Could Ali handle the size of a Lewis?

Ray Mercer was a stocky 6"1 and giving away inches in reach to Lewis and still managed to out jab Lewis for long stretches of their fight as well as really work Lennox over at mid range.

Ali was taller than Ray, had a longer reach, better jab, much quicker hands,vastly superior mobility and a chin that was in the same class (though I wouldn't say better because Ray's was granite).

Factor in Frank Bruno out boxing a pre-Steward Lewis for a fair percentage of their bout until Lennox got him out of there and I think it's pretty obvious that Lewis wan't invincible and a decent sized guy with skills, smarts and toughness could be very competitive with him. That's not to say there's many who have those qualities in the abundance needed to beat an out and out great like Lewis.

Ali is one who I think has all of the requisite qualities to beat Lewis despite being the smaller man. It's not a given but I think Ali would win.

 

Definitely.

 

Ali in his prime?..Yes, Much like he did with Liston.

 

It wasnt just size with Lewis. It was his combination of size, boxing skills and a razor sharp righthand that packed titanic power. The fact that he had a tough defense and mastered distance makes this a very difficult matchup for any version of Muhammad Ali.

Ernie Terrell and Joe Bugner dont compare.

 

Lewis was on steroids, before he gassed up he was only 225-230 or so. Ali would decimate a no steroid using Lewis.

 

Well we know Vitaly juiced, and Wlad has put on 29lbs from his lowest to highest professional weight. Lewis put on 25.5 from his lowest to highest. Going by your logic, Wlad is juicing too. :good

 

These guys are tough matchups because their skills on the outside came with crushing, brutish strength of close and ATG power.

They challenge him because they can do what he did, lacking in speed but bringing substantially more impact.

I'd LOVE to see a fighter as smart as Ali think his way out of this one. I think he could, but it'd take some work.

 

This thread is not about anyone but Ali and Lewis.


Try to keep your crazy nut hugging ilk to yourself son. atsch

Wlad was 226 at 21 and 240 at 23......LMAO, his weight gain is totally natural.

Lewis gained 35lbs not 25lbs son.

And back to the point Ali would beat the **** out of Lewis with ease.

 

But not the chin, or the desire.

 

Outside of Ali ,I think Lewis is perhaps the toughest matchup for the other heavyweight champions. I pick Ali to beat him , because of his speed and movement. Wlad gets schooled imo.

 

I can't forget A static Bruno outjabbing Lewis for long periods. Ali was too mobile ,and too fast imo.

 

You can beat a taller man with a good reach advantage if you mount in and out flurries . eg Leonard v Hearns. Lewis's reach is the same as Liston's.:think