Peak Lennox Lewis V Peak Oleksandr Usyk

I love this fight! Usyk is someone that would probably beat a lot heavyweight greats, despite not having a resume on par with them just yet. This fight will be very competitive, and whoever the winner is will be a SD.

 

So far, peak Oleksandr Usyk would be a cruiserweight. Lennox Lewis beats him by decision or late round stoppage.

 

Lennox.

 

Good God

 

I think it's a little early to compare Usyk to a top 6 ATG like Lennox. He needs at least a couple more big wins. AJ was never anywhere near the level of peak Lewis.

 

AJ hurt Usyk multiple times during their series. He just didn't have the warewithall to capitalize, follow up, or finish the job.

Lewis possessed this killer instinct. He doesn't get enough credit for it, but he jumped on guys when he had them hurt. And I think Lewis hit harder than AJ .
And he would still be taller, bigger, stronger than Usyk.

I think Usyk goes the distance, but he takes a beating in the process.
Lewis would probably take a round or off and get lazy and may be even get caught with something in the later rounds...but it wouldn't be enough.

Lewis wins 8-4

 

Peak Lewis is a tough ask for anybody. I have a hard time picking Usyk over that right now. On the other hand in real life Lewis could be inconsistent whereas Usyk is metronomically good. IRL Usyk is nearly always peak and would beat a flat version of Lewis

 

Lennox was as big and strong as AJ. And with far more skill. Usyk would n't be able to outbox him like he did Joshua.

Lewis via clear decision or late stoppage.

 

I'm not picking against Lewis because I do think he is undoubtedly the favorite but there is also a reason why Lewis never fought a southpaw as a pro. Lewis's offense was always set up with his tremendous jab which a southpaw fighter, especially Uysk would be directly opposite with his lead hand and taking away that punch. I'm not saying Lewis couldn't or wouldn't overcome that but I am saying that is a big problem for a lot of conventional fighters and it always has been. Larry Holmes was the same way. He wouldn't go near a southpaw because his whole offense was built off of his jab. Uysk's speed, stance and feighting/movement would be a big problem for any heavyweight.

There is reason why Fury is doing everything in his power to avoid him and a reason why Uysk is willing to take the short end of a 70/30 split.

All that said and at the end of the day, Lewis has the amateur pedigree,power and intelligence to win this fight without question. I'm just saying I don't think it's as much of a slam dunk as folks think.

 

Lewis did fight a southpaw in the pro's, regardless of level.

It's bizarre as it comes up on a reasonably consistent basis.

 

I'm talking a top fighter. It's not bizarre at all. Lots of fighters struggle with that stance. I'll put it another way. A guy like Tyson or Joe Frazier would be a tough opponent for Uysk because they threw their jab from different angles and it was a punch to simply get inside rather than wet up a right hand like Lewis. Uysk's stance and pawing/feighting wouldn't help him much and he would struggle to hold those stronger inside guys off. It's all about styles. Again, I think Lewis overcones this and likely wins.

 

What i am saying is bizarre is the continual claims Lewis has never fought a southpaw. It's simply not true.

I agree with your take.

 

to be fair, top tier southpaw heavyweights are historically really rare. Larry Holmes didn't fight any either. Ali fought one. and had Lewis fought Byrd, Moorer or Sanders we aren't really going to get a great impression of what a fight against Usyk would look like. None of them fought like Usyk.

 

I believe that Peak Oleksandr Usyk was in the cruiserweight category, and that he will not achieve a more killer shape in his professional career. Another question is how strong or weak the heavyweight era has been since Usyk entered the heavyweight division, but that shouldn't be a parameter.
So I think that Peak Lennox Lewis, as well as Peak Holmes, and especially Peak Muhammad Ali beat Usyk.
Usyk is an ATG boxer, but the lion's share of the credit goes to the undisputed cruiserweight champion. Two wins over AJ, Chisora and ...Spoon are not as impressive as the previous part of Usyk's career.
P.S. Peak Joe Louis is a question for another thread.