Lennox Lewis says he wishes he was around in this era so he could fight Usyk

The question for me is: Do I think Lennox Lewis was better than Tyson Fury? My answer to myself is yes. And that gives me my answer as to who would win a Lennox Lewis vs. Oleksandr Usyk prime vs. prime fantasy match.

 

If that's what LL thinks he should keep it to himself. LL would be better off letting others speak for him. To me, LL's best win was Ruddock, a big hard puncher for the 90s, but I wouldn't pick LL to beat Fury, Joshua, or Dubois. LL was younger when he won by cut over VK than Usyk is now. Usyk is still winning impressively, over bigger, stronger, younger fighters. If LL really believed he could have beaten Usyk he wouldn't be doing "old man talking." He knows the truth.

 

Oh I think Lewis beats Usyk but clearly Lewis might feel that his status/legacy is perhaps under threat.

Especially on the heels of Usyk’s latest performance and result…and also in the face of some of the more acute, knee jerk reactions to same….that have given rise to Usyk slaying every HW ATG that has ever lived before him…say what?

I think Lennox did pick Dubois to win. Had Daniel won, Lennox could’ve rested more at ease and perhaps him seeking/desiring such potential comfort corrupted a more sound prediction from him otherwise.

Maybe the comprehensive destruction of Brit HWs en masse has obligated Lewis to step and say that he is the one Brit Usyk wouldn’t have gotten over the top of. Again, I agree with him.

Maybe I should cut some slack and understand that retired ATGs will naturally always calculate how they might’ve beaten the current Title holder - or at least one who is as good as Usyk.

Right now though, Usyk def. rules Britannia.

Olek, The Horribly Nice.

The true “King”….forget that Charlie “I’m coming back as a tampon” fella…bloody hell, Chuck!

 

I'd have Lennox blowing away Dubois like he did Golota. As soon as Dubois put it on him, he would walk into an uppercut or a monster of a right hand because he has zero ring IQ. Lennox is a nightmare for him stylistically, I think. Joshua would probably have more success, but it would probably play out like the Briggs fight.

Prime for prime, I have Lennox beating Usyk, but it wouldn't be easy, and it would be a very close fight. If Fury, Chisora and Joshua can take rounds off Usyk, then Lennox definitely could; he definitely has the power to hurt him. Fury buzzed Usyk with an uppercut, so Lewis could definitely do major damage, but Usyk has the power to hurt Lewis, too - great fight H2H.

 

Man, so do I.

 

If he had done that, we might remember him today like we remember Tyrell Biggs. Managing a career is incredibly important. It's a bit like chess. Strategy is key. You fight the right people at the right time. Lewis was a master at that. That's why I don't think he would ever fight today's Usyk. He would have challenged him at the right time or ended his career. Or held onto his second belt while negotiating and negotiating.

 

Keep grinding that axe mate.

 

He's simply doing what so many other heavyweight champs before him have done. Competitive spirit and ego made them what they were, among other things. As if Lewis thinks Usyk would beat him, Jesus Christ.

If you think Fury, Joshua and Dubois all beat him you are kidding yourself.

Someone already copped a flogging in another thread for being disingenuous about Usyk and age. Lewis was in his 44th professional fight when he repelled Vitali, punching half his face off. Usyk has had 24 pro fights. Shall we see how he is going when he hits the 44 fight mark?

 

The question is whether Usyk is better than Ray Mercer, whom Lennox gave his all. Is Usyk 2025 better than Holyfield in 1999, who John Ruiz was about to beat? The answer is yes. Add to that the style he uses to fight, and you'll have a different answer. But, of course, you can stick to your own, and I respect that. Regards.

 

Me too

 

Fighting at his current rate of infrequency, we only need to wait at least another 15 years for that day to arrive.

 

Exactly! It'll be just a while until he hits that sort of professional wear and tear.

 

Well, he might have just waited for the purse bids to find out what his real worth was, but Bowe dropped the belt into the trashcan not to fight him, so that's that.

 

I think Holyfield edged Lewis in their second fight. But I doubt Usyk would be able to have that kind of success.

 

I can't see the frequency of fights increasing any time soon, either.

In another recent thread, the Ali/Mildenberger bout came up again (surprise surprise) and this highlighted as a reminder of the kind of schedule Ali had back in the day (five championship bouts in a year). One wonders whether today's so-called 'evolved' boxers could manage such a schedule, even if the circumstances allowed for it.