Emanuel Steward: "Wladimir is the more talented, Lennox is the more accomplished"

lennox was my fav boxer of all time hands down..wlad is a close 2nd..but i am british so i cannot help but be a little biased on this one

 

Never thought Lennox had a great deal of amazing talent - he just didn't have weaknesses come 1997. He was tall, big, strong and very rangey, with a very good jab bettered by Steward, very good overarm right bettered by Steward, very good one-two bettered by Steward, very brave (low left hand), very good blocker (of left hook especially), very good clincher, very strong inside, and a thinker. He just had everything, but wasn't particularly talented.

 

I don't know, Lewis always seemed more athletic and complete than Wladimir to me. He looked more relaxed and fluid as well and I don't see any big gap in speed between the two either. Lewis was plodding as well though and never looked all that imaginative in the ring, but his punch variety and looseness of those punches looked better than Wladimir, who comes across as ultra-robotic at times when he's not throwing the simple 1-2. A peak Riddick Bowe, in my opinion, was more talented and skilled than Wladimir and Lennox. Unfortunately, Bowe didn't fulfill his potential.

 

Wlad doesn't have as strong a jab as Lewis, as strong an overarm right as Lewis, as strong a left hook as Lewis - Lewis was a stronger puncher. He also had that great right uppercut inside, which Wlad just doesn't have at all. He could block more conventionally than Wlad, tie up more conventionally than Wlad and lean away from punches very well, could Lewis.

Wlad does tend to rely more on talent, keeping his hands in your face, unorthodox feinting and mixing with the left, unorthodox blocking and grabbing, and a lot of subtle footwork both forward and back, both offensively and defensively, a lot of instinct. Even if the jab doesn't land, Wlad throws it and makes it effective. Lennox wouldn't throw a jab unless he knew it was going to land - let alone any other punch...-he was all premed, Lewis.

Also Lewis had to be taught extensively how to throw the right hand without grossly leaning over to the side. Wlad naturally throws stood perfectly straight up, letting the arms out and seeming to know distance instinctively.

 

Oh Bowe was definitely more complete. Never has such a tall, rangey guy had such great infighting skills.

Wlad is quicker than Lewis in hand and foot, definitely ( ).

 

Lewis is far more accomplished and a fair bit more talented.

 

Steward seems to have a different opinion on these two everytime he gives an interview.

 

And combination punching

 

It's the trainer they had. If Steward says it, it must be true. None of us here trained both men.

 

Lennox is clearly the most talented.

Guys talking bollox.

 

Lennox is by far the more natural fighter and the more accomplished. Only Foreman, Ali, Louis and Holmes compete with Lewis as far as accomplishments at Heavyweight are concerned imo.

As far as athletic gifts go, I would probably give the slight edge to Wlad though.