So if Lennox Lewis had actually matched up with ATG s, but past best, Larry Holmes or George Foreman, he'd have stood a chance of stopping em? I think in that time frame, if anyone would have, it's LL.
I think Lewis would have stopped the relatively stationary Foreman who would be caught at will with Lewis right hands. Referee steps in and stops the massacre. Early 90s Foreman would be the best bet to make it to the end or even catch Lewis with something hard, stopping him. Holmes, on the other hand, I think could have survived until the final bell.
Yes, Holmes had the knack of getting through his comeback fights un hurt, not sure if he fought anyone like Lewis for power tho he'd remain upright! Big George, what Alex Stewart did to him, I'm sure Lewis could better it.
Yes I think there would be a definite risk to both foreman and Holmes being stopped and badly hurt by Lewis within that time frame.
Well, if you include 1998 and 1999 in the 90's, then - yes. Lennox could stop the already retired Foreman, but the question is whether he would want to (to put so much pressure on himself and Foreman), and whether he would need it in a situation where he would win everything, or lose all the rounds. As for Larry Holmes, he knocked out James "Bonecrusher" Smith in 1999 and Mike Weaver in 2000 (two ex champions) so he was in much better shape than the retired Foreman. But again I say if Lennox would want (to put so much pressure on himself and Holmes) to win by knockout, and if he would need it. IMO Holmes would be much harder to knock out. Let's not forget that Larry Holmes and George Foreman were born in 1949, and if the "dream fights" take place at the end of 1999, then both of them are fully 50 years old, and have entered their 51st year of life.
“Could have”, definitely. “Would have” - maybe….I think that depends more on his goals and mindset on the night.
Foreman probably wouldn't be in the same good health he is today if he'd fought Lewis. Lewis would have seen him as a potential danger and handled him like he usually did in that scenario -- aggressively and viciously. Would have been ugly in the end. Holmes? Lewis had this pride in himself as a boxer. Didn't like to be thought of as some brute -- the whole "pugilist specialist" thing. I think Lewis would have wanted to beat Holmes at his own game. I think he'd have boxed him at range, aiming at out-jabbing the jab master.
Early in his career Foreman and Holmes would have been to much to soon . But by the time Lewis was training with Steward in the mid 90s he could have stopped either, both were well passed it and Lewis was in his prime.
More than Holmes or Foreman, Where Lewis has his head will determine the final outcome. Either of them could take Lewis and push him to (or past) the limit. But if he thinks Foreman is THAT slow, well you saw what happed to a certain champ. Holmes tended to be as good as he had to be, and he may not carry the power of Foreman, his jab opens up the other options for him.
I think Foreman would impose his will against Lennox Lewis despite going up against someone as big as him with power to boot. If LL could catch him with something early then it would be interesting. And we all know Holmes was susceptible to those right hands. I pick Holmes overall but Lennox is a guy you better be weary of with that range and quickness. Edit: My bad! Had Lennox fought either guy in the 90's I think he stops Foreman by TKO but Holmes might survive but lose by a wide margin.
Lennox could definitely come in more 'Aggressive' in certain fights. In others he seemed to sleep walk portions of the fight.
I don't think so. I see Lewis playing it safe and getting the decision against both. Getting too aggressive with even an old Foreman is dangerous, so I doubt Lewis would turn it up and risk getting knocked out himself. Lewis would most likely take more chances with Holmes, but Holmes was very cagey and even in his old age still had an excellent jab and counters, so I also seeing Lewis not forcing anything against Holmes and just getting the decision.
