Muhammad Ali vs Lennox Lewis

So, Lennox couldn't put a dent on washed up cruiserweight Holyfield and another smallish heavyweight Zeljko Mavrovic for 36 rounds combined (while being at his peak himself), and he is stopping prime Holmes? OK, lol

 

Sure, besides Liston and Patterson there weren't any special talents in it, but "dreadful" is a bit harsh seeing how even middle contenders such as Chuvalo and Cooper would handle themselves well against some in the coming generation (Quarry and Bugner), and Terrell beat two of the better ones (Williams and Folley) of what I suppose you could call the previous generation, even though they were active throughout Ali's first reign.

So, yes, the early to mid 70's - with still useful versions of Ali and Frazier, Foreman at his peak and a sound supporting cast of fighters of differing atyles such as Norton, Lyle, Young and Shavers - were stronger, but otherwise it doesn't stand out in a bad way at all I think.

Of course, one can say the ol' that they were in the range of big LHWs to middle sized CWs by today's standards, but that's pretty much the truth of all eras before the early/mid 70's, and even the 70's and 80's guys would be small today.

 

Nah, Lewis could turn it on when he had to. Against for example Holy, he was so sure that he was ahead that he didn't take any risks, but when things weren't going his way, like against Bruno and Vitaly and the early rounds against Briggs, he'd turn it on.

If he was behind against Ali, I'm sure he'd switch gears.

 

Lennox's cautious style was evoked a few hours ago when Leon Edwards just had way too much skill for some MAGA blurt. I think they missed the point too.

 

Peak Ali was too fast to be susceptible to rights.

 

Yeah, I heard that as well. A bit comforting to hear the MMA guys being reliably awful in their boxing takes.

Lewis really tip toed his way through Ruddock, Grant and Golota etc didn't he.

 

Yeah, he wasn't hit by many was he. Folley partly landed a couple from memory but he rolled with them.

But as stated several times already, Lewis with his height, reach and aggression when need be was another animal to what Ali ever faced. Bugner and Terrell might have been of similar height and reach, but they sure didn't put guys away like Lewis did Rahman.

 

Evander was a durable guy and so was ZM Holmes was hurt and dropped by right hands - Shavers, Snipes, Issacs, Stunned by M. Spinks, Witherspoon, Weaver, Williams and destroyed by Tyson. Do you really think Lennox Lewis -Manny Stwart trained, who threw a perfect right hand (Holmes Krytonite) had zero chance of stopping Holmes. Do you think Snipes punched harder? Do you think any of the others were more skilled. Tyson prime possibly IMO but LL would be a tough one for Holmes

 

Holmes has proved his chin against enormous amount of punchers - Shavers (twice), Witherspoon, Weaver, Smith, Cooney, Mercer (at 42), McCall (at 45) and others. Who did Mavrovic prove his chin against other than Lennox Lewis? His 2 best opponents - Julius Francis and Saleta were feather-fisted European journeymen, and he was KOed twice in the amateurs, both times in the first round (by Ray Mercer and some unheralded British light heavyweight). Holmes' chin was far more proven, not to mention he was millions times better boxer compared to Zeljko. And yes, better than Holyfield, especially that old version that Lewis has fought

 

Great points, Bummy. Agree to disagree

 

You make some very sound arguments. Ali was a man of the 60/70's, Lewish was a full sized, elite 1990 superheavyweight. In this fight size matters. Ali didn't have the sort of one punch Ko power which could bother Lennox. Also, LL was a better left hooker than giving credit for, and had a long, strong commanding jab, and was a good technical boxer too. I can't see Ali winning this fight.

 

You could make a case for either man winning imo.

 

I've been thinking more on this.

Lewis has a hard time landing much beyond the jab and hook. Early on he misses a monster right hand but then brings the hook behind it (Ruddock) and Ali begins holding (and does plenty more after that). From that point the fight is mostly about two men's jabs, with Ali's landing more (at times followed by some nicely timed rights).

Lewis is getting a lot of contempt and muscling on the inside from Ali, and surprisingly the latter isn't physically bothered by Lewis' notably larger size. Fans don't like Ali's holding tactics, but he is impressively authoritative there.

Ali is leading on all cards into the middle, where Lewis starts jabbing and then heavily loading up on the left-right-left combinations. Lewis' rights for the most part don't make the target, but Manny Stewart notices how effective the hook is at the end. Ali takes some heavy shots rounds 7 to 10, though he maintains movement and more than holds his own with his jab and hook.

By the 11th Ali is knocking Lewis' head back with some fleet and sharply accurate lead rights. The former isn't landing the hook much, and is relying on the jab heavily to keep Ali from following up on his leads too much.

In 12th Lewis has simply taken too many of the aforementioned rights. Ali starts picking away and mugging. Lewis goes down for a flash knockdown, but his legs are gone. After a barrage from Ali the ref stops it.

 

Of course, they are both very skilled, but this is a textbook example of a big good man always beat a good little man, simple as that. And the nonsens that 'Ali never got hit in his prime' is a myth. Please watch the Ali-Chuvalo fight, the Clay-Jones fight, the Ali-Mildenberger fight, they all show the facts. Lennox to big, to strong to skilled for even a prime Ali.

 

Lennox beat a 37 year old Holyfield 7/5 in their second fight.

Ali is twice as fast as anyone Lewis ever faced. Lewis does not have the stamina, speed or ability to deal with a much quicker opponent. Ali wins this and does so 10 out of 10 times.