roland lastarza vs lennox lewis....

..probably?:roll:

 

LaStarza was like the Chris Byrd of his era, reconginzed for his elite defense but criticized for being a softie on offense. I think Lennox deserves to be favored because of the class difference, but there's no way of knowing how well he would fair chasing a fast slickster around the ring. Mavoric fight would probably the best guage if LaStarza goes into shell mode.

 

Lennox would kill Lastarza. Roland had some very nice skills and fundamentals, but he was a small man who always struggled against tall fighters(Bucceroni, Gosney). Joe Louis of 1950 would have beaten Lastarza because of his jab and size advantage. Lennox at 6'6 250lb would have steamrolled through Lastarza. Lastarza would be unable to hurt lennox, would be unable to stop his jab, and would have found himself overwhelmed by Lennox's power and 84" reach.

Lennox KO 2 Lastarza

 

Lennox had the advantage of size and reach but elusive fighters did trouble him. He did not want to fight or chase Chris Byrd. Ossie Ocasio went the distance with him and Marovic took what he had for the full 12....I think Lennox wins almost every round but If Lastarza survives the early burst Roland had a good chance of staying the distance. Lennox never KO'd a man past the 8th...Roland could last if he fought a survival fight but I don't see him winning or making it close.

 

Christ...... Lewis by ice job......... No contest.....:bbb:shock:

MR.BILL:hat

 

lewis by ko

 

LaStarza beat Gosney in one his worst performances, a rare brawl. In his own words,"I once fought the perfect fight and nobody paid any attention to me...I almost get killed and everybody raves how marvelous I am. I was terrible, but I was sensational." He also beat Brion who was taller than them, and in the rematch he dropped Bucceroni 5 times and won convincingly. Sorry, I really don't see LaStarza as the type of fighter Lennox would steam roll. He's not a slow lug that stands in front of you, at his best he used movement and fought evasively.

 

I think you people are forgetting that Lastarza was born in 1927. With the guile and dexterity present in the offspring of that halcyon year, I am sure Lastarza takes a comfortable UD or possibly stops the faltering, bewildered Lewis in the championship frames.

 

It doesn't work like that. There are fighters that have extended Lewis that weren't great by any stretch of the imagination.

 

Lewis would win.

 

I see an emphatic win for Lewis, he can stand off and win this at range ,dropping the right in late to force a stoppage.No scenario I can envisage gives Larstarza the win.

 

Not sure what your definition of a gatekeeper is but LaStarza was a top 10 contender from 49-53, and a top 5 contender for two of them. He was the most protected of the 50s contenders but that doesn't make him a "gate keeper." He wouldn't be one of those until after the Marciano loss when he was physically ruined.

There was also a huge quality gap between Lewis and Mavoric and Lennox didn't magically blast him out of the ring. Lewis should definetly win but LaStarza isn't going to make this easy for him, even if his spoiling stinks up the joint.

 

I disagree here. Lennox was by far the better heavyweight and I pick him to win early, but thats mainly cause of the large gap in size. I actually think talent wise, Lastarza was pretty friggin good. Definitely top contender level. If he were around during lennox's time, he would prob bulk up to 210lb and be a chris byrd or eddie chambers type.

 

Seamus,

At least admit Lastarza looked like a modern fighter. High Guard, fluid punches, smooth movement, solid fundamentals in all areas, top notch defense. The big knock on him is his size and lack of a dangerous offense.