At his absolute peak ,how would Lennox Lewis have fared against these guys?

Very good analyses indeed!

About Vitali, I do not strongly favor Lewis.
Looked up how many HW fights are stopped on cuts:1-4%, & that Vitali only lost ONCE on cuts against Lewis.
So this is a statistically very unlikely outcome.
But give Vitali a decent chance of a points win: Vitali was pre-peak against Lewis, & was a high volume puncher who does not get knocked out.

 

I'm not so sure. Peak Lewis would have been more willing and more able to engage in an aggressive fight with Vitali, and both men woukd have had time to prepare fully for each other. It would be an absolute war for sure. The only way Lewis wins is on cuts for me so yes, it is a possibility, but cuts aside I think Vitali is all wrong for Lewis. His size, condition and single minded marauding style combined with his chin and his engine will see him through. Thanks for your reply nonetheless, interesting to hear alternative views, peace and love always, Px

 

Most likely Usyk, then Wlad. Again, it's in case if Lennox fights them all in a row

 

Usyk can defeat Lewis, but I’m not sure either way on that one.

Lewis would defeat the rest, but Tyson Fury and Vitali would make it awkward for a while.

I believe he gets to Joshua and Wlad early on.

 

In top form Lewis goes 5-0. Fury would do about as well as Michael Grant.

 

No he's not or Vitali would have won. Lewis had the better jab, more power and superior skills thats why an aged sloppy version still won

 

More people making stuff up. A past it Lewis beat him after causing 3 different gashes that was not luck there were too many separate incidences of inflicted injuries Lewis always beats Vitali

 

Not sure about making things up? This was a short notice fight for both men so neither would have been at their best. Lewis DID bust Vitali up, no arguments, but then all three judges had Vitali up by two points at the time of stoppage. I'm not sure why there is a need for disparaging replies like this. We are not talking about the fight they had, we are talking about a fantasy fight between the best version of each. As such, any opinion that favours Lewis when analysed and explained well holds as much water as one that favours Vitali. I see no need to suggest people are 'making stuff up' when the argument from their actual fight is based on such shaky foundations.

I'm more than happy to accept that many believe Lewis wins this, even easily, how can I claim I am 'right' when the fantasy fight never happened. Vitali being two up and, from my memory, beating Lewis up, holds little water as an argument for him beating a prime Lewis...it was, as I said, a short notice fight for both men so neither were anywhere near their mythical 100%/100% unicorn best.

It is lovely to discuss this kind of fight with such knowledgeable posters and they always give me food for thought. I am, however, yet to be persuaded that prime Lewis beats prime Vitali, although I do rank Lewis higher.

Thanks for taking time to reply regardless, peace and love always, Px

 

There were 6 rounds to go

Past it Lewis already beat prime Vitali, Vitali was 31, he was at his peak, Vitali in his later years accrued injuries, inactivity and the body starts the gradual decline in your early, mid 30s. Vitali was also studying lewis for years, Lewis may have actually fought the best version of Klitschko

 

Now thats the kind of answer I like...thanks for this. I still disagree that was the 'best' Vitali as, like Lewis, he wasn't prepping for that fight and I actually think the best Lewis is more vulnerable than the older one...but also much more dangerous. It would have been a hell of a fight and I'd definitely give Lewis one win out of a trilogy...

 

I would take peak Wlad over peak Lewis. Styles. Lewis was susceptible to right hands. Wlad threw a tight straight right with fast hands.
Lewis peak beats Vitali peak. Vitali was strong and durable but his punches weren’t strong enough to deter Lewis. Lewis on points or if he manages to cut Vitali again by stoppage.
Lewis ko’s Joshua he’s shown over and over now, that it takes him a long time recuperate when hurt.
Lewis likely beats Fury. Fury is tricky looks great one night and awful the next. He’s a hard man to keep on the canvas but Lewis would probably score a few knockdowns en route to a decision.
Usyk is an incomplete. Lewis didn’t face many movers and zero real southpaws. Usyk has more experience facing guys like Lewis than vice versus but Lewis was a great heavy and Usyk total time in division doesn’t enable me to pick him with confidence here.

 

Bang on the money, JT.

 

And some dumb asses think the peak Lewis was the young version from around 92 to 94, pre-Steward.

Not even a maybe.

 

I did not know that he cut Vitali 3 times in that bout, but one cut literally opens the way to others.
Nothing was "made up": this is just opinion, but the actual record of how often Vitali (never besides this fight) was stopped on cuts, & how often others are, are facts.

Edit: I see Philosopher (like Long Count, very rational & Gracious), called you on the seemingly disparaging "making things up".
Unless you can point to a *lie* which is what this term means, best to stick to more fair & les alienating terminology.

I am not picking Vitali, just saying that it is very unlikely Lewis wins again on cuts.
But that Lewis was more past peak than Vitali was pre peak is your best argument.

 

3 different gashes on different sides of the face from a lethargic Lewis yeh nah that was not luck, atypical circumstances but not luck, the real reason is Lewis was simply capable of tagging Vitali more than anyone else he has ever faced and had the power to hole punch his face over the course of 6 grueling rounds.

Lewis was past his peak, still held his own, finished the last round stronger and there were 6 rounds to go.

Prime for prime, I must take Lewis