1997 Lennox Lewis vs 1974 Muhammad Ali

Ali's skill doesn't even put him in the top 100 boxers of all time.
He's one of the least skilled champions ever, the man's fundamentals were crap.
Ali was great and had success due to his incredible physsical attributes (speed, reflexes, stamina), not due to skill.
And in 74, those attributes were no longer good enough to beat someone of Lewis's caliber.

 

I saw the fight myself several times and even scored it round by round. I posted my cards on a thread here.
Shavers clearly won.

 

LOL the literal year he beat a peak Foreman

 

Name 100 boxers more skilled than Ali, that is highly disrespectful to the great man. His skill lied in utlising ihis amazing attributrs and maximising their effectiveness. Theres plenty of boxers with great attributes but theres not another Ali.

 

He only beat him cause he tricked him and Foreman punched himself out in the scorching heat of Zaire.
And please don't compare 74 Foreman with a peak Lewis, Lewis is superior in every possible way, he's a far more skilled boxer.

 

I already compared them earlier in the thread. Foreman would retire Lewis.

 

Alas, Lewis. '67 Ali does what Markovic couldn't.

 

Lewis was hit and miss with this.

a good example of Lewis showing high ring IQ was against Tyson. He systematically figured out how to time Tyson as he came in, did it methodically wearing him down, and then started opening up once he had him pretty beat up already.

an example of Lewis showing low ring IQ would be against Mercer. He fought the exact fight Mercer wanted him to.

on the topic of 97 Lewis vs 74 Ali, I think it goes to the cards, which favors Ali.

 

Ali has a terrible time dealing with Lewis' on-high jab and is noticeably rocked more than once with the right.

Ali spends a lot of time jabbing and holding early on, but every now and then unleashes that cracking lead right. The latter is enough to make Lewis think and not blitz. After 5 rounds of this, with Ali holding a very slight lead, Lewis tries in earnest with the right hand. He is semi-succesful, backing Ali up and forcing him to hold even more, but Ali's rights are starting to catch up with him by the 6th. Lewis starts initiating the holding. By the 9th Lewis is stumbling after Ali more than boxing him; a well timed combination floors him and the fight is stopped.

 

It’s a close & competitive fight for sure, though not one I would expect to entertain. The poll should be closer. I’m not sure who I’d favour so I refrained from a vote. Maybe Ali, if I were really pushed.

 

Only in your dreams. Lewis beats the crap out of him.
Foreman is way too slow and not skilled enough to stand more than a puncher's chance.

 

Lewis beats this version of Ali

 

Sounds like you’re describing Ray Mercer.

 

You might find the unusually small ring had something to do with that

Mercer did fight a very fine fight as well. He took shots that would have dropped a bull.

 

Mercer was more skilled than Foreman. And fought differently.