Anthony Joshua and Lennox Lewis Comparisons.

[jamesmcdonnell]

like hot pepper sauce through a 90 year old's ringpiece.

classic jimmyMcD simile school

I'm as fond of a simile as a......hang on, I'm at it again.

[dominik]

I think that lewis has more power than AJ. wrote already in another thread that AJ stopped his opponents early but he all hit them multiple times flush and they get up after the first KD. many of lewis opponents of course also got up but he also had some one Punch KOs.

did AJ have any one Punch KO were he did not hit his Opponent with a flurry of punches?

AJ certainly has some good power but he did not have those devastating one Punch KOs like Lennox or wlad occasionally did (you know those were the Opponent is down and out for half a Minute after being hit by a single Punch).

Lewis' KO of Rahman, was as hard a punch as I've ever seen. If you look where Lewis glove ends up after the punch, it's almost at floor level, he threw his entire weight into that huge right cross. Rahman certainly didn't have a bad chin either, and he entirely separated from his senses.

yes. rahman was not the strongest chinned guy but he also went the distance with some good Punchers. those Kind of KOs (or KOs like wlad did to strong chinned Byrd and Chambers) I have not seen from AJ yet despite the bad opponents he fought.

right now he is more overpowering opponents with his physical power and aggressiveness. we have yet to see how that translates against better opponents.

[Boxing Writer]

There is also one more very important moment - will Joshua hold when he is hurt/tired/in some kind of troubles like Lennox and Wlad did (do)? Will he use some little dirty tricks (once again, like Lennox and Wlad) to get an advantage over his opponents? Or he will just stay and take punches like David Price does when he is hurt? Joshua seems to be a smart guy, and I hope he learns these type of things from Lennox and Wlad.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I think that lewis has more power than AJ. wrote already in another thread that AJ stopped his opponents early but he all hit them multiple times flush and they get up after the first KD. many of lewis opponents of course also got up but he also had some one Punch KOs.

did AJ have any one Punch KO were he did not hit his Opponent with a flurry of punches?

AJ certainly has some good power but he did not have those devastating one Punch KOs like Lennox or wlad occasionally did (you know those were the Opponent is down and out for half a Minute after being hit by a single Punch).

Lewis' KO of Rahman, was as hard a punch as I've ever seen. If you look where Lewis glove ends up after the punch, it's almost at floor level, he threw his entire weight into that huge right cross. Rahman certainly didn't have a bad chin either, and he entirely separated from his senses.

yes. rahman was not the strongest chinned guy but he also went the distance with some good Punchers. those Kind of KOs (or KOs like wlad did to strong chinned Byrd and Chambers) I have not seen from AJ yet despite the bad opponents he fought.

right now he is more overpowering opponents with his physical power and aggressiveness. we have yet to see how that translates against better opponents.

Yes, I'm not insinuating Rahman was iron chinned, but he certainly wasn't chinny. He could hold a shot.

[danamba7]

There is also one more very important moment - will Joshua hold when he is hurt/tired/in some kind of troubles like Lennox and Wlad did (do)? Will he use some little dirty tricks (once again, like Lennox and Wlad) to get an advantage over his opponents? Or he will just stay and take punches like David Price does when he is hurt? Joshua seems to be a smart guy, and I hope he learns these type of things from Lennox and Wlad.

Good point. He seems to be like a sponge though. Even if he loses I think he'll work tirelessly to correct his faults. Wlad's praise speaks volumes.

[dominik]

I think that his Team should give him more durable opponents soon. he shouldn't get too used to clobber opponents into Submission (see rakim chakhiev).

[Taansend]

I love how people can have an informed debate about boxing on this page rather than the name calling & nonsense tossed about elsewhere.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I love how people can have an informed debate about boxing on this page rather than the name calling & nonsense tossed about elsewhere.

Nuthugger...fanboy etc.

Just thought I should introduce a little balance. It's becoming too much of a love-in here for my liking.

[danamba7]

I love how people can have an informed debate about boxing on this page rather than the name calling & nonsense tossed about elsewhere.

Nuthugger...fanboy etc.

Just thought I should introduce a little balance. It's becoming too much of a love-in here for my liking.

The typical internet "boxing fan" wants a boxer to have the skills of Calzaghe, power of Haye, Chin of Froch and personality of Hatton. If not, you're overrated, feather fisted, glass jawed and boring as fook/robot.

[lillywhite14]

Olympic medals aside , and A.J 's was a gimme he did'nt win , he got the nod but he sure did'nt desrve it ,, Anyway Olympics aside i don't think you can compare these two ... If you want to compare Lewiss to anyone , pick another great ,, you want to compare AJ to anyone ,, then look no further than Bruno

He won a world silver. Just as impressive, possibly more so given the gift over the Cuban, than his Olympic Gold. He fought better at the championships too, the Olympics meant he had the whole world on his shoulders and he boxed showing that imo.

