If Lennox's last defense were against Wladimir?

I think the same. Wlad didn't have the chin to take all those bombs from Lennox that Vit ate.

 

Your answer lies in the fact that Lennox stayed as far away from Wlad as he could, choosing instead to fight the older, slower, less talented brother Vitali. Lennox wanted no part of Wlad's straight right hand, and never fought him (despite the fact that Wlad was a champion and former champion during Lennox's reign).

 

Lewis wouldn't show up out of shape and disinterested against Wlad though like he did against Vitali. Wlad was seen as the talented brother, Vitali at the time was seen as much lower down the pecking order and thats why Lewis thought he could fight him on short notice out of shape. Against opposition Lewis perceived as a real threat he always got in his best shape for

You also have to remember even back then Wlad fought negatively against more dangerous opponents, see the McCline fight. Lewis also tended to try and blitz bigger opponents early, see Golota/Grant and his advice to Sanders was to jump on Wlad early.

 

-Lewis went on record that he wouldn't fight Wlad, because he thought he was total rubbish, worse than Grant..or so he claimed. He considered Vitali but ultimately went with Kirk Johnson.

-No, McCline was the negative one against Wlad. McCline himself admited he was very intimidated and spent most of the fight trying to spoil. Wlad jumped on the dangerous Jefferson early, slugged it out with the young Barrett, and unloaded a barrage on the charging Puritty and Brewster before gassing..or whatever the hell happened. Again, Lewis is the logical choice but its boring not to consider how Wlad could pull it off. Vitali was able to find a home for his right hand repeatedly as Lewis tried to walk in and grab him, he doesn't hit nearly as hard as his brother. Wlad has the better chance of pulling a Rahman.

 

Again Vitali is wayyyy better fighting off the backfoot. If Lewis charged at Wlad the way he did Vitali I dont see Wlad having anything close to the success his brother did, they simply have different fighting styles, but yes if Wlad landed his best shot on Lewis I think he would knock him out. I think he hits a lot harder, but it wouldnt be from Lewis charging him, Wlad needs to setup his righthand coming forward, not using it as a counter off his backfoot.

 

I'm not so sure of that, it was a counter right cross that Wlad leveled a charging Jefferson with.

Lewis is going to have to get around those punches and hurt Wlad to get him going in reverse. As I recall Sanders set a trap for Wlad that stunned him initially to get him back paddling and vulnerable..I can see Lewis trying something similar with his uppercut. An easy target like an offensive minded Lewis rushing even pre-Steward Wlad out of the gate could be a mistake.

 

Wlads better with his hook off the backfoot

 

People underestimate how awkward an opponent Vitali is to fight, even more so than his brother and especially the Wladimir of 2004. He doesn't have pretty footwork, but he made up for it with great height and instinctive upperbody movement, usually leaning even further backwards. Lewis was having problems timing him, but he still landed blows that would have sent Wladimir to the canvas.

Wladimir's defense before Steward was mainly to parry punches or to back up straight when hurt, which doesn't bode well against Lewis at all. He's a better controller of distance nowadays and uses the clinching to great effect, although even then he would have problems surviving an onslaught from Lewis.

 

yep :good

 

I agree about Vitali but in all fairness, Lewis was able to get some of his better punches off by walking through Vitali's pesky but weak left hand. There are several moments, he'd push in with that high guard and let Vitali smack at him so he could try the big right over the top. It didn't always work but he got in a few good licks that way.

 

I'd have more faith in Lewis's whiskers than Wladimir's if such a punch tradeoff took place. Vitali did not hit as hard, but the right hand he landed in round 2 was probably the best he ever threw yet he couldn't put Lennox away.

 

Are you seriously insinuating Lewis ducked Wlad and chose the easier option in Vitali? This is the same Wlad who 3 months prior was getting KO'ed in 2 by Sanders.

 

Yeah Wlad was in no way ready for Lewis. Probably as ready as Mike Grant was..