Ali versus Lennox Lewis prime vs prime

chiricahua · Post by **chiricahua** » 30 May 2009, 19:14

Who wins?

dempseyfire · Post by **dempseyfire** » 30 May 2009, 19:25

Ali by a relatively boring UD. Way too much activity, stamina and speed for Lennox.

TigerMoth · Post by **TigerMoth** » 30 May 2009, 23:37

[quote="chiricahua"]Who wins?[/quote]
]Who wins?[/quote]

Ali had 2 advantages against his peers. Speed and size. Ali was taller and had greater reach against almost all of his peers.

Lewis only lost 2 times when caught by devastating punches. Ali was not a devastating puncher.

Lewis used his size and employed an illegal tactic that is never enforced. Like George Foreman (see Foreman against Frazier), when a smaller guy got into punching range (and Ali was smaller than Lewis), Lewis would put a hand on each shoulder and push the opponent away.

Lewis used his size very well, had good technical skills and was powerful. Ali used his speed by taking advantage of opponents who had smaller size and or less reach - he peppered them from the outside. He could not do this against Lewis.

Lewis would most probably win a close decision since, although Lewis was powerful, Ali had an all-time chin, and so, Lewis most likely would not get a knockout.

chiricahua · Post by **chiricahua** » 31 May 2009, 06:00

Ali used his speed by taking advantage of opponents who had smaller size and or less reach - he peppered them from the outside. He could not do this against Lewis.

He could not do this against Lewis????????????????????????????
Sonny liston had Lennox's reach and Ali played with him.Ray Mercer out jabbed Lewis.
Ali also played with Ernie Terrell who is taller than Lewis.Lewis's chin could not take Ali fast punches for too long.
Ali's lateral movement and fleetness of foot was magnificent and alongside with his judge of distance would give him the edge to dominate Lennox.
If you want to see a glimpse of a fight between Ali and Lennox watch Biggs vs lennox in the Olympics.
Amateurs and Pros are 2 different things,Briggs isn't Ali and Lennox was just an amateur,however you can see how Lennox would be the aggressor and how Ali would frustrate Lennox with his lateral movement.

SteveO · Post by **SteveO** » 31 May 2009, 06:56

Ali on points - easily!

dempseyfire · Post by **dempseyfire** » 31 May 2009, 11:39

Speed and timing negate size. Ali, at 6'3 and 80' reach, wouldn't have to get 'inside' . ..he would outjab Lennox just as the much smaller and slower Mercer did and like he did Terrell (who, while clearly lacking the power of Lewis, had a better jab and stamina than him), and simply time right crosses and left hooks before Lewis could do anything . . .Lennox was simply too slow of foot and he tired badly in bouts which had a fast pace.

banjo · Post by **banjo** » 31 May 2009, 12:57

Ali. Nobody, ever in the history of heavyweight boxing would have beaten the Ali of 64-67.

Goodnight, Irene · Post by **Goodnight, Irene** » 31 May 2009, 22:47

banjo wrote:Ali. Nobody, ever in the history of heavyweight boxing would have beaten the Ali of 64-67.

Indeed, & the proof is in the pudding, isn't it? He bested such immortal luminaries as London, Mildenberger, Cooper, Liston (LOL), Patterson, Williams, Chuvalo, Foley, & Terrell. That's leaving aside the state several of those fighters were in, too.

Look, Ali probably wins this fight. IMO, he'd have to be having an off-night not to. His conditioning & speed would absolutely stun the daylights out of the comparatively sluggish, lazy Lewis, but with his length of jab, considerable size edge, & ever-smart fight strategy all well in hand, Lewis is going to be reasonably competitive. 8-4 Ali, over twelve. Ali is over-estimated in history. Lewis, under.

jezzamundo · Post by **jezzamundo** » 31 May 2009, 23:10

Prime for prime, Ali wins by a clear decision in a fight that is competitive at times. If Lewis can use his jab effectively he will win a few rounds, and to be honest he would have to clinch a lot to slow down the pace of the fight. His size and strength would sap Ali of some strength down the stretch, but that would be negated by Lewis's inferior stamina.

Ali excelled in fights with stronger, slower opponents (Liston, Foreman) and the little extra height and reach that Lewis offers would not make enough difference to give him the win.

36yo Lewis beats 36yo Ali, though.

Ambling Alp · Post by **Ambling Alp** » 31 May 2009, 23:14

Goonight-Ali's three title reign was better than any other 3 years that any heavyweight champion had in history. Yes you can pick flaws in in each of those opponents; but you can do that with Lennox Lewis opponents or anyone else as well. They were pretty good fighters. Brian London, was the worst of those and even he had his moments.

Liston is LOL? Well going into their first fight he was considered invincible and Ali stopped him in rounds. It's not Ali's fault that the 2nd fight was a joke.

10-0, 8 knockouts and two easy decisions. He gets ripped on an almost daily basis on the Forum. His first title reign gets about 1/10 of the atttention as fights when he was well past his best. And he is overestimated? huh?
What more was Ali supposed to do in those three years?

Just because you don't like someone doesn't make them overrated.

observer1 · Post by **observer1** » 01 Jun 2009, 05:54

Prime v Prime.

I would not be surprised Ali winning by TKO

man · Post by **man** » 01 Jun 2009, 15:37

Goodnight, Irene wrote:
banjo wrote:Ali. Nobody, ever in the history of heavyweight boxing would have beaten the Ali of 64-67.
Indeed, & the proof is in the pudding, isn't it? He bested such immortal luminaries as London, Mildenberger, Cooper, Liston (LOL), Patterson, Williams, Chuvalo, Foley, & Terrell. That's leaving aside the state several of those fighters were in, too.

Look, Ali probably wins this fight. IMO, he'd have to be having an off-night not to. His conditioning & speed would absolutely stun the daylights out of the comparatively sluggish, lazy Lewis, but with his length of jab, considerable size edge, & ever-smart fight strategy all well in hand, Lewis is going to be reasonably competitive. 8-4 Ali, over twelve. Ali is over-estimated in history. Lewis, under.

good post.

man · Post by **man** » 01 Jun 2009, 15:44

lewis was never outboxed. he had quite a chin,
(although he got caught by two heavy punchers),
just look against klitschko.

i believe ali-lewis could have been an all-time
great matchup. smart guys, boxers, good athletes.
i do not see any completely dominating the other ...