What if Lewis came along a in the 80's?

He would wipe the slate clean. If he wasn't an underskilled, drug addict like most pathetic HW's were in that era.

 

If he came along in 1980, he would probably unify the titles and have some excellent/competitive fights with Larry Holmes to determine who the best was. In the late 1980s if he was slowing down, a young Tyson would probably beat him.

 

This scenario is not feasible, as Lennox's home country, Canada, boycotted the '80 Moscow Olympics, so he would have to turn pro after the '84 Olympics. He actually had a chance to do this after placing fifth in Los Angeles, but decided to play the waiting game and go to Seoul.

Skinny Lennox was in no hurry to face Mike Tyson in the pros, even though Cus D'Amato had prophesied their eventual clash. With Tyson safely out of the picture in the '90s, Lennox emerged and went on his successful run.

 

Holmes would probably price himself out of a fight with Lennox in the 80's. Or ditch his belt if Lennox were his mandatory.

 

the holmes of '77-'83 would beat lewis... after '83ish holmes however, lewis could take that version of larry...

 

Exactly. Lewis and Holmes would be neck and neck duking it out to be the best fighter of the era (early-mid/late 80's). When Tyson came along on the scene, presumably at the same time, it would make things very interesting ...

Three Top 10 ATG's in their prime in the same era. :hey

 

Fair comment. :good

 

He would dominate much the same as he did in the 90s.

 

Holmes is the only one I'd favour over Lewis. Apart from that Lewis was very successful in a more competitive era. Early Tyson might be too much for Lewis as well.
I wonder if he'd be ducked at all in a Bowe-like fashion?

 

Lewis would dismantle Larry if ever they were to meet prime for prime, assuming they got their starts at close to the same time, etc. Although it is true that Holmes had great lateral movement, I'd peg Lewis to cut off the ring effectively to garner at least a unanimous decision behind an inferior albeit longer left jab.

 

A Holmes - Lewis fight in their primes would be very interesting for boxing purists, as I see it as being a strategic fight each using their best traits. But I don't envision fireworks along the lines of a Tyson - Frazier type fight. Basically it would be a cautious fight which I believe Lewis might win due to his superior power.

 

Lewis could take all the guys Larry fought he would however suffer an upset loss to one or two of them.

 

Lewis did come around in the 80s, sort of. He lost to Tyrell Biggs in the '84 Olympics at age 17 or 18. He remained amateur until '88 when he beat Bowe in the Olympics.