Lennox Lewis vs Olexander Usyk

When trying to visualise fantasy fights I look to how fighters A and B have fared against similar styles.

I’m struggling to think of anyone Lewis fought who has even a superficial resemblance to Usyk’s style.

Unless I’m missing anyone, the only notable southpaws from Lewis’ era were Moorer, Byrd and Sanders. Lewis didn’t fight any of them. I don’t read anything into that - I don’t buy of the claims that Lewis was reluctant to fight Byrd, and stars never aligned for the fight with Moorer.

There are rumours that he struggled with Sanders in sparring, but in the absence of anything reliable to that effect it shouldn’t be treated as anything more than sparring stories.

None of this means that Usyk should be favoured over Lewis, but I don’t think it’s going out on a limb to say it would be a very difficult puzzle for him to solve. As much as anyone in history he has the physical tools to override any stylistic problems though.

I think it’s a very close fight. Lewis would be the best puncher Usyk has faced, but I see it as being more of a chess match. Lewis’ jab would probably be the key; if he could get that working I would favour him.

 

Lennox had a long amateur (100 fights) career at top level and I assume he faced all time of styles especially from the Soviet block countries.
Usyk is an excellent fighter and he´s going to give Lewis some trouble early on but his jab and uppercut would win him the day.

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I honestly don’t know. I will make this assertion however. I think Usyk is better at age 37 than Holyfield was at age 37. And THAT version of Evander took Lennox the distance twice and while losing both, he gave a good account of himself

 

LOL at Lewis by KO votes. Lewis couldn't hurt Mavrovic who was smaller than Usyk and had completely unproven chin otherwise. Lewis couldn't hurt washed up cruiserweight Holyfield once in 24 rounds. Usyk stopping Lewis is far more likely result considering Lewis' questionable chin and enormous Usyk's advantage in engine/stamina

 

Already seen this fight. Same fight as Lewis vs Mavrovic.

Lewis wins but looks freaking awful doing it just like he always did on points.

 

There is no comparison between Holyfield and Usyk, Holyfield was a legitimate warrior, Usyk hasn't had anything close to what could be considered a true war like some of Holyfield's fights

 

Lewis by UD but I don’t feel strongly about it. Honestly … it may be the cucumbers I has for lunch but my gut feeling is that this might have at least some potential of being a stinkeroo.

 

Lewis by knockout late

 

Usky could make anybody look terrible, but at time of writing I mist go with Lewis.

For whatever it is worth, I think this is a strong heavyweight era, albeit weaker than Lewis's.

 

50/50 fight with of lot of different factors. Lewis has never fought a southpaw like Usyk nor anyone who can push the pace like Usyk but Usyk has fought a long boxer who's also good on the inside like Lewis in Tyson so Usyk has the experience edge there. If Lewis can establish the jab and force Usyk back then he'll win. If he can't and Usyk feints and pressure game are too much then it'll be a long night for Lewis. I think Usyk has proven he can handle big long fighters or who are just as big if not bigger then Lewis though so I'd have to favor him but anyone who says it would be easy for either fighter is delusional.

 

How is Mavrovic smaller than Usyk? Height was awash and he came in around 223 in three of his four fights prior to Lewis. He also never fought at cruiser or under 210 in the pros for that matter.

Lewis not hurting Mav is testament to his chin at any rate as we have loads of footage of Lewis pole axing big men. Lewis is his only loss in the pro's and he was never stopped. Sure he didn't fight a murders row of punchers but the shots he took against Lewis are there for all to see.

Banking on Lewis not hurting him as the be all and end all is outrageous. If Usyk took the same amount of big shots Mav did i highly doubt he'd be standing.

 

Don’t you think the Mavs chin is enhanced somewhat by the strength sapping issue Lewis was having in that particular bout?

Lewis won, but wasn’t allowed to rest when he needed to. It took a lot of pop out of his punches because he couldn’t set himself to lever into his blows like he could against the statuesque Michael Grants and Golota types he feasted on.

Mavrovics chin might not have been any better than Golata.

Lewis often found fast work rate guys more pesky and harder to kayo. I remember his fights with ocasio and that little French guy chanet.

 

Mavrovic had balls of solid rock...

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A prime Usyk. A 220 pound 26 year old Usyk wins.

 

You are correct. I don't think the Lewis fans would like that point of view.