Barry McGuigan - Lennox Lewis Would Have Destroyed Fury.!

Lewis was from his mother's womb untimely ripped.

So yes, a destruction is in order here.

 

Jingoism overload. Personally, I thought Frank looked like he was on his way to the electric chair.

 

Yeah. As soon as I saw the expression on Bruno's face entering the ring,I realised that Frank would be taking an early shower in the loser's dressing room. Frank looked a lot more confident before his FIRST go with Tyson.

 

I wish this one could happen, maybe some of you would even give me good odds if I take Fury? I'd take Fury anyway, odds or not. Lewis never fought anyone similar and a 4" taller, 30-40 pounds heavier, longer, highly skilled, quick, durable Fury would be something LL had never seen before. Lewis is not Wilder, he doesn't have that explosiveness or quickness. Lewis did not move that much, he usually stalked smaller people. He would try to box with Fury and he might be about as successful as WK. I don't remember Lewis getting a gut check over the distance when he was behind or even when he was even. I think he'd be behind against Fury from the start and would probably get stopped. Fury can punch when he sets down, he can put long arms and 275 pounds behind his punch.

I have no questions about Fury's heart or willingness to fight. There is also no question about Fury's ability to come back when he is hurt. IMO, he was hit by probably the biggest puncher in history in the 12th round, seemed to be out, but he came back and controlled the round. Fury is a boxer who grew up around boxing, has a boxing IQ that few have in addition to heart, durability, and never seen speed and skills in a huge fighter. He'd be good if he was average size. I don't see many advantages for LL in this one.

 

It's likely to be an unpopular opinion in some quarters of the Classic section of this forum, but I agree with you that in time machine fantasy matches Fury could potentially be a tough fight for anyone in history, largely for the reasons you've given.

That said, there a few things you've said I disagree with:

• Size - No question Fury is taller and, prime for prime, heavier than Lewis. However, I don't believe Fury's 6ft 9ins listing, he was listed as shorter earlier in his career and whilst it's uncommon for boxer's heights to be understated, it certainly isn't uncommon for them to be overstated. More importantly than my judgement, the experts in assessing the heights of people in the public eye don't believe he's 6ft 9ins either - https://www.celebheights.com/s/Tyson-Fury-49113.html - I' believe there's 2.5" to 3" difference, rather than 4". Lewis looked at his best around 244lbs (Golata) or 245lbs (Holyfield 1) to me. Fury 265lbs (Whyte), 269lbs (Chisora 3) or 273lbs (Wilder 2, with clothes on). So, more likely around a 20-25lbs weight difference than 30-40lbs, imo.

• Lewis never had a gut check/won over the distance from behind or even - Admittedly only over 10-rounds, but he was behind in a tough, physical contest with the iron chinned Mercer in a small ring, and gutted it out to win a narrow decision. Holyfield also had a little run of winning a few rounds during the middle of the 2nd Lewis fight and the fight was arguably even, or at least close, after 8, before Lennox turned the momentum around, got back to his jab and won the remainder of the fight.

• Lewis/Wilder comparison - Wilder may hit harder than Lennox with the straight right, but even then I'm not convinced. Wilder is a huge puncher, no question, but I'm not sure even he could throw a harder shot than Lewis KO'd Rahman with, which admittedly was more of a roundhouse, rather than straight, right-hand. Lewis has the harder jab & uppercut, imo. Power is the only way they're comparable, Lewis's stamina whilst not great, wasn't as poor as Wilder's, he was a vastly superior technical boxer to Wilder, better ring IQ, was physically stronger and arguably had a slightly better, or at least more proven, chin.

 

Shock people are giving Fury ZERO chance against Lewis when the likes of Rahman flatten him. I make Lewis a slight favorite, and if Lewis does win, I do not see a knockout. Fury has some whiskers on him. Lewis more likely will get a CLOSE points decision if he wins. This is one of these fights I think could go either way. Fury does have the power to crack Lewis's chin which has let him down in the past.

 

Probably one of the worst takes I've read on here for a while, if I'm being honest.

That said, you are right to point out that Lewis is not Wilder, albeit for the wrong reasons. If Lewis was Wilder we'd all be quite confidently correct in calling it for Fury now, wouldn't we?

Lewis not explosive? Did someone just erase 1989 to 2003 from your memory and audio/video collection?

Lewis would try and box Fury? Why?
Unlike Wlad, Lewis was not conflict-averse and would not presume he could just casually break through Fury's long guard at will. Even if he attempted and failed, as did Wlad on too many occasions to count, he wouldn't just keep repeating the same mistake, over and over again.

Does a gut check have to be taken to the wire - or is Lewis allowed to just beat the person in front of him before it gets that far? You post as though Lewis was never tested, which is just not the case.

You act like Lewis never had to fight bigger people - and a lot of those opponents of shorter stature than he were still big men, big punchers too.

So, if you have no doubts about Fury's heart or willingness to fight, does that mean you do have your doubts about Lewis' heart and will?

You say there is no question about Fury's ability to come back when he is hurt but when has Fury been in a real grinding match at world level, when he was being dug into punch after punch - not just caught, stunned and decked by one crisp shot.

It would be interesting to see that boxing IQ of Fury's tested against an opponent with an IQ of his own, don't you think?

I doubt anyone believes this is easy for Lewis or that Fury isn't a head-to-head nightmare for just about any heavyweight in history, but what you have done here is essentially pour praise on Fury, whilst making assumptions about how Lewis would approach this fight and stripping him of any potential advantages - seemingly so you can just state that you don't see many for Lewis.

Kinda funny in some ways, I suppose.

 

Lewis stops Fury although it wouldn't be a walk in the park.

 

Lewis not explosive ? Did you miss his destruction of Ruddock ? Golota ? Botha ? Rahman 2 ? Lewis has some of the most explosive power ever for a Heavyweight.

Lewis not as fast as Wilder what ? Lewis has some of the best handspeed and combination punching for a big man. Lewis also hits hard with either hand where as Wilder is one dimensional and relies solely on his right hand.

Lewis also gutted out tough wins vs Bruno, Mercer, Vitali, when he was behind early.

 

I simply do not see Tyson beating Lennox.

 

I have enjoyed Fury as a very colorful , funny guy .. I think he has shown an amazing level of courage and heart ... I think he is/was a very talented fighter but still say he has only fought Deontay Wilder and an old Klitschko ... you cannot begin to compare that to the exceptional level of competition Lewis fought , not even compare ... the reaches are the same while Lennox was so much stronger, at least as talented, worlds harder hitting and the speed is comparable .. I think Lennox stops him ...

 

I think Fury would beat him. Lewis is overrated.

 

Just like when Stevie Cruz the part time plumber defeated Barry McGuigan.

 

I was living in Texas at that time & was a lodger in Dave Gorman's gym practically. Stevie was a late substitute for Barry. Stevie just plain out did Barry plus the over 100 deg heat& they said Barry was doing roadwork in it
It was the end of the line for Barry.
Dave Gorman had a knack of producing fighters that stepped in as late substitutes & beating the fancied fighter.
I remember Gene Mad Dog Hatcher coming in to fight Johnny Bumphus . Lou Duva thought in would be easy for Bumphus & he was winning & showboating a bit when Gene brought out that "Left Hook from Heaven" he called it & down went Bumphus got up on rubber legs Gene nailed him again & it was over. Gene has a pic of him , his Dad & Dave in the ring with the belt in his home. Never seen three bigger smiles in my life Poor old Lou was going ballistic lol he said " **** you Gorman you've done it to me again" lovely memories

 

Actually, he was correct on that count.