Since we're talking about prime Lewis, I would have to pick him to win fairly confidently, although I'm not sure Lewis ever fought anyone comparable to a Jersey Joe Walcott
Baring in mind the following: 1. Walcott has the same problem getting past Lennox's jab that the shorter men like Tyson/Tua had and Walcott isnt great at closing the gap. Even if Walcott gets to mid/close range he's open to big rights and uppercuts 2. Walcott is susceptable to big punchers in Louis, Marciano and Simon. Lennox is the biggest puncher he'd face 3. Walcotts power would have little effect on Lewis in return 4. Lewis would be 1 of the most skilled, fastest men Walcott faced, even if they were the same size Walcott doesn't necessarily have the advantage 5. LEwis would be the strongest man Walcott faced and treat him like a rag doll It all boils down to a dominant Lewis stoppage maybe early, maybe mid rounds
Walcott was a good boxer, but had flaws in his def. Lewis, with the eye of the tiger, sees any opening in Walcott's def and flattens him in mid rounds.
Lewis vs Byrd may have been comparable but it never happened. For the most part Lewis's opponents didn't offer him a lot of movement and didn't possess extra-ordinary boxing skills. Walcott might pose Lewis some problems but it's difficult to say. Perhaps Walcott could land a few counters such as these: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_OIXafFzGo[/ame]
Jersey Joe is one of the true greats of the sport but I cannot make a case for him beating the best version of Lewis. I really don't think Walcott's not inconsiderable power, would have much of an impact on Lewis. We've seen Lewis wobble and fall but that's been a Lewis who was undertrained or not fully focused. When Lewis comes to fight he takes punches well and if Tua or Tyson can't knock his block off (and both landed solid hooks) I can't see Walcott either. Nor can I give him much of a chance to outpoint Lewis, though I think it would be competitive. Lewis's jab is excellent, not just as a rangerfinder and telephone pole but also to keep his opponent off balance. He made good use of his jab against Tua by jabbing to the shoulder to keep his man off balance. So whilst I see Jersey Joe having occasional success I think the Lewis jab will be the key to the fight. I honestly think that Lewis will get his man out of there though. Only guys with great chins could take the Lewis 3 punch combo and I don't think Walcott, great as he is, could take the Lewis overhand right or right uppercut full flush on the whiskers. Lewis whenever he likes, for me.
It didn't work that well on 6 foot guys, really. Walcott is one of the most overrated heavyweights in the division's history.
Lewis. And not because he's to big. Walcott was a counter puncher in essence and a cutie to boot. Lewis was also quite pensive at times and could fall into look but don't leap mode. I see Lewis winnig a snoozer over 15.
Agreed, but to think it he would do so consistantly against Lennox Lewis is a huge reach IMO. Lewis has very, very fast hands, check out some of the combo's he puts together v Mercer for example. Walcott will find the ring tiny. Walcott will be up against the best points-scoring jab he has faced (When reach is factored in). Walcott has to get all the way across and back without getting hit (maybe Walcott can KO Lewis, Lewis can definitely KO Walcott). If he gets trapped inside he is getting manhandled. If he stays outside he is getting jabbed. When he travels in he takes a huge chance. When he travels back he takes a huge chance. And all of this without factoring in Lewis's possibly superior generalship and control of the ring/distance. And the ring would be very very small for Jersey Joe. Lewis has every punch in the book. Walcott has to defend all points of danger and travel further than he's ever travelled before against the best HW he's ever faced. In terms of quality, he's up against it. In terms of style, he's up against it, in terms of physicality he's up against it. He can't fight at long range and he can't fight inside. To win, here is what Walcott must do - 1 - Not get hit properly for the duration. 2 - Completely control the nature of the fight. 3 - Land perhaps the single most astonishing punch in HW histroy. Possible? Yeah. Likely? No.
Lewis´ size would definitly an advantage. As would his jab, power and strength. But Walcott has also the power to hurt Lewis, the defense to avoid him and the footwork to set him up. I see this a lot closer than most of you. I think this fight is very evenly matched but with two fighters of this calibre the physical advantages might be the deciding factor. I see a fight unfold where Lewis jab and uppercut and Walcott´s traps play the main role throughout the fight. Lewis will fall for Walcott traps but not all the time and Walcott will be countered when he doesn´t. Lewis will win some rounds purely with his jab while he will look like a clumsy bear in others due to Walcott´s footwork. I see this fight as shifting from side to side in nearly every one. Until Lewis lands a big bomb on a tired Walcott late in the fight and ends it with the fight beeing very close on the cards either way.
Lewis has to many physical advantages. This is equivalent to Posting how would Rodrigo Valdes or Dick Tiger do against Jersey Joe Walcott? Except that Walcott could hurt Lennox with his sunday shot but i just dont see him knocking out Lewis.On a pfp level Walcott is in the same league with Lennox but in a HTH matchup Lennox would knock him out early by the 3rd or 4 th round.