Lennox Lewis vs Deontay Wilder

Naturally - he'd smoke the vast majority in the history of the sport, so he'd make mincemeat of the current (poor) crop.

As far as Wilder goes - it's a bit like Rahman - he'd have a chance if completely underestimated (as Rahman was in the first fight) and similarly have a punchers chance, but a remotely serious Lewis dominates and stops Wilder with ease.

Heck, Wilder-Rahman would be a much more interesting prospect.

 

Lewis Ko in 2.

 

This is, in a sense, the great irony...

Because I agree - I'd give Wilder the better chance when all either really has is a punchers chance.

It doesn't matter that Wilder is the inferior fighter of the two, or that AJ would likely win more often than not if Wilder had ever had the balls to take the fight - that bit of extra power combined with Wilder looking like Bambi on stilts until the moment he plants his feet to throw something big just makes him unpredictable and more likely to cause upsets than Joshua, if you're putting them in with someone who smokes both.

 

Fundamentally Lennox was superior , and ring intellect far superior. But Wilder has a chance with any heavyweight in history because of his power, other then the power and catching Lennox he has nothing else that would really trouble him. Lennox at times when not fully motivated wouldn’t perform to the level he could , but when he was motivated he was devastating.

 

Lewis teaches Wilder a Leshun.

 

Lennox beats him 9 times out of 10.

Wilder only wins if Lennox doesn't prepare properly.

 

Don't get carried away too much though. Lewis, unfortunately, already did not fight in an era with sufficient opposition to hold a claim for GOAT. Holyfield was past it and arguably still salvaged the second fight to a draw. Tyson way past it. Losses against very limited Rahman and McCall. Controversial concluding fight with Vitaly without a rematch. Yes, Bowe ducked him. Lewis. I would agree, among the top 5 best heavyweights ever but I can see for example Ali and prime Foreman finding a way against him.

 

A prepared Lewis who isn't making a movie would KO Wilder every time.
In a rematch Lewis would KO Wilder quicker.

 

And let's not forget, Lewis had arguably one of the best trainers ever in his corner. I'm sure good ol Emanual could have found a way to neutralize that big right hand of Wilder's

 

Naturally... But I don't really think Lennox would even have needed a plan to neutralize it - he'd have destroyed Wilder with little real difficulty... Levels upon levels here.

 

This OP rates up there with…
Floyd Mayweather vs Sugar Ray Leonard
Roy Jones Jr vs Evander Holyfield
In what fornicating world would Wilder, Floyd or Roy ever even sign the contract, let alone actually get in the ring?

 

Ah, let's see. Lewis got one-punched twice by big backhands.
Wilder is far faster, rangier and more powerful than the two fighters who decked Lewis.
Furthermore, Lewis does not have the chin of Fury to take Wilder's bombs and continue.
Lewis is also sloppier. He WILL get hit.
We should give Lewis a puncher's chance.
Wilder by KO.

 

This is a far more realistic analysis than is typical on the forum.

The fringe contenders 24-5 crackhead McCall and 8 years boxing experience Rahman didn't do anything that Wilder wouldn't have a great chance of doing. Lewis never experienced that kind of length, speed and power. Further, 5'10 Tyson was 14 years past his best according to common consensus and 5'9 Tua was 20 lbs overweight.

Lewis claimed that 6'3 Briggs was his hardest punching opponent and Briggs did seriously shake Lewis up before he gassed out. Briggs stopped Liakhovich with literally one second to go in the 12th, Wilder had Liakhovich convulsing on the canvas inside 2 minutes.

If Wilder can land on a defensive Fury, he could certainly land on Lewis and Lewis wouldn't get up.

 

Lewis