Peak Oleksandr Usyk Versus Lennox Lewis

50-50 fight with me leaning slightly towards Usyk.

2021, 34 year old Usyk of Joshua 1 fight vs 34 year old Lewis of Holyfield fights.

IMO Lewis's straight right will cause issues for Usyk. Usyk defense has to be perfect or he will get clipped badly.

But Lewis did not have an exceptional chin. Apart from the one punch stoppage losses to McCall and Rahman (neighter one of whom were ATG PUNCHERS), Lewis was badly stunned by Holyfield in both fights (even though he clearly won them), knocked down unofficially by a Briggs left hand, stunned one or twice vs Marovic etc. His chin wasn't bad but he could get stunned quite often.

Lewis did not have great reflexes nor great defense. Usyk's left hand will find its mark and Lewis simply would not know how to deal with a southpaw left hand.

On the other hand, Lewis hits much harder than Fury and IMO harder than Joshua. Lewis will not hesitate to fire his right uppercut nor his right hand. Usyk has to have perfect defense to avoid Lewis's right. I am not worried about Lewis's left hook because except the Bruno fight, he wasn't a left hooker or any note.

Very close. Usyk will have to take/avoid some massive straight rights and uppercuts that could potentially tko him. But IMO as soon as Usyk landas his overhand left, he will force Lewis to become more cautious and Lewis will struggle to deal with Usyk's work rate in the later rounds.

Usyk close decision 7-5. 55/45 fight for Usyk for me.

 

When was Lewis badly stunned by Holyfield in both fights ? I remember Holyfield briefly stunning Lewis with a left hook in the 7th round of their 2nd fight the most exciting round they fought. But saying he was badly stunned is reaching IMO he wasn't ever seriously troubled vs Holyfield in terms of being badly hurt.

That's like me saying Usyk was badly stunned vs Fury in the 6th round of their 1st fight.

Lewis took flush punches off the likes of Mason, Mercer, Briggs, who were all big punches and Usyk has not stopped anyone noteworthy at Heavyweight.

I think you're also undestimating Lewis had an ATG uppercut and Usyk can be quite vulnerable to that punch and Fury did hurt him with that punch and Lewis hits way harder than Fury.

 

3rd round first fight, and 7th round second fight if i remember. I remember Lewis actually staggerring quite badly across the ring vs Holyfield though he did well to recover. My memory may be playing tricks on me though so i will go and rewatch.

I think Lewis was more hurt vs Holyfield than Usyk was vs Tyson. Usyk was back peddling but his legs were underneath him. Lewis seemed slightly more hurt.

I agree that Lewis's right uppercut and straight right would cause major issues. Usyk has to be defensively near perfect like he was yesterday or like he was against Joshua 1.

Lewis could well tko him. That is why i only made Usyk a 55-45 favourite.

I agree Lewis took some great flush shots but those were against guys whom he could read. Against Usyk, he is fighting a guy whose punches, albeit less powerful than Tua, are harder to read. Whenever Lewis was staggered, it was because he walked into a punch he didn't read, like vs Briggs or McCall. So its not beyond the realm of possibility that if he walked into a big overhand left from Usyk, he could end up getting knocked down.

 

It isn't even close.

Lewis ****ing kills Usyk.

 

Agree

 

Lennox Lewis takes this. He would be a terrible style match up for Usyk.

 

Love them both but I like Lewis. A lot will be made of Lewis not fighting southpaws but make no mistake, he had the amateur pedigree to do so. There simply wasn't many to choose from in his era except for Moorer who lost his opportunity when he lost to Holyfield in there 2nd fight.

I do believe Uysk could beat Lewis but I would not feel confident betting on it.

 

Before Fury I'd favor Lewis but I think Usyk proved he can deal with tall physical super heavyweights who are good at using their length so I'd say its a solid 50/50. If a past his best 37 year old Holyfield can give Lewis a tough fight I think Usyk at his best can do the same and do enough to win but def wouldn't be an easy fight for either guy.

 

It really depends on how good Usyk's chin is. He'd need a super chin to be able to deal with Lewis. To be fair, he might have one.

 

Lewis is better suited to fight Usyk than Fury, he has much better straight punches and is sharper, he also uses his weight much better, I see Lewis keeping him on the end of the straight punches for the most part.
When Lewis occasionally switches off, Usyk may be able to sneak his way into range and set up that straight left, but Lewis controls him for the most part.
Lewis, on his day, used his advantages perfectly, and when done correctly, it’s very hard to overcome that, even when you’re as skilled as Usyk, your skill gets neutralised because you can’t get close enough to use it.

 

Usyk is all wrong for Lewis. Lewis never faced a single southpaw of note in his career, Despite three good ones during his own era. Lewis also didn’t face many fighters that were more boxer than slugger. Lewis feasted on the sluggers but not many great jabbers or movers on his ledger. Usyk is both. Lastly one of Lewis’s Achilles heals was poor stamina in many fights, a Usyk strength that would be a death blow to Lewis. . So far at age 38 nobody has been able to even knock Usyk down. Usyk would pose all sorts of issues in this match. He’d stay away give angles and then step up the gas and work rate. I don’t like this match up at all for Lewis. Usyk for me.

 

Has he not proven one? He's never been on the floor in his entire career, and took some monster shots from Joshua.

 

I love Usyk but lets not get carried away.Lennox is no Fury,Joshua or Chisora he is probably the 3rd or 4th greatest heavyweight of all time.Usyk would cause him a few problems but i have no doubt at all as to who wins and that is the Lion

 

Please.