Ali vs Lennox Lewis

Lenix is lazy like a lion.
He lost the fights because he was taking it easy, Ali would most probably win his first encounter against Lewis if Lewis starts unfocused.
Lewis would probably win the next fights after he regains his focus.

 

Lennox ruled in an era of sluggers. We don't know how he'd have handled a pure boxer, because he never really had to- all we know is that he was more skilled than the other sluggers. Still, the way Mercer landed his jab leads me to think Ali would have openings there. Toss up fight for me.

edit: I'd probably put it 60/40 Ali for a one fight scenario, splitting a series is most likely.

 

Everyone keeps saying Lewis will be lazy and get beaten easily in a first fight with Ali. Do you really think if a prime Lewis got the chance to fight who he considers the greatest fighter ever he wouldn't take it seriously and not train. Lewis would show up in the best shape of his career if he had a fight with Ali, he respects him greatly.

However i do agree that Ali has the better chance of winning (just slightly) but Lewis has the tools to make it interesting and pull off an upset. Ali isn't invincible and you don't need to be superman to beat him, Norton proved that and Norton got ko'd in his career just like Lewis ( and Frazier was ko'd in his career and he still beat ali despite being smaller, slower and having none of the athletic gifts Ali had). Come to think of it every fighter who beat Ali was KO'd at some point in their career. Have no doubt though in a fight with Ali the best version of Lewis would show up. As for Louise easily beating Lewis. I really think Lennox at his best has to much for a prime Joe Louise.

I think many people overrate a lot of Boxers from the early days (by which i mean the 20's,30's,40's, and 50's) I know the 70's had an awesome crop of fighters. Jesse Owens was great in the 30's but that does not mean he would whoop Usain Bolt in a race. And remember in the 50's when Marciano was champion many of the experts thought that he would not have a chance against previous heavyweights from the turn of the century. Its like that saying 'the older i get the better i was'. Lewis did get ko'd twice and had some trouble with other fighters but Ali also had trouble with fighters who were nothing special and were cruiserweights by todays standards.

If you want someone to beat Ali prime to prime more than 50% of the time i think Prime Holmes could do it. I think Holmes would be more pumped up than any other Heavyweight to beat a prime Ali because he feels like he dosen't get the respect he deserves because he came after Ali.Plus with all his sparing with Ali he would know how to handle him. His Jab would give Ali fits. Funny thing is i can't see prime holmes beating a prime Tyson 50% or more of the time, but i can see prime Ali beating prime Tyson. Oh well the old saying styles make fights.

 

Ali by UD. Lewis is one of those guys that seems to get overrated a lot because of his size and wins over not close to prime greats Tyson and Holyfield.

 

These are the two Champions that would pose the most head to head problems for the others,imo.
I like Ali here, his speed ,and agility making the difference.
Also I can't forget Bruno, and Mercer's success with the jab.