On the scale for 1-10, Lewis rates between 9 - 9.5. A puncher for sure. I agree that Wlad hit a little harder.
Maybe an 8/10 for his average right cross, 9 when he's in a bad mood and putting everything into it. I think it's fairly clearly on film that Wladmir, Wilder, and Shavers had more lethal right crosses. Uppercut was nasty, but not the best. I'd give it an 8/10. I think guys like Tyson, Joshua, Foreman, had more powerful uppercuts (although Lewis made up for the difference with excellent timing and accuracy). Outside of his super heavyweight jab, his left hand isn't in the conversation when it comes to top 5 power. He was a fairly Orthodox and traditional fighter at times and his knockouts usually came about from the right side of his body. Speaking of body, Lennox lacked notable power for body shots and didn't target the area as much as he could have. With his long arms you'd think he'd at least throw more spear jabs, but perhaps Emmanuel Steward drilled it into his head to maintain his outside advantage and to avoid close range combat. I will say this though: Lennox was no joke and could be real nasty when he wanted to hurt a guy. If he put his combinations together and landed flush, there are very, very few people who could remain standing even if he wasn't the absolute best in any 1 category. He did lack late round KO power though, possibly due to his hefty frame and cautious nature.
Lewis held a huge max. punch but didn’t always fight as aggressively or as badly intended as some might’ve preferred. So it might be seem that he could’ve invoked his power more frequently for stoppages that weren’t actually achieved or achieve certain stoppages earlier than he actually did. Terrific power held in potential and exercised often enough but not necessarily always exemplified. Lennox fought as cautiously and prudently as he saw fit. He knew his own strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else. Sure, we can perhaps suggest that he could’ve let the power hang out more. However, that would’ve invited more glitches and instead of an absolute top 5 ATG, we might instead be talking an irrefutable # 1 puncher who wasn’t rounded enough to win the big fights and prevail over the upper echelon fighters - not an uncommon phenomena. I think the ATG ranking and criteria therein that Lewis fought in accordance with and satisfied is much more preferable than his being irrefutably touted just as a # 1 puncher who was otherwise heavily flawed.
I think when Lennox got leverage or was in a perfect position that right hand was devastating. That right hand he KO'd Rahman with was painful!!
Glad Chris Byrd is doing good and appears to have all his faculties considering he faced some really big men.
That KO was amazing. Particularly since it was against a guy that had previously levelled Lennox himself. I was a bit nervous for Lewis going into that fight but boy howdy doody, did he pull greatness out of his a**!!
Absolute privilege to see that live in our own lifetime. Whaaat! I can’t believe that it’s coming up for 21 years ago! Time flies.
As hard as any of them. Dont know how to quantify how any of these big hitters are any heavier than the others as its kinda academic. these guys hit you, its goodnight whether 1 guy has , i dunno, 5000 kilojoules of power or whatever its called, and another has,like, 4900. Its goodnight Irene and Lewis could hit plenty
