David Tua from Ike fight versus: 1:Lewis he faced 2: Lewis from the Ruddock fight Does the best version of Tua beat any version of Lewis?
I don’t think he wins but I think he puts a much better show on. He prob wasn’t wealthy at the time of the Ike fight. He just seemed so disinterested in actual fighting against Lewis. That and he got to fat and slow of foot to close the gap against Lennox.
I wouldn't bet on the best Tua even beating early Lewis, he just doesn't have the style or talent to get through.
Going for broke against Lewis could well have seen Tua KO’d or stopped. Whatever Lennox did land, Tua felt it and it duly subdued him Whatever version of David, I think he always curbs his usual aggression due to the higher risk posed Lewis.
David was lighter then but he was too guard reliant, Lennox would make target practice out of him again and not let him get off because he caught it all on his “shield” a man can’t hit you and block at the same time. It’s why Foreman would beat him in the 90s even Riddick Bowe if they just kept slamming him with there jab he would shut down offensively and not leave himself options. David Tua was not afraid to be hit by Lennox I think that’s one of the silliest explanations he’s a pro fighter - it was just a flaw in how he fought if he got “invited” in to fight like Ike did he’d get down to it and go hard.
Tua had enough talent and physical gifts. At that level it’s all smarts, luck, and circumstance IMO. You can get there with some of those things but to stay you’ve got to be smart to leave a mark.
I think the 99/00 Lennox will always be too smart and too good of a boxer to be beaten by any Tua. If you talk about the sloppier 1993/94 Lewis (I'm not including the Lewis of the Ruddock fight because he showed good technique and coordination during it), Tua may have a puncher chance.
2000 Lewis - same result. Ruddock Lewis - very interesting proposition. He was ruff around the edges and sloppy sometimes. Tua could have won that.
Lewis was vulnerable to right hands not left hooks Tua was outboxed for large periods against the likes of Oquendo, Masakev, Rahman. Tua is too slow of foot and doesn't have the style, height, or the right hand to beat Lewis.
It would have to be at the perfect time though because Ibeabuchi was literally a head case and was a walking time bomb ready to implode at any moment.
