Lennox Lewis Vs. Larry Holmes

Holmes befuddles him over 15. Holmes didn't rely on a massive physical size advantage over most opponents and was a far more nuanced technical boxer then Lennox. That jab alone is going to cause big problems for Lennox.

I also believe Holmes had more dog in him... not that Lennox was a pushover or anything. But if McCall or Rahman landed their knockout punch on Larry, I'd bet my house the stubborn ******* would get up... somehow! Holmes was just built that way.

 

Holmes was 43 when he beat Mercer. These days, fighters are all old, but back then, 43 was positively ancient to be in a ring.

 

Of course. At 42 Holmes was 5 years older than Lennox himself was in the last fight of his career

 

Holmes.

And a very real chance that he’d stop Lewis over 15 too. Yes not a true hitter but look at his knockout record in title fights, not many saw the distance!

He’d be boxing and moving, he’d make Lewis as the bigger man follow him. And the counterpunching Lewis would be uncomfortable doing so.

Holmes’ jab is much better, his cross is as fast and straight as I’ve seen, he’d outpoint Lewis like he did Cooney.

No real chance of a knockout for Lewis, didn’t come close to stopping Holyfield in 2 tries who is similarly durable to Holmes. I’d think that to stop Holmes you’d have to get him to the body, Lewis won’t do that and can’t really imagine anyone stopping Holmes save for Tyson at his best.

 

I'd go for Holmes UD.

 

Close Lewis decision for me, the difference might even be a KD. Lewis might have the best overall right hand in the divisions history. It's the key here as it's always laying in wait, ready to turn the event at a moment's notice and he can unload it from a long way away. Lewis would be sitting on the jab and the dropped left hand.

 

Holmes by UD

With one of the best jabs in heavyweight history, along with his mobility, endurance, and experience in controlling the pace over a full 15-round distance, Holmes would have everything to neutralize Lewis's power and gain a points advantage. Holmes also had a grest chin, as proven in his fight with Earnie Shavers, and he was only knocked out once in in his whole career (75 fights).

 

The very best of Lewis beats anyone in history IMO.

 

Lewis tko

 

If Lewis is motivated or Larry riles him up, I'll bet the house on Lewis by stoppage.

Holmes got out jabbed by Zanon, a guy who looked like Fred's next door neighbor on Sanford and Don, so a big "No" to him outjabbing Lennox.

Lewis is bigger, stronger, hits harder, and faced better competition.

 

Is it right to mention every single Lewis' advantage and completely ignoring Holmes' ones? What about Holmes being much quicker, much more durable and having incomparably better stamina?

Also, saying Holmes didn't look good against Zanon (whom he knocked out in mid rounds)... Did Lewis look good against skinny Zeljko Mavrovic whose resume was so bad that it makes Zanon's one look ATG in comparison? Did he look any good against Levi Billups, Phil Jackson, Henry Akinwande?

At his very, very best Lennox couldn't stop or seriously hurt washed up Holyfield in 24 rounds and super skinny Mavrovic who had atrocious resume, and you are saying he would stop peak version of Holmes who was stopped only once in 75 fights while being way past his prime?

 

I personally think Lennox struggles with a jab and a bit of speed, Larry stops him or beats him up to a UD for my 0.2$ HOWEVER I’ve haven’t watched Lennox in probably 4 years? lol. At the least it is a 50-50 matchup.

 

Not that he ever proved he wasn’t gutsy, but I am constantly bemused by the level of faith this forum has in Holmes being extremely difficult to KO for even the ATG’s. This may’ve proven true, but what is the presumption based on? Where is the evidence for this? He faced exactly one top notch finisher who was also a great puncher, & it was far too late to ascertain much. That leaves you with the Shavers & Snipes incidents. While Holmes did enough to survive those men, that is hardly convincing material to extrapolate him surviving all manner of legendary punchers & first-rate finishers.

Not that I expect it will matter here. Lewis would probably show Holmes too much respect.

 

last fight? His last fight was at age 52. After the Mercer fight, he would fight for the title at ages 43, 46, and 49, with a bunch of tomato cans in between.