Im not convinced at all that Bowe could take Lewis power

This is the key point.

 

Lewis was the second guy Holyfield mentioned when asked about top chins. Lets see what he said.

Evander Holyfield -

Lennox Lewis had a great chin. I went back and watched the fights and the people who knocked him out [did so] because he had a different mindset for them. He didn’t fight smart with them ‘cause he felt he could beat them. Everybody he pursued and thought that he could beat, they ended up knocking him out – that’s Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman. I came to respect him ‘cause I know in the last fight I buckled him a few times but he didn’t go.

 

Lennox Lewis had an iron chin is one of the funniest youtube videos.

His chin was average at best for a world class fighter, probably similiar to Wlad's except that he is much tougher mentally then Wlad...

 

It's all there on tape. If not iron it's sure understated. Eyes don't deceive unless one wants them too. Then we have Holyfield's comments on top.

Of course the common armchair critic would know better.

 

This is a very important point. People think that "chin" and "power" are some absolute metrics, applicable in the same way in every situation. But that just isn't the case.

For example, that Ali was more hurt by a single punch from Cooper than he was by any other single punch, naturally doesn't mean that Cooper was the best puncher Ali faced. Nor does it mean that Ali's punch resistance increased in proportion to taking Liston's, Frazier's, Foreman's and Shaver's best without being as affected. It has to more to do with the specific moment when he took the punch in question.

A punch that takes you by surprise when your chin is up in the air is going to affect you more than a more powerful punch that you are prepared for. Sometimes much more. It's as simple as that really.

Rahman and McCall caught Lewis with good punches, no doubt. But more importantly, they caught him when he wasn't sufficiently to deal with the punch (by riding it or tucking his chin down and bracing himself). Lewis lack of concentration at certain moments was the issue in those cases rather than his physical ability to take punches.

 

Great post!!!

Please see my call on the Tyson thread

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threa...-fights-tyson-was-not-declining.598855/page-2

 

I rate Lewis high both h2h and career wise, but I think his chin is the weakest of all ATG heavyweights...

Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Bowe, Liston, Holmes, Tyson, Holyfield... all have better chins imo.

 

Across H2H matches i see the Lewis chin holding up fine. Chin is just one part of the equation. Holyfields comments ring true for me.

I'd back Lewis to beat Frazier, Tyson, Holyfield and Bowe. I think Liston, Holmes and Foreman would be close battles and Ali would beat him.

 

Maybe Holyfield is deluded about his power. He was probably the weakest hittest heavyweight of that era. So naturally Holyfield banging Lewis will be like Mayweather peppering George Foreman.

 

A good chin can take shots even when the fighter is not conditioned or is unable to see punches. Lewis's lack of so called focus, preperation are laughable excuses for him going to one shot to the face. He got starched cold and question marks on his chin in history will always be justified.

 

Tyson was not prepared for Douglas at all and had no concentration in that bout either. Heck his one eye was shut and badly bruised where they didn't even bring endswell. But still Douglas had to be beat the living **** out of him for 10 plus rounds to finally floor him. Tyson was not prepared to deal with any of Douglas punches and he could not see any of Douglas's punches either. And i have not even touched on the Lewis beat down of Tyson either.

Question marks on Lewis's chin based on his 2 single strike knock outs will always be justified and the excuses that he wasn't prepared, he wasn't focused, he didn't see the punch will always be mocked at.

 

Even an Emanuel Steward trained bulked up Lewis vs a 1985-1988 Tyson is going to have a very hard time and a knock out is a very good certainty, Lewis will not even graze Tyson and his holding tactics are only going to save him for so long, i predict a Bruno 2 knock down any time.

The prime version of Holyfield is going to trouble Lewis with his speed, footwork and i predict Holyfield can outpoint Lewis.

Can't say much about Frazier, he will have to surivive the first 4-5 rounds after which Joe will get smoking and will outwork, outhustle lewis, test his stamina in the late rounds and can potentially land a Haymaker.

Bowe fight, interesting but i think Lewis will get this one.

 

He wasn't prepared to deal with a jabs and right cross? Seriously?

But, yes, the quality Douglas brought to the table with those basic tools was certainly a surprise for Tyson. Just as it was for everyone else not named Douglas.

By some, yes. Holyfield not being on of them, obviously. I would venture that those that know anything about boxing know that whether you see a punch coming or not will have a lot to do with how well you take it.

 

It's a pity boxing never saw this one. Bowe could not take Lewis punches for long, but the reverse is also true.

When you have two very skilled big guys who can hit, with neither having the chin take it for long anything can happen.

I tend to think Lewis who could start fast would land his big right hand through Bowe's mediocre defense, but who knows.

Bowe did have a good heart, so don't discount him getting up and turning the tides either.

I favor Lewis. Well never know.

 

There is no question Bowe's chin was not iron as he was flattened multiple times as an amateur and beaten ( although I feel the stoppage was premature ) by Lewis as well. Still, at his best it was at least as good as Lennox's .. in his pre-Holyfield run Bowe may have been better than Lewis overall .. he was extremely talented. His problem was mental where he was no match for Lewis. Lennox was much stronger mentally and held it together while Riddick went to pieces after winning the title .. he lost all restraint and discipline and his career floundered .. I actually feel the best Bowe, Holyfield 1, may have beaten the best Lennox but we'll never know as Bowe and Newman wanted no part of Lewis ..