At 200lbs who would have won. back in 2009. Steve has 4inches in height over lebedev, also has an extraordinarily long reach at 82inches. We all no what USS is about, a faster, skilful boxer with a good workrate and high output, he can stop you if you allow him to work your ass. But his power shouldn't trouble the white swan at all. hed have to keep moving and long. Big hearted,very good chin plenty of times robbed, always professional. Dennis Lebedev is a mauler, but he doesn't fight as ugly as he looks. He's pretty patient really, he can stay out of range, and box pretty well, he has power in both hands. But his left hand is one of the most explosive in boxing today, people sleep on dennis probably due to his inactivity at times, only 28fights in 14years, although he had a 4year hiatus during 04-08. But you only need to watch some of his fights to realise he has the hardest 1 punch power at cruiserweight. his chin is iron, and he also has a big heart, see Guillermo jones vs Dennis lebedev for reference. USS is popular lately. Who wins? Break it down.
Lebedev by stoppage in the 2nd half of the fight, with USS probably ahead on the cards, the Russian is very patient and would eventually find a hole in the very good defense of USS
Cunningham would outbox him and control the pace of the fight for at least 8-9 rounds landing to the body consistently throughout. So yeah, Lebedev by UD robbery.
UD robbery - just as in the Gladzkov fight, no doubt. I had USS ahead 7-5 in rounds but I guess it doesn't matter. Not to get political but isn't it kinda funny how we've had numerous threads here which condemned Ali for refusing to enter the army during the Vietnam war but no commentary on Gladzkov who openly admitted that he fled Ukraine and came here to escape Ukraine's draft and its border war? Just a thought ....
That would have been great. Just another in a long line of cruiserweight matches we got robbed of by the allure of chasing money @ HW. (Haye vs. Adamek in 2008/9? Holyfield vs. Moorer in the early 90's? :-()
There was nothing to do there. He never got that big money fight. His first loss to Hernandez could have easily gone to him. And besides Hernandez, he held victories over Huck, Wlodarczyk and Jones, all of whom held a belt at that time.
Tough call, most likely another close fight, with possible Lebedev stoppage win late. Or Cunningham SD's him and gets no credit.
