Yeah okay Nat. Personally I think Bruno and Vitali hit appreciably harder than Mike Bruce and Oscar Bonavena both of whom floored Frazier,but I bow to your superior knowledge. 21 years old, 10 fight Ruddock had an asthma attack against Jaco and retired, if I recall correctly Jaco hadn't won a round. Tyson said Ruddock," punches like a ****ing mule", but what would he know?
If used properly against Frazier , of course. It's the reason I wrote in the very 1st part of my post Lewis could make very short work of Frazier, like Foreman did. The problem is Lewis never fought that way. If he never did it, how could anyone say he would? It wasn't his mental make up or the way he was taught initially. Maybe if he got "Doc" Brodus, "Dick"Sadler and Archie Moore in his corner and was pushed in training to take advantage of those physical advantages he'd be able to pull off what Foreman did. But if we are being real , Lewis was the typical European style boxer. That style relied mainly on the Queensbury rules of boxing . He wouldn't take advantage of his physical advantages as Foreman was trained to. That's the difference. Lewis may have had those physical advantages. But would he take advantage of them. His history suggests he wouldn't. That would leave a way open for Frazier doing what he did best, to beat him. Styles make fights. James Toney was much more impressive against Holyfield in just 9 rds than Lewis was in 24 rds.... Why? Styles and skills...... Not height, or weight, ot power.
1. Frazier doesn't beat Lewis in a million years, Lewis destroys him. 2. Lewis had a good enough chin, the idea that he had a glass jaw is a myth. In fact, I'd bet Lewis had a better chin than Frazier.
Tyson, Bruno, and Vitali of course Lewis fought them all. J. Francis said Vitali hit harder than Tyson and Danny Williams said Tyson's hit a little harder, but Vitali was more constant with his power. That's what the fighters said. But either way every man ( Vitali, Bruno or Tyson ) hit harder than man fan Frazier beat.
Maybe but I did not saw them fighting anyone or beating anyone notable at that time. Bonavena was never knocked cold unlike these guys and hit as hard as them. Asthma attack my ass, tons of excuses for his loss like he said he was past prime against Morrison who was coke addict and had hiv.
Who did Lennox Lewis knocked fast again? Old Mike Tyson after 8 rounds and Morrison while Muhammad Ali knocked Foreman,Liston and stopped Frazier so Lewis power is not that much as everyone want to make it. Maybe he hospitalized him but he was the one who ended punch drunk. Ali beat Quarry and Bonavena so he was not that outshaped and those two next wins are dubious especially Manilla.
Tua did land some clean hooks early and Lewis took them without being noticeably hurt. I recall one hook by David right at end of one of the early rounds. Tua was no Frazier but he might have hit harder punch for punch because all he did was load up on them. David's left overall wasn't the weapon that Joe's was but at the Sametime Frazier still has to get in range to land it. One of the things I learned many years ago was you don't want Lennox Lewis hitting you. That's never turned out well for anyone.
Not many punchers are on par with George Foreman in the history of the division. He was one of a kind. Out of your list of names Lewis himself is the only one that is in the same zipcode with Big George.
It's just keeping it in perspective. Those guys could hit but mainly their power was devastating only against B and C level opponents. Journeyman, aging fighters.
1. ? I would favor Lewis and probably bet a good sum on him if this bout was really happening. Frazier would have a punchers chance. 2. If Lennox Lewis were 5-11 and had to come into his opponents like Frazier did you would have never heard of him as he wouldn't of even turned pro. Frazier had a tough chin, insane determination, exceptional stamina. There's not a handful of heavyweights that could have taken the punches Joe took in Manila. Before or since.
too small and not enough weapons and I dont see Joe reaching LL often, while taking reams of punishment I doubt Joe makes it past eight rounds
What we saw in the ring carries the most weight. Ruddock landed square on Tyson with the best he had over two fights and couldnt budge him. Mike even tapped his chin and gave Ruddock a free punch in their first fight. Don't recall anyone giving Big George that courtesy. He also landed his best shots on Tommy Morrison and couldn't get him out of there. I'll always take what I saw with my own eyes rather than depending on crazy Mike Tyson's quotes.