 1968 Madison Square.

 

Nope

 

McCall and Rahman>>>Buster Mathis

 

admit it it’s close.