Lennox Lewis Vs Jack Johnson

Great match up.

Johnson blocks, parries, but also takes Lewis' big punches early in the fight. He gets knocked down in round 4 and 8. Lewis gets tired as the fight goes on. Johnson with his balance and energy still in top form, knocks Lewis down twice and then knocks him out in round 12.

 

The fight that you describe is a lot more exciting than what would happen, most likely, in reality. Which would be Lewis beating down Jack all night long.

Lewis is simply too big and strong for Johnson's inside mauling tactics to work. On the outside Lewis has the reach, certainly the power, and dare I say it, the technical advantage. All things being equal Johnson would lose.

Lewis did have some off nights, and Johnson is an extremely gritty champion, so I'm not writing him off completely. Just mostly.

 

Over the hill Johnson had control of the clinches and inside fight versus Willard, who's a big strong guy.

Lewis may have the power. He has the reach. Johnson has the ring control, balance, and endurance.

 

^ And that's why I like Classic. Somebody always has a good counter-argument. I think Lewis is stronger than Willard ... but not that much stronger.

 

I think after Ali, Lewis is the worst stylistic/physical nightmare for the other champions.

 

Hahah yeah same. It's a non stop conversation!

Surprisingly, when you see the closeup camera of the Johnson Willard fight, Johnson is smaller than Willard, but it doesn't seem that big of a size mismatch.

 

What the Willard fight showed us, though Johnson had seen better days, was his attacking abilities. He tried in earnest to get big Jess out of there with hard combinations, the first punch often a counter which he would spring off. Willard wasn't too bad at keeping his distance either which shows you Johnson wasn't half bad at closing the gap.

Lewis' power and talent makes this a very tough one but Lil' Arthur wasn't just this defensive whizz who always needed the size card. He is far from helpless and could make something happen.

 

Good post!

 

Definitely - Johnson lifted the 227lb Jeffries, who if nothing else, was once of the toughest heavyweight champions in history over the middle rope and out of the ring like a rag doll with an uppercut without even trying really - 227lb Lennox of Ruddock days never looked particularly confident in his own chin at the best of times - Jeffries and Corbett both thought that Johnson was 'secretly the best puncher in the world' - people don't realise what Johnson could do in reality because he fought with the handcuffs on and also fought in leather soled ring shoes the Lennox would've been slipping over in! Give him modern ring shoes modern canvas hand wraps where he could REALLY let his hands go and most important a crowd behind him for a change and good luck not getting starched Lennox.

 

Johnson relied on being in control.

Put him against a shorter foe and he will dominate.

But put him at the end of a solid atg jab and he will struggle.

Lewis.

 

Johnson fought plenty of big guys, one of whom ,Denver Ed Martin was 6' 4" with an 82" reach,Johnson was also in front after 20 rds against Willard 6'6.25" 83" reach, both Martin and Willard were good jabbers.

ps. I haven't made a pick.

 

This is not true based upon the evidence. An old and out of shape Johnson dominated the very tall, large Willard negating his jab and was way ahead after 15-20 rounds.

Yes we all know Lewis is better than Willard.

Johnson had an incredible defense and he was a very smart fighter. I think any opponent facing prime Johnson would have trouble with the skills he brought to the table. Lewis was an ATG but so was Johnson. Johnson was a master of the finer aspects of the game.

 

A bit like the Marciano thread. We know Johnson can defeat and look good against a big man. But how good does that big man have to be to defeat and look against Johnson?

I rate Lewis very highly h2h at present, but I have been re watching all of the great heavyweights and he's the last one on my list.

So whilst I've made my pick it's up for revision.

 

I think we are on the same page really.
The problem with Johnson is that many of his best performances are hidden in the midst of time the McVey fights,the Jeannette fights, the Martin fight.

H2H I think Lewis is an absolute monster.

 

Good