Let's not pretend he came from nowhere and was given 4 dodgy decisions to get Olympic gold, the Cuban aside ( who he would have knocked out 7/8 times out of 10 imo, it was opening night at the worlds sporting showpiece, he boxed poorly ) he won the rest fair and square ( people often reinvent the final against Cammarelle to suit their 'he didn't deserve gold' argument, that fight could have gone either way )

[lillywhite14]

I love how people can have an informed debate about boxing on this page rather than the name calling & nonsense tossed about elsewhere.

Nuthugger...fanboy etc.

Just thought I should introduce a little balance. It's becoming too much of a love-in here for my liking.

The typical internet "boxing fan" wants a boxer to have the skills of Calzaghe, power of Haye, Chin of Froch and personality of Hatton. If not, you're overrated, feather fisted, glass jawed and boring as fook/robot.

Not sure I'd pick Calzaghe for skills. Workrate maybe.

[malice69]

For what it's worth I think Lewis had far the better, more relevant physique for boxing success and pretty much agree with everything that has been said regarding skill.

I don't think there is anything suspicious about AJ's physique. He is obviously a full time pro and nutrition and sports science have developed drastically since even the relatively recent days of Lewis. Whilst its true that bigger muscles require more oxygen to function than smaller muscles I think that the way training and nutrition has developed; goes at least some way to reducing the adverse effect that we witnessed with muscle bound guys gassing out in the past. There are a whole host of ingredients that help make a dynamite punch, including timing and power (of which strength is a component along with speed). AJ's legs are as impressive as his biceps and chest and far more relevant for hard punching attributes.

We'll never know who hits the hardest out of either Lennox or AJ, or any other boxer for that matter but its abundantly clear that AJ hits fast and hard.

I don't think AJ can compete with the legacy of Lewis as there isn't a Tyson or a Holyfield for him to face, either now or on the horizon. But we were saying the same thing back in the early 90's comparing Lewis to a pre-prison Tyson and the greats of the golden era of the 70's. I've been reading some old Boxing Illustrated and Ring magazines of the late 60's and 70's and similar things were said back then, about guys considered to be absolute legends now compared to Joe Louis et al.
How much of this negativity, lack of belief, or reluctance to jump on the bandwagon is purely down to this perfectly natural historical snobbery?
Or is it a case of we've had high hopes before in relation to Price, Harrison and to a lesser degree Dallas and don't won't to be wrong or upset again?

If AJ has a good chin....and there is no reason to suspect he hasn't (although we kind of lean towards the fact he may not) and if his power is as awesome as we have seen in 14 fights in (at best) mixed or limited company is there any reason to suspect that he won't win world titles and hold them for a long time?

I suspect he will and in 25 years time we'll be saying that some as yet unborn pretender couldn't hold a candle to AJ.

I see Joshua as a better Lewis.He can fight with sharper quicker more direct power on the inside.For a 6'6 guy he doesn't really on the outside as much as Lewis.He also has better distance of punching,stepping side or back as he showed last fight.In 16 fights I see a better overall fighter.

[Stevieb8006]

Lewis actually won his gold.Joshua was gifted his.

[Loynesy]

I think it's a little harsh to say AJ was gifted the Gold. Two of the fights were close, but not unduly so. I thought he won the final through good work rate in the last round. Isn't that what Champions do?

[Stevieb8006]

I think it's a little harsh to say AJ was gifted the Gold. Two of the fights were close, but not unduly so. I thought he won the final through good work rate in the last round. Isn't that what Champions do?

Lost two fights IMO, one of them blatantly. Seems to get a pass from everyone tho. it irks me more than it should cos it undermines the achievements of Degale, Harrison, Adams and Campbell.

A loss should be a loss, I see no difference to what happened to Roy Jones but people don't give Park Si-Hun a pass.

[tobyh5]

Anthony Joshua and Lennox Lewis Comparisons.

Both put on a lot of muscle as adult trained men

[Loynesy]

I think it's a little harsh to say AJ was gifted the Gold. Two of the fights were close, but not unduly so. I thought he won the final through good work rate in the last round. Isn't that what Champions do?

Lost two fights IMO, one of them blatantly. Seems to get a pass from everyone tho. it irks me more than it should cos it undermines the achievements of Degale, Harrison, Adams and Campbell.

A loss should be a loss, I see no difference to what happened to Roy Jones but people don't give Park Si-Hun a pass.

Not sure it's fair to compare a decision in a close amateur fight with a genuinely disgraceful, corrupt bribe ridden bout.

