Old Time Heavies who'd most likely beat prime Lennox Lewis

Pre 60s
Liston
Louis
Dempsey

 

Dammit I can't believe I forgot Liston.

 

I think Lewis would beat up Marciano very badly.and it would be stopped before halfway.Rocky would not go into," last the distance mode" as Tua did ,he would be in there trying to win and,as a consequence he would get ko'd or badly battered and rescued by the referee.He is too small, easy to hit ,and most pertinently too slow.

 

I agree, but I think this is at least as much a style issue as a size issue.

 

I think it's a combination of size and speed ,[lack of]. Dempsey would have a better chance against the Super Heavy brigade because of his speed into attack and his more elusive style . imo

 

Louis has a real chance but the likes of Marciano and Dempsey are too probably small.

As for Jack Johnson, Sullivam, Fitzsimmons etc. I don't know how you could seriously consider them in H2H's against fighters from other eras, from the admittedly little footage I've seen of them the fighting style back in their day was so completely different that it's extremely difficult to gauge how they would fare in H2H's.

 

No ****, Marciano wouldn't even be in the same weight division.

 

Well yeah, that's true in a strictly literal sense, because a new (and in my opinion unnecessary) weight class was created in 1980.

 

Exactly my sentiments also, and it doesnt really discredit marciano because really with that size difference they dont belong in the same ring. The 90s was a whole different ball game than marcianos era

 

If that's the case then why don't we get rid of weight classes and be done with it?

 

I take it that's intended as a ruductio ad absurdum, but honestly I'm not sure that's such a bad idea. It's far from clear to me how you could consistently say that boxing ought to have weight classes but basketball should not introduce height classes. Anyway, on an uncharitable interpretation your post might be considered a continuum fallacy. If I say there should be fewer weight classes it doesn't necessarily follow that there should be none.

I for one definitely wouldn't abolish weight classes, but if I had the power I would create an open weight division, at least for a trial period.

 

I think we know that ,but that is not the question asked is it? Otherwise we would be down to a list of :
Jeffries [for one or 2 fights].
Willard
Carnera
Baer?
Liston
Ali
Foreman.
So why the comment?

 

If it's ok for someone just over the LHW limit to figjt somone outweighing them by over 60lb then why isn't that right for the smaller fighters?

 

Because we both know the biggest factor by a mile would be the size difference.