Pre 1980s boxers that could beat Lennox Lewis?

Why? Frazier was at absolute death against punchers. His management even avoided taking on Mac Foster and Sonny Liston. Frazier was killer against great boxer types, but very vulnerable against punchers.

I like Marciano's style and Dempseys prove track record as doing better against punchers.

 

I could see Frazier taking a merciless beating against Lewis for reasons outlined above. Eating uppercuts. Lewis and Frazier are my two favourite heavyweights BTW.

I think Lewis is a favourite against anyone except Ali. Holmes and Foreman could be a pick em against Lewis.

 

Favour over Lewis:
Ali
Holmes

Very good chance:
Liston
Foreman
Louis

Good chance:
Frazier
Shavers

 

yeah, but he fought the same way as marciano and frazier, and i feel that really he always weighed a lot. He wasn't that tall either, only two inches taller then frazier and marciano.

 

Everyone going to Mercer as an example are leaving out the fact that Mercer had one of the very best chins ever and was an exceptionally strong 230 fighter ... he absorbed huge shots against Lennox that I do not see a Dempsey or a Marciano surviving , no way ..

Ali and Holmes would outbox him with their jabs and speed.
Liston would finish what Frank Bruno started.
Joe Louis, who excelled against big fighters, would get inside and flatten him.

Others were much better pound for pound but I just don't like the match ups ...

 

Why do you always leave out Frazier? Frazier may have been "heftier" than Marciano and Dempsey, but he was not more durable or physically stronger.

 

I think the awkward puncher have a chance against Lewis to catch him off Rhytym danger was Lewis could punch pretty well but his power usually dwindled after 8 rounds. I give a puncher with a good chin and stamina a good shot vs Lewis and Lennox was never really in with a master boxer like Ali or Walcott, a cutie

Joe Louis would be a tough one for Lewis to get past but Marciano would have to hurt Lewis while Lennox was on the offensive and rock him and ripen him up for the later rds. Ali movement and speed flurries. Walcott could be the spoiler. Lewis was better than a lot of the others but could be stopped by Baer and Foreman if McCall and Rahman could do it. Still easier said than done but doable

 

Agree with this.:good

 

Have watched it now. And what strikes me is that Mercer fought quite tall despite being shorter. He had most of his success with straight punches, especially the jab. He actually outjabbed Lewis. He didn't bob and weave like Frazier would and he didn't work the body.

Frazier's style would leave him more open to Lewis' upppercuts (which Mercer ate quite a few of as well) and he didn't have Mercer's ability to take them. But, of course, Frazier applied much faster pressure than Mercer, had better stamina, worked better on the inside and was harder to hit with straight punches. Lewis would have to rely heavily on his uppercut here and his ability to wear Frazier down in the clinches with his big size advantage. Very interesting fight.

 

He would beat most of them... not just because of his size though. Lewis had the right combo of size, strength, power, speed, stamina, and mostly ability. Being big means nothing if you don't know how to use your natural advantages.

Some of the best pre-80's HWs IMO-

Jeffries, Johnson, Dempsey, Tunney, Louis, Charles, Walcott, Marciano, Patterson, Liston, Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Norton, Young, Lyle, Shavers, Quarry, Holmes

The best of the best of this list IMO-

Louis, Marciano, Ali, Frazier, Foreman, Holmes

On most nights I think Lewis beats every pre-80's HW with the exception of Louis, Marciano, Ali, Frazier, Foreman , and Holmes. He beats Louis 4 out of 10 times. He beats Marciano and Frazier about 50%. Ali, Foreman, and Holmes beat him about 8/10.

As for the 80's? Only Holmes (already mentioned), Tyson, and Holyfield (went 23-0 (19) in the 80's... 5-0 (5) at HW) are worthy of a mention as a serious threat to Lewis. I think he's about 50% vs. Tyson. I think Holyfield outworks him for a decision win most of the time, about 7 out of 10 times.

 

Oh, about Mercer? Mercer had one of the best chins ever. 6'1" with a 77' and 238Lbs. compared to Lewis' 247Lbs. the night they fought.

Mercer rose to the occasion vs. Lewis. He was on the best roll of his career even though it was a short one. He looked as good as he could have in his somewhat close loss to Holyfield, he followed up with the very close loss to Lewis, then he won a decision over Tim Witherspoon. He won 6 more after Witherspoon all by KO (all bums though) before getting beat by W. Klitschko (LKOby6).

 

Because he lost to Foreman?

 

I'm not sure why he assumes that either??? He only lost to Foreman and Ali.

 

Prime Fraizer prime Ali, prime Holmes