Usyk would destroy Prime Lennox Lewis

I guess 99, to allow for a fluke, because anything can happen in boxing.

We're not talking about Usyk merely winning, though. The thread is titled "would destroy" - as in, implicitly, dominate and knock out.

Now, could Usyk at his best destroy an early 90s version of Lewis? Or a post-millennium version? Sure. But that isn't what @Tyson379 specified. He specified that Usyk "would destroy" a "prime Lewis". That is the fully matured version that had been fine-tuned under Emanuel Steward, and before starting to exit his physical prime. That window was about 3-4 years. 1997 until 2000. So, from Mercer until circa Grant or Tua. Starting with Rahman I, he was clearly declining but still dangerous up through VK.

I have an incredibly hard time seeing Usyk "destroy" (as in dominate and/or knock out) a '97-2000 version of Lewis. Win some rounds, sure, perhaps even get a close decision. But not destroy.

 

I do think Usyk beats Lewis, its just that many people are being as annoying and aggressive as Murican fans are when it comes to Usyk these days, Lewis’ one-punch KO losses have literally no relevance in a fight with Usyk, people just throw it out for disrespect.

 

This what annoys me aswell in the end no one can prove anything in mythical H2H match ups let's just appreciate both fighters and stop all this nonsense about "destroying".

Because neither Lewis or Usyk would destroy eachother simple as that.

 

I don't consider it a duck Lewis never avoided anyone IMO.

Lewis was looking to cash out with a big money fight at the end of his career.

Byrd was stinking up the joint in every fight and just wasn't a big enough name for Lewis at that stage in his career.

You said yourself Lewis took on Vitali at late notice I think that speaks volumes about Lewis.

 

Lewis beats him split decision

 

Rahman got kayoed by Maskaev twice in his prime, couldn't even beat John Ruiz who lost every round to Jones. A guy like that winning the championship isn't a good look for a supposedly great era. By contrast in the post Klitschko era guys like Ortiz, Wilder, Parker weren't able to make it to the top even briefly which suggests greater depth.

AJ also beat Whyte, Povetkin, and Parker. I'm also doubtful he will go down as among the eras top 3 given the loss to Dubois, maybe top 5 is still possible depending on how one defines the era. In any case he's clearly doesn't have a case for being top dog like Lewis does.

If Povetkin winning every single round isn't dominant I don't know what would be. Generally that would be viewed favorably.

 

The crop to never win a title in this generation isn't really better plus Wilder reigned for 5 years as a champion and he has bad fundamentals even compared to early 20th century heavyweights. Parker was a champion. Stiverne was a champion. Charles Martin was a champion. Martin is not better than Seldon. Rahman has a much better resume than Andy Ruiz. Joyce is not more difficult to deal with than Roy Jones I don't care how big he is. Francis Ngannou was 1 point away from a split draw with Fury ! The idea that this era has more talent is very skeptical

Usyk, Fury, Joshua, Wilder, Dubois, Parker, old Povetkin, old Pulev, Kabayel, Hrgovic, Zhang, Joyce, Whyte, Ortiz, Ruiz, Chisora, Hunter, Miller, Sanchez, Ajagba

Lewis, Bowe, Holyfield, Tyson, Tua, Mercer Ibeabuchi, Moorer, old Foreman, old Holmes, Ruddock, Bruno, Tucker, Douglas, Rahman, McCall, Grant, Byrd, Hide, Donald, Akinwande, Maskaev, Morrison

90s is more stacked. Old Tim Witherspoon in the 90s didn't have nearly as much success as old Chisora or Povetkin. Holmes and Foreman established some legitimacy in the 90s which brings questions, but they fought at a higher level in their prime, so i don't see it as this big deal breaker

Almost every round was competitive and a few could have been scored the other way. A worse Povetkin destroyed Whyte. Pulev was still a top guy at 39 and currently has a WBA regular belt, but Pulev was never elite. Do you see an old Pulev being a top 10 guy in the 90s ? I can't see it myself

 

I don't think Usyk struggles. I'm onboard with him winning - or at least with it being a pick 'em that could go either man's way on a given night. Just - yeah, destroy is definitely an embellishment.

Usyk does have the same dimensions as somebody that gave Lewis hell in Željko Mavrović (exact same height, 2-3" more reach, and much faster hands), and there is probably some fire behind all the smoke about Lewis fearing/avoiding southpaws. He only ever fought one professionally, Gregory "Gorilla" Gorrell, early in his career. AFAIK he never fought any in the amateurs. Rumor has long held that somewhere along the way, probably early in his training, he got badly ****ed up by one in sparring and pretty much said "the hell with them". It's glaringly suspicious that he never locked horns with Moorer, Sanders, or Byrd.

So yeah, I can see Usyk having lots of success...but on a first meeting, sorry, I just don't see him knocking Lewis out. Maybe in a rematch after getting a feel out and putting together a game plan, like he did with Dubois - but right outta the gate, first go? With a tactician like Steward in the other corner? Nah, it would take Usyk at least twelve rounds to figure out how to get past that long dangerous 1-2 and deliver a kayo payload. It's far easier for me to envision hustling to a decision on southpaw jabs & flurries from angles Lewis isn't used to, and body shots on that long inviting torso target.

 

Gorrell was trash, btw, very much the definition of a Midwest clubfighter...but even so, you can practically feel the discomfort of young Lennox emanating through your screen here:

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Mind you, at this stage of his career Lewis was used to blowing guys out quickly. Gorrell was the only opponent out of his first ten to make it past four rounds (and one of only two to make it past the 2nd). LL's body language before getting the stoppage is of someone that is having zero fun being stuck in there with a gritty lefty, however unskilled.