Jones vs Lewis talks at the end of Vitali/Lewis!

Its a bit of a cop out making statements like that now after his punch resistance has been exposed. Its also easy to say Lewis was better than given credit for at the time because you have the knowledge of Vitali going on to become arguably the best heavyweight of the next generation. When in reality at the time Jones appeared invincible and had barely had glove laid on him in 50 odd fights, and Lewis was an aging heavyweight, overweight, lethargic who struggled with Vitali who hadn't really beaten many of note and was expected to be walked over.

 

that's a fine rating. Personally it would be around 40 for me as well.

 

Konaman's response above pretty sums up my thoughts.

It wasn't crazy to think that RJJ, at the time the unquestioned best fighter in the world, could have used his speed and unorthodox style to befuddle and frustrate the lumbering version of Lewis that we saw against Vitali. Combined with Lennox's 'suspect' chin, it was just not that far fetched at the time.

Especially if RJJ had continued to get his weight up and acclimate himself to HW punches.

Remember, the talk at the time was that after beating Ruiz, that Jones (working with Don King at the time) was in discussions for a money fight (Holyfield or even Tyson), and then a unification bout with Chris Byrd.

That would have gave RJJ 3 fights at HW. Maybe by then RJJ gets his weight up to the 208-212 range.

 

Turn it up. Lewis may have looked lumbering against Vitlay, but that's a 6'7" guy that has KO'd just about everybody else he's faced.

And Lewis suspect chin? It stood up against Vitlay. And Jones cannot punch on the level of Rahman or McCall.

I can see Jones fighting Holy (a guy that hadn't won by KO for about 10 years). I can see him fighting Tyson (who was really done by then), similar heights, and without looking I'd say Jones might even have a longer reach.

Byrd? Yeah, Byrd can't punch.

Jones could fight most of the medium size heavies. But he would have had to stay away from Lewis. Wlad too. Jones can't go toe to toe with those guys, which you probably need to do to beat them - as they can both box too.

Lewis would have simply got hold of Jones at some stage, done the old 'hold the back of the head with the left, uppercut with the right' that nearly killed Michael Grant, and Jones would be waking up about now.

Wouldn't matter how lumbering Lewis was, he'd still be able to do that.

 

if RJJ somehow died right after Ruiz fight, people would have him as a top 5 ATG and hed be in every fantasy matchup betweeen 160-HW

 

top 5?
I wouldn't agree with that.

If his last fight was ruiz I would say top 30.

 

That was the jones before he lost the weight. And that was the Roy who was filled with confidence. Lewis may have still won but it wouldn't have been a cake walk like others have implied

 

I think Jones would have been quick enough and elusive enough to last longer than most expect. But he would struggle with Lewis' 9 inch reach advantage and jab. We would see Jones dancing around and slipping Lewis' punches but he wouldn't be able to land much himself apart from the odd body shot. Lewis would eventually find his range behind that jab and KO Jones in about 5-6 rounds.

I don't think either fighter would have really wanted this fight. Lewis knew he would win but might me made to look bad doing so and Roy knew Lewis was too much for him.

 

That fight would have been more competitive than people think. The reason for Jones huge fall-off was because he stupidly moved back down to 175 after the Ruiz fight. That led to him being weight drained for the next two Tarver fights. After the first Tarver KO, however, I think his decline had more to do with post-concussion syndrome than the weight issue, because by that time his body was settling back into 175.

Either way, Jones right after the Ruiz fight was still at or near the top of his game physically and would have just run around the ring with Lewis. I doubt Lewis would have landed his big right hand or uppercut, but he may have won the fight simply using his jab and reach, and the fact that Jones would have been too afraid to exchange, so would have effectively done nothing but dance around and avoid harm.

 

I saw an interview with Lewis even before the Tyson fight and they basically asked him

"So Lennox you were retired and you came out of retirment for the Tyson fight, why did you do it?"

And Lewis said

"They told me the figures"

Lewis only fought Tyson and Vitali for the coin.

Regardless of that fact he would have smashed RJJ with his jab.

 

Roy was still superman back then. What vulnerabilities in him could you see back then. He absolutely dominated Ruiz. And like Ruiz or not you have to admit he is a solid heavy.

 

Lewis would make it look so easy battering Roy around the ring. Lewis had GREAT timing and, with the height, reach and weight advantage, he is catching Roy coming in.