Ali, Frazier and Foreman: What do they do against Lennox Lewis?

Good post overall Mark.

Unfortunately megastardom is a very elusive thing. Some fighters (Ali, Tyson, Sullivan, Dempsey etc.) just have that quality about them that makes people sit up and take notice.

Lewis wasn't destined to transcend the sport...just didn't have that special something (and I'm not talking about ability) that made people go 'wow.'

But he gives little ground to anyone when you sit down and analyse his overall ability. He was not unbeatable, but very difficult to beat all the same. As you say, he was never outclassed and beaten up over the duration of a fight, even if there were fights where he was second best until he put his man away, like in the Bruno fight.

And I won't even say I was or am a fan. I like Lewis, but he's not my cup of tea really. Still, it doesn't make me blind to the fact that he was a very, very impressive heavyweight.

 

Fist of Fury...totally agree with you.. he had pretty much everything bar that " Xfactor" ...its undefineable but i know what you mean.
I would guess its his personality...introsoective intelligent...sensible ?
But hey...thats why he's got a family and a great life ,rather than a 'car crash' of a life AFTER his boxing career.

 

Ah yes ... height, reach, weight , completely different styles ..

 

A touch over six feet ? Come on man .. let's not just make things up.

 

Ali did not hit like Lewis,Frazier could take his shots and keep coming he would not be able to do that against Lewis. Batter ? Frazier was the one in the hospital for a week after FOTC.Frazier was the one with a face swollen out of shape after the 2nd fight.Frazier was the one retired on his stool after The Thrilla.If Ali was battered, Frazier must have been macerated masticated and dessicated!
Bruno and Morrison are mentioned because both had top end power , more power than Frazier ,and Lewis did not back off from either of them, nor from Ruddock.

Frazier was a one trick , one handed pony, he knew only one way to fight and that was forced upon him by his physical stature, keep coming. That is suicide against a huge, heavy hitting bomber who has power in both hands a variety of punches in his arsenal including a great uppercut ,[the kryptonite for a small croucher], a heavy, accurate jab ,and terrific physical strength.

Frazier pounded on Mathis all night until the fat man succumbed to fatigue and the referee Mercante had the fight level at 5-5. Bonaven went toe to toe with Frazier twice and Joe couldn't even drop him. Against Lewis Fraizer is tasting resin and early,and that I would bet on.

 

Muhammad Ali w12 Lennox Lewis

Lennox Lews KO 6 Joe Frazier

Lennox Lewis TKO 7 George Foreman

 

it depends if Lewis is wary or not though dosnt it? Was Lewis wary of Tua? I think he was keen to feint Tua out if position and keep him stranded on the outside - and it worked.

Frazier won't buy feints. He would roll in like he always did, close the gap. Holyfeild moved Lewis back with just his footwork. I think Fraziers tempo and footwork could hurry Lewis back also and put him into simular cautious mode.

Foreman had a turkey shoot against Frazier because as you know Frazier could only operate at one range then. The Frazier that beat ALi had heat seeking left hooks that he could land from outside angles, his footwork could dictate the direction of escape and cut off corners. All that was gone in Jamaica.

 

Brilliant post, the Frazier of the FOTC is one of the greatest fighters of all time and would give any heavyweight a fight. People don't realise the relentlessness Joe fought with and if Lewis couldn't blast him out early he would be in for hell.

 

You said Frazier battered Ali, I replied in three fights Frazier came away the worse for wear of the two of them in each one.

Ali had speed , height ,reach,durability , elusiveness ,angles,footwork, flashing combinations ,great reflexes,improvisational skills, and good skin tissue.

How many of those boxes does Frazier tick?

Ali has the option of outspeeding and outboxing Lewis Frazier does not, he knew only one way to fight come forward, that gets him killed against Lennox . Ali can box ,Frazier must attack.

Ali had a great jab, decent left hook, fast accurate right cross, Frazier had a left hook and,and ,and,and.

Frazier beat an Ali who had been out for 3.5 years and he spent the next week in the hospital, his record against great fighters is won1 lost 4.

Those are the facts,and nothing you say will change them.

 

You're underestimating Frazier's speed big time especially on foot, he'd get to Lewis no problem about that.

Frazier beat an Ali who was on fire that night it's just Joe was Smoking too, I'd go to say that this is the best matched fight of all time.

 

I have to agree with choklab and ribticler in that Frazier is getting somewhat shortchanged. Prime Frazier was a difficult opponent for anyone including Lewis. When I watched Ali/Frazier I, I was impressed with Joe's ability to slip many of Ali's punches which came at him very fast and in fluid combinations. While Lennox certainly punched harder than Ali (who had underrated pop in his punches) he didn't have Ali's speed and accuracy. It would be interesting to see what would happen if Joe can survive the 1st few rounds against Lewis and really get things going. If he can make Lewis miss often enough due to his bobbing and weaving and shoulder rolling (instead of the stand up straight follow Lewis around the ring ala Mercer et al) while whipping in hooks to the body and head as well as the occasional right which he used to good effect against Ali and later Quarry, Lewis might be in for a long night. I would favor Lewis in this matchup, especially early, but I wouldn't simply dismiss Joe here. Especially a prime Frazier.

 

If Lewis decides to attack Frazier as he did Grant and Golota he finishes him that much quicker.
If he fights cautiously he takes him out at his leisure ,methodically breaking the little man down,and reducing him to an ineffectual walking heavy bag. Lennox can envelop Frazier in his big arms when he gets close and uppercut him as he likes .Think Johnson V Burns except Lennox would not play cat and mouse,and it would not go any 14 rds.

Hopefully the referee would be a compassionate one and stop it quicker than Mercante did in Kingston

Frazier cannot win this fight he would have to pound on Lennox all night,all the while avoiding return fire ,it aint gonna happen.

 

ali wins by sd

foreman wins by ko in 4

frazier vs lewis 50/50