Lennox Lewis vs. Small Swarmers

Dempsey would be the only "swarmer" that I would give a chance against a prime Lewis. He was fast enough with hands and feet to annoy and evade Lewis' jab and right hand and had the power to finish the job if he can land on him enough. Plus his bob and weave style would aid him against a taller foe. With that being said I still lean toward Lennox in this one though not by a whole lot.

 

1. Bigger target? Is his head twice as big therefore easier to hit? NO but his head is harder to hit because it is kept at further range because of the reach keeping Dempsey/small swarmer at long range

2. Those fighters you mention lack the jab 1-2 boxing skill to keep Dempsey at range Lennox does not. On top of that they simply weren't very good, Lennox is another beast entirely

 

From what I've read Fred Fulton had an excellent Jab, a killer right hand and a great Jab/right hand combo. He was also one of the very best heavyweights of the era. He was only 4'4", though, so Lennox was a bit taller. Lennox was also heavier, and had a much better chin.

 

I agree with those saying Dempsey has the best chance against Lewis of all the great swarmers. This is such an interesting clash of...well, everything. Styles, sizes, eras. These two are like night and day. I honestly can't make up my mind on this one, but I lean towards Lennox slightly.

 

Well without footage i'd be very skeptical towards those claims. I've read many reports of Johnson being this great jabber and boxer, but film clearly shows he doesn't. They had a primitive style for gloved boxing back then.



By the way, while Dempsey should be mentioned among swarmers, at 6'1 he wasn't THAT small, which obviously helped him reach Willard's chin. Those two/three inches help a lot when you have to go up to a 6'5" mountain of a man.

 

Peak Tyson has the best chance. Frazier, Marciano, Dempsey and Patterson etc all get knocked out.

 

Well, without film, there's really nothing else to put stock into when it comes to evaluation Fulton's style. And yeah, Dempsey was a big man for his era, yet he chose to fight small often. Maybe it was a habit he developed early on when he was just a kid fighting bigger, older me? At any rate, it was a habit that would service him greatly in a fight with Lennox.

 

I agree here. Dempsey, Marciano etc. are just not big enough to compete realistically.

Frazier...I don't know...I battle to see how Joe could win. Of course, one never knows.

Tyson to me is the only one of the group with sufficient size, power, speed etc. to pull off a win.

 

Frazier 'could' theoretically win late, but I can't help but think that becuase of the fact he's a slow starter Lennox will come out of the blocks ala Golota and Ruddock fights and finish matters early, instead of boxing safe. I reckon he would look to do exactly that knowing that if Frazier is still there through the mid-rounds he'd be in for a very long, tough night. I think Joe lasts about three or four rounds, then the ref steps in.

 

It seems like a bold statement considering this is Smokin' Joe Frazier we're talking about, but I think you're right; it's quite possible the fight is stopped early.

 

Joe did have a tendency to get hurt in the early rounds.

 

Tyson has the best chance I agree with you and I'd pick him over Lewis. But Marciano, and Dempsey would be game all the way and Lewis would have to be at his absolute best to win.

Keep in mind Lewis would probably be hesitant to engage them, just like he gave a nearly shot Tyson a huge amount of respect. You will need more than just a jab and some movement to beat a prime Marciano and Dempsey unlike Tua, and thet Tyson he fought, and I think Lewis would be in severe danger. He sometimes pushed for the early KO but that was against giants like Grant, Golota, and Ruddock. Against Tua, Tyson etc. he was very hesitant relying on his jab to soften his opponent up. While this was undoubtably successful, against a prime Marciano, Dempsey, Frazier he would need to open up with more and Lewis didn't have the strongest chin or best stamina to fight hard for 15, even over 12 he could start to fold to a Frazier, or Marciano.