Could The Best Of Lennox Beat The Best Of Joe Frazier?

I agree. I see Lewis' style as an evolution of what Foreman and Liston did mixed with Steward's technique taught to Hearns' especially with the left hand to control their opponents and set up attacks.

So for me Lewis is an even worse style match up for Frazier than even Foreman, as Lewis is even better at maintaining distance and also has the ability to manhandle smaller opponents into vulnerable positions like Foreman did.

 

Lionel Butler, pal.

 

And what fighter did Butler ever knock out or even knockdown that is comparable to ALI ??
Frazier had one of the greatest left hooks in the history of the heavyweight division and it is backed up by RESULTS.
To compare a might have been whose best knockout was over Tony Tubes and Bonecrusher to Joe Fraziers left hook is insane.
Fraziers beat down world class boxers time and time again with the hook being his money punch - Butler did not.

 

And see that's the whole thing that people overlook- NOBODY ever knocked out a prime Frazier BUT Lewis got laid out TWICE and one of those was in his prime.
Lewis isn't going to be able to keep Frazier off of him.

 

I can see Steward-era Lewis using the jab and overall strength to win the early rounds, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if he knocked down Joe hard with the uppercut before the 4th.

I see Joe popping back up, clapping his gloves together. And after that, Lewis is getting put through the lawn mower. He couldn't keep Smokin' off him, I completely agree. Joe's ridiculous body attack, persistence, and durability will win out.

Of course, once again I mean the FOTC Frazier solely. Any other Frazier, I absolutely wouldn't bet on (though 69 to 70 Joe would still be no joke of course).

 

Totally agree. It would have to be Joe at his very best.
Its the relentless born to severe poverty and the hunger knowing that if you win you distance yourself further from ever having to experience that again that made Joe just as dangerous as his hook.
You watch him and he's almost fanatical especially in his early bouts where you just sense that you would have to pretty much have to be willing to risk it ALL to beat him.
And I don't see that in Lewis. And Lewis is certainly was a great heavyweight champion bit with Joe it was like he's saying in order to take my title your pretty much going to have to kill me or knock me out completely and if you don't do either of those two your in for a long night.
I saw that in Larry Holmes as well. He got up from some shots that I KNOW Lewis would never have and that's not slamming Lewis at all. Holmes didn't come up with the gold medal and the pro contract - he had to bleed for everything he got and you were not going to take it away unless your willing to go all the way.
And I'm not saying Lewis has no heart because he certainly does possess it along with fine skills and he does deserve slot of praise because he certainly was a great boxer but I think Joe was a different breed in a much rougher time.

 

I'm with you on all this.

Lewis was a great, great fighter and I think we both have a lot of respect for him.

Joe really did come from a big 0 of a background...that hunger is a massive part of what made guys like him so ferocious and thus successful. As you mentioned, Holmes too. Look at what Foreman took from Ron Lyle as well...George was getting beat all over the ring, it's hard for me to see LL coming back from that (though of course LL under Steward's wing would have probably never gotten into that situation in the first place, he had that much more cautious, schooled style. I'm talking if he got hit with those shots flush like GF did).

 

Watch the Vitali fight.

 

I will watch it again for sure.

 

So are Hassim Rahman and Oliver McCall too, they are great fighters. Ha, Ha, Lol.

 

Lennox Lewis could not twice, Lol.

 

I agree Lewis is a tough style for almost anyone. I don't dispute he could knock Joe down perhaps a couple of times on his way to a decision. At the same time its not a comfortable fight for Lewis because he never faced anyone that relentless, who was pinned to his chest 3 minutes a round.
Whether Lewis is as strong as Foreman is questionable but he had nowhere near the type of mentality it would take to knock Joe Frazier out or force a stoppage. If you just watch a replay of Foreman/Frazier 1 and picture Lennox Lewis same scenario going into to finish Joe. The # of punches Foreman had to throw and land to get the TKO was more than Lennox would attempt. Lewis doesn't have that type of confidence. He was a chess player. Frazier would land more punches on Lewis than Lennox was accustomed to.