Lennox Lewis - Whats The Lowest He Can Be Ranked?

You realise 2 of those bannana skins are men who ducked him in the years Holy fought them. Theres no way in a million years Bowe could do better than losing a series 2-1 against Lewis, frankly I see him being KO'd early and there not being a rematch because of that

There is also a massive assumption that Bowe was past prime against Golota, maybe Golota just beat him fair and square as he looked as good as ever leading up the fight. Bowe's whole claim to fame is going life and death with a 205lb undersized boxer who foguht the wrong fight

Foreman couldnt beat anyone in the 90s other than Moorer who Tua did in 1, Bruno/Tua/Tyson were all bigger dangers to Lewis than Foreman

 

Was Holyfield a more on his toes type of boxer when he was younger? Do you see a stylistic difference between the Holyfield that fought Bowe for instance and the flat footed guy who fought Lewis?

I do give Lewis kudos for beating Vitali, but would you agree his style presented a little difficulty for Lewis as did some of the other savvy boxers he faced? Would Holyfields style in the early 90's presented more of a challenge for Lewis than it did in the late 90's because of his movement?

 

Cmon man, there was a significant decline in Bowe. He retired after those fights.
Based on the fact that Lewis was knocked out by Mcall and struggled a bit with fighters on the level of Mercer and Bruno tells me its no forgone conclusion he easily beats Bowe. Technically, physically Bowe was better.

 

Yes he was on his tip-toes somewhat when he was younger, he also had 15lbs less muscle, weaker, less punch resistant and less power. He also became a little smarter in old age. He was also clearly better than he was against Moorer1/Bowe3 due to his fountain of youth/steroid use

Lewis was past his physical prime himself, only 3years younger than Holyfield, 34 himself, noticably slower and more lethargic.

Either way it was a dominant victory for Lennox, especially the first fight

How about 37yo Holyfield versus the 32yo Vitali that Lewis fought?

 

Putting me on your ignore list won't stop me from talking **** about you. In fact, now that I can do it behind your back, it will be even worse.. I tend to find that its most relaxing and enjoyable, and better yet, you're an easy target.:good

 

I think lefthook is a troll looking for attention.. Hell, he's probably revolver for all we know...

 

Lewis was smaller too, he was more open, less technically sound. Speed and combination punching (which didnt exist in his fights with Lewis), would be a bigger factor than size in my opinion.
Holy at 37 vs Vitali would be tough one to call. Holyfield stylistically can do what Lewis had to do to get inside on Vitali, better than Lewis can. Im not so sure Vitali can do what Lewis could do to hold Holyfield off. I just dont know on that one.
Styles make fights, just like I think David Tua would have given Mike Tyson a hell of a fight, but a boxer like Lewis would generally have an easier time, just by using his height and reach advantage, like so many did against him.

 

Maybe he retired after those fights because of the beatings Golota gave him, we know he has slurred speach and I hope he hasnt got too much permenant damage, I'd attribute that to the Golota fights, which were wars.

Why do you think Golota was outboxing, teeing off on Bowe and evading his shots from the beggining and throughout their fight? WHy couldnt Bowe hurt Golota like Lennox/Tyson? Bowe was overweight and not at his best but he was never shot in the first fight

You've picked 3 performances where Lewis underperformed. Bruno was a quality opponent though and I'd say better than anyone Bowe faced bar Holyfield, McCall is an underrated 1 and caught him with a perfect right counter and McCall was a muderous puncher if you look at his wins.

Lewis had a better use of the jab, much faster, more athletic, more dedicated and a bigger puncher. His chin is also proven against many bangers, he also performed better against Biggs/Golotta/Holyfield

 

I personally don't believe LEnnox improved, he took less risks with Steward, Lennox could lung in throwing right leads and be caught, he generally stopped doing it.

Vitali-Holyfield - yes Holyfield is, but the height disparity would hurt him, the volume of punches would be a trouble, Vitalis holding on the inside would be a problem. Thats a close 1 because Holy has the better technical skills, which may make Vitali pay at times for carrying his hands low.

Agreed on Tua-Tyson would have been a backburner, Tysons speed/skill/defense should see him getting there first for the main part but could be a backburner

 

Three wars with Holyfield didnt take it out of Bowe?
Again Lewis didnt face a prime Holyfield. Mcall not so sure he was as big a puncher as you say. Id say the Lewis shot was the best one he ever landed. He doesnt have a huge resume of KO wins against top notch opposition, plus he was quite easily outboxed, by the technically better fighters.

 

I'd back Tua against Tyson.

As for the topic, I don't have a lot to add, I'm no historian. I do think Lewis beats a disproportionate number of great heavyweights head-to-head due to his size while still having athletic ability on par with many of the greats as far as handspeed, reflexes and coordination goes. I think he's George Foreman's worst match-up.

I think Liston is the odd duckling that does best aainst Lewis. Fine boxer with a long jab and heavy hands, deceptive handspeed up close. Larry Holmes template would do well too, but even he might drop a decision. Prime Ali would beat him because he fights on iceskates.

 

Lewis definitely improved under Steward. He may not have been as exciting of a fighter, but technically he improved.

 

What about Evander Holyfield of the early 90's?

 

Why is it assumed Bowe was shot from those fights though, maybe Golota was just all wrong for him? Holyfield had come off worse and had far more wars, Lennox had wars with Holy/Mercer and had been twice KO'd yet no one says he was shot

Holyfield was aged but in some ways was better, Lennox was aged too

What about the McCall KOs of Akiwande and Maskeev? Those were brutal 1s.

 

Because Bowe was slower, he was getting hurt easier, and his speech was starting to slur. Maybe he wasnt completely gone, but he wasnt the same fighter and probably the reason Eddie Futch walked away. Golota in my opinion was the nail in the coffin for a fighter who was already done. Besides, although Bowe was getting his ass kicked, he still made Golota quit and foul out. A prime Bowe would have most likely done the same thing only sooner, even if he was getting outboxed which I doubt.
As far as Mcall, Maskaev was not a world class fighter at that time. He was in his 7th pro fight, and was caught early, got up and was stopped. Akinwande just sucked.