Muhammad Ali vs Lennox Lewis, prime for prime?

Ali won gold at light heavy. Cruiser didn't exist back then (they were called heavyweights). Ali easily could've started out in that division if it were around.

 

He was that light bc he was a young kid back then. Still developing. By the willams fight he was much bigger, naturally. Not by weight lifting or peds or natural nutrition

 

I don't need to think about it. I can easily see Holy dragging Ali into the trenches. The only difference between them is a half an inch in height, their weights and reaches would be the same. I do not accept that Ali was stronger than Holyfield, and the one shot that Holy had was the shot that Ali had no answer for, a good left hook.

Again I am not saying I'd pick Vander, but it is beyond stupid to think he couldn't beat Ali post exile.

 

Ali was able to man handle people like Frazier, Liston, Foreman, Lyle, Bonavena, he probably is a bit stronger than Holyfield naturally. and yes holyfield's left hook would give Ali issues but I don't think Holy wins.

Prime for prime, Ali wins pretty clearly imo. since Ali post exile could be inconsistent, yeah holy has a chance there.

 

Which is all I have said in all of these threads about Ali. I don't think anyone beats pre exile Ali, but plenty have a chance of beating the post exile version, particularly seeing how Frazier, and Norton did.

 

Holyfield is tough for anyone!!

 

If it were the modern 200 lb limit, he would've.

During Mr. Ali's pre-exile days, he only weighed 210 or more 5 times in 29 fights. Only 7 of his opponents met that mark. The average Cruiser is bigger today than the average heavweight pre-exile Mr. Ali fought. Particularly when one takes rehydration into account.

 

Lewis was much better than he is given credit for and this fight would be competitive., his two defeats were due in large part to complacency, not fighting Lewis' corner but they were, he won the returns with relative ease and although he would sometimes be guilty of not always being on it, when motivated he was extremely good. Ali was the best heavyweight ever and always found a way to win and i suspect that he may well have with Lewis but not without a struggle and numerous scares along the way. Ali by either split decision victory or late round stoppage but Lewis would certainly have his moments.