Lewis wins every time Wlad reigned for so long because he could bully smaller, physically weaker, less-skilled men Lewis is none of those 3 things
IMO peak Lennox Lewis is the year 2000; Michael Grant fight (I know Wlad is not the same as Grant, but...). I just don't know which version of Wlad would be able to beat this Lennox. The fight would begin with a mutual interrogation, but Lewis' experience would take the lead more and more as the fight wore on. I think that the fight would not have ended, but that Lewis would have managed to find Wlad's glass chin in the second half of the fight. Lennox Lewis wins by late TKO.
There's a more interesting hypothetical: 2003 Lewis vs 2003 Wlad. This one could have actually happened. I'll make a post now.
Wlad reigned for so long because he had one of the best jabs in history with a right hand better than Lewis’s. Also… Thompson, Pulev, McCline, Peter, Jefferson, Brewster, Wach were NOT “Small weak men” When in Lewis’s career did he ever face someone with the hand speed, power, each, foot speed, and ring IQ like Wlad??? This fight is FAR from an easy one for Lewis. Manny Steward himself said Wladimir hit harder than Lewis and was the most talented HW he ever trained. Prime Wlad catches Lewis and Rahman’s him by the 7th. After some back and forth action early that would lead to a dangerous chess match. Wlad was smarter and faster in his prime though.
"Wlad reigned for so long because he could bully smaller, physically weaker, less-skilled men" That was Lewis's career too, barring Vitali and to a lesser extent Tucker. Biggs, Akinwande and Grant were no great shakes. Wlad beat his share of heavyweights billed 6'5 and up: Thompson x2, McCline, Wach, Austin, Jefferson. Valuev, Helenius, Price, Ustinov and Dimitrenko were eliminated from contention, usually by Wlad's victims.
I give Wlad a good chance to win, even the possibility of landing a surprise. But a bigger chance goes for Lewis.
But Lewis didn’t want it though That’s why he called up Corrie Sanders the night before he fought Wladimir and pleaded with Corrie to “PUT PRESSURE ON HIM!” Why were you so worried about that fight Lennox??? You had never called Corrie before. Put it this way… Had Wlad switched with Vitali for that 2003 fight and it was Wladimir’s right hand tagging Lennox in the first two rounds, Lewis would have taken a Ten Count.
If Wladimir went back and forth with Lewis exchanging punches he would be face down on the mat, Lewis is much more proven in tough grueling fights where he exchanged punches. And didn't need to clinch every minute of every round either like Wladimir did.
Yes but Vitali also took plenty of flush punches from Lewis, that would of sent Wladimir to the shadow realm like that uppercut in the 6th round. Where was Wladimir again in 2003 when Lewis fought Vitali ? oh that's right getting dismantled by Corrie Sanders in 2 rounds.
Whoever lands first would win. Not saying they are glass jawed, but they are susceptible to big punchers and both can punch. I’d favor Lewis but it’d be good while it lasts.
Oh man, can you imagine how terrified Wladimir would be, wide-eyed and clutching hysterically every time Lewis got anywhere near him? Wlad was a disgrace for a HW champ. Could you imagine Rocky Marciano conducting himself like that in the ring? Or Joe Louis? Or Joe Frazier? Lewis KO Klitschko mid-late rounds.
Lewis in the late '90's is an all-timer. He punched like razor blades on a bowling ball. I think Lewis would stop him.