Could Lewis Have Being A Dominant Force In the 1970s?

He would defo be competitive in the 70s. He would be in the mix with Ali, Foreman, Holmes, Norton.

All incredibly tricky styles for Lennox though.

 

It was close to me aswell.

Muhammad Ali vs Ken Norton 3

1 Ali
2 Norton
3 Norton
4 Norton
5 Norton
6 Norton
7 Ali
8 Norton
9 Ali
10 Ali
11 Ali
12 Norton
13 Norton
14 Ali
15 Ali

143-142 Norton

 

I feel like Lewis/Foreman is a 50/50 match. I could totally see Lennox getting in trouble like he did against Bruno and having to stop George before the same happened to himself. I think he loses to Ali and Holmes, might split fights with Norton, and would definitely beat Frazier.

I don't see Lewis losing to guys like Lyle or Shavers unless it's a similar version to the one from Rahman 1. Neither of those two threw the same sort of precise, skull crushing 1-2 that McCall could. Not that I'm saying that they wouldn't hurt Lennox, but I doubt that they'd be able to stop him.

 

I think he will lose to Foreman and Holmes, he probably won't avoid defeat to some less known but dangerous and unpredictable rival like Lyle, Quarry, Bonavena he didn't avoid Rahman and McCall... But he will do better than it seems against Ali and he will be competitive, I think he will beat Norton on a point, he will destroy Leon Spinks and at the end Gerry Cooney... He will have problems with Jimmy Young like everyone will win.. He will dominate the simple Shavers and the much smaller Frazier

 

He beats everyone

 

Lewis beats everyone

 

Today there would have been temples built to him

 

Maybe he does but there would be some losses in there aswell.

I can't see him beating a prime Holmes though he would befuddle Lewis with his extra speed and jab.

Holyfield was no bigger than 70s Heavyweights and he ran a prime Lewis very close in their 2nd fight at 37 years old. So Lewis isn't unbeatable especially with his chin and he isn't immune to struggling vs smaller Heavyweights.

Lewis was visibly very tired vs Holyfield 2, Mavrovic, I think he would struggle with the pace against some of the better 70s Heavyweights.

 

The same Holmes who struggled with Cooney's size and jab would magically be able to deal with Lennox who is better in every way?

You mean the fight Lewis clearly won by every objective standard and completely dominated the first fight? Not a great argument to show smaller fighters can beat Lewis.

Assuming they would survive his power plus not all of them could go 15 rounds. Foreman didn't have the best cardio, Holmes had to take rounds off to be able to have enough energy in the later rounds etc. The only who could consistently go 15 rounds without stopping were Ali and Frazier and even Ali in the 70s couldn't dance for 15 rounds straight anymore.

 

Yeah good post I agree with alot of what you say Lewis is a very good H2H fighter but I do think he gets a tad overrated at times.

If you get 1 shotted by two B class Heavyweights you can't predict Lewis is going to clean out an entire era without picking up losses that's just not realistic.

And for all the talk of Lewis having a good jab which he did have....Bruno out jabbed him, Mercer out jabbed him, and a 37 year old past it Holyfield gave Lewis issues with his jab in the 2nd fight aswell.

I also agree Lewis stamina could be an issue in some of these fights he has never been 15 rounds and he was visibly very tired in fights vs Mavrovic, Holyfield 2, which weren't really fought at a grueling pace.

 

I feel he'll go undefeated.

Yes, Holyfield have him trouble, but Holyfield is more skilled than anyone in the 70s. Also, he was roided to the gills and thus way stronger than his size.

Only Holmes has the skill + size to bother him.
Foreman has power, but he's too slow and lacks the skill.
Ali lacks the skill and he wasn't as fast anymore.

 

Ali vs Lewis- Ali by TKO in 14th round

Foreman vs Lewis- Foreman by KO but in triology Lewis would win once

Holmes vs Lewis- Holmes by wide UD

Lewis vs Frazier- Lewis by UD or TKO

Lewis vs Quary- Lewis by horrible TKO

Lewis vs Lyle- Anything can happen

Lewis vs Young- Same as for the Lyle fight

Lewis vs Norton- Lewis by KO

Lewis vs Shavers- Lewis by KO but Shavers could KO him cold if he punches him hard enough because Lewis chin was okay but not great.

 

Ali vs Lewis- Ali by 15 UD

Foreman vs Lewis- Lewis by late TKO

Holmes vs Lewis- Holmes by 15 UD

Lewis vs Frazier- Lewis by 15 SD

Lewis vs Quary- Lewis by KO

Lewis vs Lyle- Lewis by KO

Lewis vs Young- Lewis by UD

Lewis vs Norton- Lewis by KO

Lewis vs Shavers- Shavers or Lewis by early KO

 

Lewis didn't go "undefeated" vs the likes of McCall or Rahman so unlikely he goes undefeated throughout an entire era.

Holyfield more skilled than anyone in the 70s based on what ? A prime Holyfield had enough trouble vs Holmes at 42 years old. You think a 37 year old Holyfield is a better H2H fighter than a prime Holmes ?

What fighters did Lewis fight that are even remotely like Holmes or Ali ? Lewis never fought any boxers with good movement and handspeed. So I don't know why you're so confident in Lewis plowing through the 70s.

Lewis would definitely do well in the 70s combined with his size and skill but he certainly isn't unbeatable.

 

I think he'd beat everyone except Ali, which would be a fight for the ages, and possibly Holmes. He'd outhink Foreman, negate Frazier's strengths and wouldn't have much trouble against Shavers, because Lewis saved his best for dangerous opponents. Other than that Lyle or Young might have caught him on a Rashman night.