Could Anthony Joshua have beaten Lennox Lewis?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Fergy, Apr 7, 2026.

?

Anthony Joshua -Could he have beaten Lennox?

  1. Not a bloody chance!!

    66.7%
  2. Yes, of course he could have!

    31.0%
  3. I'm undecided

    2.4%
  1. MarkusFlorez99

    MarkusFlorez99 Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2021
    Messages:
    17,132
    Likes Received:
    19,097
    Lewis packs aj into a trash can
     
  2. Yorbals

    Yorbals Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2025
    Messages:
    3,243
    Likes Received:
    2,929
    ‘I’m not as good as McCall, i don’t throw punches like Marciano, even though I’m as heavy as Lewis.
    But I model more boxers than both, why can’t I win’
    This is how this one would go
     
  3. Steve Fero

    Steve Fero Active Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Dec 17, 2019
    Messages:
    923
    Likes Received:
    741
    Prime vs prime Lewis wins 9 out of 10.
     
    Fergy and MarkusFlorez99 like this.
  4. TipNom

    TipNom Well-Known Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2019
    Messages:
    1,701
    Likes Received:
    3,568
    Could he have beaten Lewis? Sure. A Big, athletic, fast, powerful two handed puncher. Lennox was stopped by lesser fighters and lesser punchers. But *would* he have? Probably not. Lewis was better than Joshua in most aspects, particularly mentally, and would at some point overwhelm Joshua with his own power.
     
  5. janitor

    janitor VIP Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2006
    Messages:
    71,975
    Likes Received:
    27,961
    Joshua was better than Rahman, and a more dangerous puncher, so we certainly can't say that it's impossible.

    Obviously Lewis enters the fight as the favorite.
     
    SgrRyLeonard and MaccaveliMacc like this.
  6. InMemoryofJakeLamotta

    InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2017
    Messages:
    17,366
    Likes Received:
    12,774
    He COULD beat Lewis. Would he is another case? If AJ caught Lewis with a strong right hand, he could end things. But he has to land it.
     
    Fergy and MaccaveliMacc like this.
  7. CroBox29

    CroBox29 Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2019
    Messages:
    6,108
    Likes Received:
    7,150
    Joshua wouldn't have the heart to threaten Lewis and would fold within 8 rounds...
     
    Fergy likes this.
  8. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2024
    Messages:
    6,572
    Likes Received:
    9,615
    So you think AJ would be outboxing Lewis?
     
  9. h8me

    h8me Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 14, 2017
    Messages:
    332
    Likes Received:
    312
    What does AJ do better than Lewis to give him anything beyond a puncher’s chance?
     
    Fergy likes this.
  10. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2024
    Messages:
    6,572
    Likes Received:
    9,615
    You could argue prime AJ was a better combination puncher. And that's it.
     
    InMemoryofJakeLamotta likes this.
  11. Bummy Davis

    Bummy Davis Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2004
    Messages:
    23,763
    Likes Received:
    2,330
    Joshua had some very impressive wins - Vlad, Povetkin, Whyte, and he had some surprising losses- Any Ruiz and Dubois.

    Lennox was also KO'd from one punch by McCall and Rahman- could Ruiz catch Lennox by surprise? Could McCall and Rahman stop Joshua?

    Lennox had a great offense and an underrated defense - Joshua looked like a monster on his way up but had good hands, power and got off the floor to win vs Vlad which was impressive.

    Lennox showed heart vs Vitali and others and Joshua showed it many times.

    Could Lennox beat Usyk?

    I think Lennox had the tougher mentality of the 2 but could Joshua pull a McCall or a Rahman? AJ certainly had the size 6'6 and 250lbs and he has a better arsenal than Rahman and McCall (not the chin of Oliver but a better fighter)

    Key could be mental strength, but a good power shot can turn off the thought process.
     
    MaccaveliMacc likes this.
  12. NewChallenger

    NewChallenger Active Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2020
    Messages:
    678
    Likes Received:
    720
    No I think he would get knocked out
     
  13. NewChallenger

    NewChallenger Active Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2020
    Messages:
    678
    Likes Received:
    720
    Wlad was 41 though and came off of a loss to Fury
     
  14. MaccaveliMacc

    MaccaveliMacc Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2024
    Messages:
    6,572
    Likes Received:
    9,615
    But you said to look at Lewis vs Bruno fight. Bruno was outboxing Lewis before getting knocked out.
     
  15. NewChallenger

    NewChallenger Active Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2020
    Messages:
    678
    Likes Received:
    720
    I don't think that Lennox would be outboxed by AJ to be fair. I do think Bruno was significantly better, Bruno's problem wasj ust his chin. Also Lewis had not hired Stewart yet so he wasn't as refined.

    I do think that he would be in trouble if AJ cracked him,but I see him weather the storm