What if Lennox Lewis went pro in 1985...

He struggled with Bruno and Mercer two guys who were technically pretty good but werent as mobile slick. He would had a tough time dealing with the better more mobile technicians of the 80's as he got into the top ten tier fighters.
All that overpowering guys who had little ability would not have come into play here. He would have struggled. Lewis as much as he bitched about guys avoiding him not getting shots etc, he actually lucked out in a lot of ways in my opinion, because I dont think he was as good as most people do.

 

What is with all these Lewis threads. Did he fight recently or something?

 

I don't know if he was ready to turn pro in 1985 frankly... He was a man who was always built to be a late bloomer. Had he found himself without the opportunity to acquire a world class trainer by turning pro early, as many of them were tied up with so many talents during that time, he may have suffered some early defeats that could have ruined him..

 

I will be serious now.

Lewis would have been explosive and nobody would be safe.
Due to his explosiveness he would not be as safe.
He would not have Manny.

He has a worse career , not because the opposition was any better/worse just because everything may not have went as well for him. His maturity was a big help in the ring. His strength developed much later in his career.


Still he would have the potential to clear out the division with the same kind of record he has , just in a much different fashion.

 

You are someone who's opinions are always worth hearing and which are usualy spot on, but i would have to disagree with you here.
Yes he did have two tough nights against Bruno and Mercer. Not discrediting Ray but the small ring had a big say in that fight. Then Bruno would of give any man an hard night that night, because of the frame of mind he was in, due to the 'uncle tom' talk and all the British pride involved. But even still all boxers struggle from time to time.
You say Bruno was a good technician, but then say Lewis would of struggled against the slick guys of the 80s. I remember Bruno giving Witherspoon and Smith a lot of trouble technically before running out of steam. Or are you thinking of Tubbs, Dokes, Thomas and men like that.
Personally if Lewis were to develop like the ts is suggesting or even if he did'nt, i think he would have had the same success in the 80's against these men. I don't think there was anyone that size in the 80s who was as gifted and agile and with that right hand power. And one thing we should never overlook when it comes to Lennox, is his tremendous self belief and will to win. Something a lot f the 80s guys were seriously lacking.
ps. to the ts; if your just looking for Lewis/Tyson answers. Then just ask that question directly..If not then interesting thread. With which my answer is that Lewis would of done well in any decade. Simple.

 

You will find that . He is very clever in boxing teams but slightly over rates Tyson and under rates Lewis far to much. Most of what he says will be reliable though and correct just with a different opinion and take on them.

 

I have noticed left hooks opinions on Lewis differ, and have not being able to gauge what he thinks of him. But has we have both noticed his boxing knowledge is more respectable than most on this site.

 

I think Lewis entered his physical and skill prime at a later date then most fighters...early in his career he was rather skinny for his height...and he fought rather ugly before steward. Maybe if he gets with Steward earlier he would have been fine....but still i think he needed that extra time as a Am....just my feelings though.

 

Thanks guys. Yes it is only my opinion. I don't expect everyone to agree with me. I think Lewis was a great fighter I just don't rank him
As highly on a skill level as some of his peers.
Yes I was referring to more mobile guys like a younger Tucker or Tubbs. Spoon and Smith werent really mobile guys.
As far as the Mercer fight I don't really think it was the product of a small ring just the fact that Mercer with his decent jab and good chin was able to close the gap and make Lewis fight his fight. Just as in the Bruno fight Lewis had to fight Brunos fight for some time. In both fights he relied on his physical ability to bail himself out and in the Mercer fight many thought it didn't. I see him having a harder time against better technicians where he might not get that chance. Although mercer and Bruno were decent they still stood in front of Lewis for the most part.
The complete fighters like Bowe holy and Tyson would all be capable of putting Lewis in a situation where they had an advantage stylewise but I'm not sure a guy like Holy would be big enough and strong enough to carry it out whereas I think Tyson and Bowe would be. But again that's my opinion.

 

In 1986, he was older than the heavyweight champion of the world, whom he had sparred with, yet decided to remain an ancient amateur.

With Lewis, calculation always went before desire, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Look at the career he built and the likely bad consequences had he actually become pro along with Mike Tyson.

Yes, calculation and luck, in addition of course to Lewis' merits, made Lewis.

 

Fair enough! I am a poster who understands opinions are always subjective. I agree Lewis could be raw at times but i put this down to his physical strength and that he did'nt feel he always needed to use his skill. But when he chose to be i think Lewis was has just has skilful has the four men you mentioned. I mean look at how many brawls Bowe got involved in, when he really did'nt need to. That is why his prime years were much shorter than Lennox'. I know the fridge had a part too! I have to agree with DonBoxer when he says you underrate Lewis boxing skills.
I don't think you can underestimate the mans unshakable self belief and his tremendous physical strength. I understand your points and could maybe even envision them when you say they could put Lewis at a disadvantage stylewise, but i feel his strongest attributes and his ability to change fights would pretty much counter these advantages anyway.
And like i say i feel his skill level was has good has these men, especially when he felt he had to use it, as i think he wanted to illustrate in the first Holyfield fight.

 

I know this thread is discussing Lewis if he went pro earlier but it is possible he would have developed at the same rate but just became past it at a younger age. The difference with Lewis compared to most champions is he has a long period of pre prime and not much past prime . I think its unfair to say Lewis vs Bruno or Lewis vs Mercer because this is not a prime Lewis . I would say Lewis become prime with a combination of KOing Morrison then his "baptism by fire " with Mercer then getting his revenge on McCall. So the years before 97 are very much a pre prime Lewis. People often seem to disregard pre prime but Lewis is not at his best here in the same way Tyson it is unfair to say "Tyson in 91...". Thats 4 years pre prime for Lewis , 4 past prime for Tyson.

I guess the important questions are:
1. Does Lewis get with Steward
2. Does he develop over the same time frame rather than it being a set pre determined age.
3. How good are his match makers .

 

Getting with Steward would have been a major factor. Had Lewis continued with Correa throughout the 90's I dont think his career would have lasted as long. That being said, yes Lewis got better after Bruno and Mercer, but from what I saw, he still had some difficulties in certain areas of his game, and I think the Rahman, Grant level fighters he faced post Mercer, which for the most part were consistent in their level of ability and style, were not able to expose any of that. Lewis was very consistent in choosing opponents that were going to be right in front of him and there to hit. We didnt see him change it up stylewise very much, not that there were many options, but guys like Ruiz and Byrd, would have offered a much different look than what we saw from the slower plodders that Lewis faced. Lewis was always applauded for taking on big strong hard punching guys, but really size and strength dont mean much if you cant deliver it.
Let me ask you. From a technical standpoint list the top five fighters Lewis faced during his career. Guys that could do more than just stand there and swing.
My top five would probably be in this order as far as their ability and respective prime:
1. Vitali Klitschko
2. Frank Bruno
3. Ray Mercer
4. Evander Holyfield
5. ?