[Stevieb8006]

I think it's a little harsh to say AJ was gifted the Gold. Two of the fights were close, but not unduly so. I thought he won the final through good work rate in the last round. Isn't that what Champions do?

Lost two fights IMO, one of them blatantly. Seems to get a pass from everyone tho. it irks me more than it should cos it undermines the achievements of Degale, Harrison, Adams and Campbell.

A loss should be a loss, I see no difference to what happened to Roy Jones but people don't give Park Si-Hun a pass.

Not sure it's fair to compare a decision in a close amateur fight with a genuinely disgraceful, corrupt bribe ridden bout.

Both hometown boys got the nod in bouts they didn't deserve to win. By a mile or millimetre doesn't matter to me. I had AJ losing two fights at the Olympics. It was clear that nothing was gonna prevent him walking away with the gold IMO.

[Monte Fisto]

I struggle to see any noteworthy comparisons yet, but maybe when Joshua is tested i might. Joshua seems much slower on his feet than Lewis. Lewis was a great thinker in the ring, and Joshua hasn't had to think too much as yet.

[lillywhite14]

What's to say this upcoming era of heavyweights won't produce a crop of top class men that will give Joshua the stern tests needed to secure a legacy approaching someone like Lewis'?

Plenty of decent super heavies in Rio this summer who'll no doubt be liking to turn over once the games are done.

Despite appearances, I think Lewis was naturally more athletic than what Joshua is, and of course had more upstairs when it comes to boxing. He was more fluid and possibly carried more power too ( hard to gauge Joshua's power yet. He doesn't switch people off but obviously hits pretty damned hard! )

Joshua will certainly have a fun career to follow that's for sure. I'd love to see him with a top notch trainer who could bring him on and help to try and iron out his flaws but all the while he is knocking people over I guess they won't want to change his set up.

[jamesmcdonnell]

What's to say this upcoming era of heavyweights won't produce a crop of top class men that will give Joshua the stern tests needed to secure a legacy approaching someone like Lewis'?

Plenty of decent super heavies in Rio this summer who'll no doubt be liking to turn over once the games are done.

Despite appearances, I think Lewis was naturally more athletic than what Joshua is, and of course had more upstairs when it comes to boxing. He was more fluid and possibly carried more power too ( hard to gauge Joshua's power yet. He doesn't switch people off but obviously hits pretty damned hard! )

Joshua will certainly have a fun career to follow that's for sure. I'd love to see him with a top notch trainer who could bring him on and help to try and iron out his flaws but all the while he is knocking people over I guess they won't want to change his set up.

People confuse musculature with athletic prowess. Wasn't Lewis offered a scholarship in Canada to play basketball before he turned to boxing?

[crusader]

Apparently Lennox was pretty good at American football too

[jamesmcdonnell]

What's to say this upcoming era of heavyweights won't produce a crop of top class men that will give Joshua the stern tests needed to secure a legacy approaching someone like Lewis'?

Plenty of decent super heavies in Rio this summer who'll no doubt be liking to turn over once the games are done.

Despite appearances, I think Lewis was naturally more athletic than what Joshua is, and of course had more upstairs when it comes to boxing. He was more fluid and possibly carried more power too ( hard to gauge Joshua's power yet. He doesn't switch people off but obviously hits pretty damned hard! )

Joshua will certainly have a fun career to follow that's for sure. I'd love to see him with a top notch trainer who could bring him on and help to try and iron out his flaws but all the while he is knocking people over I guess they won't want to change his set up.

For me, Lewis hit as hard as anyone who graced the heavyweight division. His right cross was a thing of pure destructive beauty.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Anthony Joshua and Lennox Lewis Comparisons.

Both put on a lot of muscle as adult trained men

Lewis put on about 25 lbs in his entire career as a pro.

[lillywhite14]

What's to say this upcoming era of heavyweights won't produce a crop of top class men that will give Joshua the stern tests needed to secure a legacy approaching someone like Lewis'?

Plenty of decent super heavies in Rio this summer who'll no doubt be liking to turn over once the games are done.

Despite appearances, I think Lewis was naturally more athletic than what Joshua is, and of course had more upstairs when it comes to boxing. He was more fluid and possibly carried more power too ( hard to gauge Joshua's power yet. He doesn't switch people off but obviously hits pretty damned hard! )

Joshua will certainly have a fun career to follow that's for sure. I'd love to see him with a top notch trainer who could bring him on and help to try and iron out his flaws but all the while he is knocking people over I guess they won't want to change his set up.

People confuse musculature with athletic prowess. Wasn't Lewis offered a scholarship in Canada to play basketball before he turned to boxing?

Very true. Joshua is athletic of course and was a pretty good sprinter I believe but you can just see Lewis' footwork and natural 'rythym' is a different level to Joshua's