Prime: Larry Holmes .Vs. Lennox Lewis

Lewis by stoppage.

 

I tend to lean toward Lewis in this one but not by much. Larry's tougest fights seemed to be against big men who could box ala Witherspoon and Williams, Men who jabbed back at Larry much the same way Norton and Bugner did to Ali. Witherspoon rung Larry's bell on more than a few times during thier bout and Williams at times jabbed Larry's puss off during thier fight. Against Lewis Larry would be facing a man who had all the skills of the two aforementioned fighters but was even bigger,either taller or more heavily built with more power than both. This could be problematic for Holmes. Larry would have to utilize his greater hand speed and try to keep Lewis on the defensive for most of the fight if he wants to win. If he can't discourage Lewis enough or keep him at bay then I think Lennox takes it.

 

Holmes, barely. I think he has the superior jab and that would make the difference here. Bruno, Mercer, Vitali were all able to have success against Lennox because of the jab, and Holmes had the best one ever. A stoppage for either man here is pretty slim. Lennox has the much better chance for a KO but Holmes was a survivor and only ever stopped by a peak Tyson at 38.

Holmes close UD.

 

Prime Lewis, he is in my top 3 HW ATG.

 

Lewis wins by UD. The actual boxing would be quite even, but Lewis, I think, will take the majority of the exchanges up close and against the ropes, with Holmes basically just hanging on. A thing that Larry used to do to against smaller fighters, which was push their heads with the left hand and slam away with the right, will be turned around on him in this fight. It's a very important advantage that will be taken away from him, and, in all likelihood, reversed.

 

This would be a great fight.

 

Great post, and I'm leaning towards Lennox too, but Holmes is harder than Lewis, and that's got to factor in.

 

Can't see a stoppage myself.