what were Lennox Lewis weaknesses?

Oddone · Feb 28, 2021

dmt said: ↑

He has close fights with past their prime heavies (Mercer and Holyfield 2).

Lewis could be lazy at times with his jab, although Steward improved it tremendously, so it became a strength. Still, Lewis was not a great mover, he was very hittable, except he was normally able to overpower his opponents. When he ran into iron chinned guys like Mercer, he was unable to simply overpower them.

Lewis was overly cautious at times. I also don't think his stamina was particularly outstanding. He seemed to take quite a few breathers; i think almost all heavies over 230 lbs need to take more breathers compared to guys in the 200-220 lb range.

Lewis's struggles vs smaller past their prime fighters like Mercer and Holyfield 2 show that his "size advantage" is massively overrated by his fans. Both Mercer and Holyfield were past it, fighting in spurts, (and overweight in case of Mercer) and thus were unable to take advantage of Lewis's own tendency to fight in spurts.

A master boxer like a prime Holmes could fight 15 rounds with quite high intensity. In a 12 rounder, Holmes would be able to up his intensity while Lewis would need to take breathers due to his size. I have little doubt Holmes would win. Ali is a terrible match up for Lewis; Muhammad would absolutely box circles around him.

I have always believed that heavies in the 210-220 lb range match up a lot better vs Lewis than bigger guys. Lewis feasted on bigger guys like Golota and Grant, but smaller guys like Mercer, Holyfield and a C level Marovic gave him a harder time than big guys like Golota and Grant.

Before anyone accuses me of disliking Lewis, i rank him #6 on my list. But he definitely had flaws and he struggled more with quality heavies who were smaller and past their prime than he did with the giants. A lot of Lewis's fans massively overrate him h2h and claim that his size would make him a favourite over smaller guys like Ali and Holmes. To the contrary, i think both Ali and Holmes would box circles around him, especially the 1967 Ali.
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This was beautifully thought out. Kudos.

Mendoza · Mar 1, 2021

Chin and ego were his biggest problems.

he grant · Mar 1, 2021

dmt said: ↑

Lewis fought Holyfield when Hollyfield was 37 and a year away from struggling vs John Ruiz. Tyson was done at this stage. Neither fighter at that stage is comparable to Foreman, Frazier or Liston.

Norton was an excellent fighter and an all time top 25 heavyweight, if not top 20. In fact, Norton was better than most of Lewis's opposition except Vitali. I would pick Norton to defeat the same version of Holyfield Lewis did.

Who were Lewis's best opponents outside of his Vitali, past it Holy and Tyson? Ruddock was no better than Shavers; in fact, i would say he was worse. Lyle is just as good as Tua. Williams was done when Ali fought him, so he doesn't really count.

McCall and Rahman were hardly top fighters. McCall struggled vs an ancient Holmes. Morrison likely had HIV at this stage and was pretty much done.

I don't see how anyone can argue Lewis fought more top heavies than Ali.
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Liston was both old and highly inactive when Ali fought him .. so were Patterson and Williams .. Holyfield was 37 but I'd still have picked him over Terrell, Shavers, Lyle , Bonavena and have him at pickem with the half blind Frazier of Manila .. Tyson too .. when he fought Lewis many thought he still had a shot because of how he destroyed Savarese and Golota ... he lost like he did as never before because it was Lewis he was fighting .. Norton, who I respect but was very deeply flawed in the chin vs punchers department , a top 25 heavyweight ? Interesting !

he grant · Mar 1, 2021

dmt said: ↑

He has close fights with past their prime heavies (Mercer and Holyfield 2).

Lewis could be lazy at times with his jab, although Steward improved it tremendously, so it became a strength. Still, Lewis was not a great mover, he was very hittable, except he was normally able to overpower his opponents. When he ran into iron chinned guys like Mercer, he was unable to simply overpower them.

Lewis was overly cautious at times. I also don't think his stamina was particularly outstanding. He seemed to take quite a few breathers; i think almost all heavies over 230 lbs need to take more breathers compared to guys in the 200-220 lb range.

Lewis's struggles vs smaller past their prime fighters like Mercer and Holyfield 2 show that his "size advantage" is massively overrated by his fans. Both Mercer and Holyfield were past it, fighting in spurts, (and overweight in case of Mercer) and thus were unable to take advantage of Lewis's own tendency to fight in spurts.

A master boxer like a prime Holmes could fight 15 rounds with quite high intensity. In a 12 rounder, Holmes would be able to up his intensity while Lewis would need to take breathers due to his size. I have little doubt Holmes would win. Ali is a terrible match up for Lewis; Muhammad would absolutely box circles around him.

I have always believed that heavies in the 210-220 lb range match up a lot better vs Lewis than bigger guys. Lewis feasted on bigger guys like Golota and Grant, but smaller guys like Mercer, Holyfield and a C level Marovic gave him a harder time than big guys like Golota and Grant.

Before anyone accuses me of disliking Lewis, i rank him #6 on my list. But he definitely had flaws and he struggled more with quality heavies who were smaller and past their prime than he did with the giants. A lot of Lewis's fans massively overrate him h2h and claim that his size would make him a favourite over smaller guys like Ali and Holmes. To the contrary, i think both Ali and Holmes would box circles around him, especially the 1967 Ali.
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Ray Mercer had one of the all time greatest chins and fought the best fight of his entire career by far against Lewis and still lost. When you watch the fight and take the emotion out it was not as close as many say. To me the fight showed how tough Lennox could be against a brute who took a great shot and came to fight ... I love Holyfield but while to his credit he went the distance twice I don't give him more than seven rounds if the 24 against Lewis. How may rounds did you give Marovic , another incredibly chinned fighter , in their bout ? One ? Maybe ? Of course Ali or Holmes may have beaten him with their own giant reaches (80") and speed and overall talent ... that said I don't say too many others could have ..

Jamal Perkins · Mar 2, 2021

There don"t appear to be any glaring weaknesses....though his career had 2 distinct phases (olympic gold medaliat to the mccall loss & the emmanuel steward years...and in that time lewis showed at different times....everything.....power,movement,chin,heart,stamina,boxing ability.........yet....the feeling persists Lewis was a classic right place...right time guy.........this guys biggest attribute was getting the right guy on the right night for himself.....

I see old holyfield fighting 2 v competitive fights....lets see what woulda happened with an 88-91 version

Bowe in 92 or 95 was not bowe in 88

The pre Manny Lewis gets knocked out by foreman imo

Tyson in 1991 is going to take lewis to a place he wasnt ready for

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what were Lennox Lewis weaknesses?

Oddone Bermane Stiverne's life coach. Full Member

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he grant Historian/Film Maker

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what were Lennox Lewis weaknesses?

Oddone Bermane Stiverne's life coach. Full Member

Mendoza Hrgovic = Next Heavyweight champion of the world. banned Full Member

he grant Historian/Film Maker

he grant Historian/Film Maker

Jamal Perkins Well-Known Member Full Member