Lennox Lewis v Antony Joshua

[brocktonblockbust]

peak for peak, FFS Lewis BLOWS THAT LIL BOY'S WET CHEEKS OUT in about 4 rounds.

[Mark TKO]

AJ goes same way as Michael Grant

[sanatogen]

Consider how LL despatched Gary Mason early in his career and almost laughed at GMs lunges.

Nothing AJ can do, he would get Ass handed to him no matter how much better he gets over his career.

[Batman]

OK lets pit their opponents against each other in order to gain an idea of what level they both were at with their careers at the same amount of fights, is that fairer than comparing a peak Lewis with a current AJ?

21 fights in and Lennox Lewis held the Commonwealth (British Empire) Heavyweight Title, EBU (European) Heavyweight Title and the BBBofC British Heavyweight Title

21 fights in and AJ holds the IBF World Heavyweight Title, International Boxing Organization World Heavyweight Title and the WBA Super World Heavyweight Title and is fighting for the WBO World Heavyweight Title

It took Lewis just over 3 years of his professional career to reach his 21st fight, AJ will hit 21 fights after about 4 1/2 years, 4 1/2 years into Lennox's career he had just fought Frank Bruno

I can't really comment on Lennox's opponents because I would have only been around 6 years old when he was fighting this lot.

Lennox opponents on the left, AJ's on the right
Al Malcolm v Emanuele Leo
Bruce Johnson v Paul Butlin
Andrew Gerrars v Hrvoje Kisicek
Steve Garber v Dorian Darch
Melvin Epps v Hector Avila
Greg Gorrell v Matt Legg
Noel Quarless v Matt Skelton
Calvin Jones v Konstantin Airich
Michael Simuwelu v Denis Bakhtov
Jorge Dascola v Michael Sprott
Dan Mucphy v Jason Gavern
Ossie Ocasio v Raphael Zumabo Love
Mike Acey v Kevin Johnson
Jean Maurice Chanet v Gary Cornish
Gary Mason v Dillian Whyte
Mike Weaver v Charles Martin
Glenn McCrory v Dominic Breazeale
Tyrell Biggs v Eric Molina
Levi Billups v Wladimir Klitschko
Derek Williams v Carlos Takem
Mike Dixon v Joseph Parker

[Master]

Gary Mason v Dillian Whyte sounds like a good scrap, think Mason wins.

[Spicoli]

That's a solid breakdown. I give a 40 yr old Weaver a fair shake vs the Martin who faced AJ .

[Master]

AJ has a standout victory against Wlad which beats early Lennox's opponents.

WTF was Lennox even fighting Glenn McCrory?

[Spicoli]

AJ has a standout victory against Wlad which beats early Lennox's opponents.

WTF was Lennox even fighting Glenn McCrory?

Local consumption for a flimsy trinket defense.

In fairness Lewis was laughed at Stateside and dismissed as 'typical straight up guy from Europe' before Ruddock break out win. Honestly the boxing world was still very isolated as far as 'across the pond'. AJ was ushered in with multiple media platforms and had his belt gift wrapped from Martin and massive Wlad recongnition following. Lets face it the division was also thriving compared to recent times. Even after embarrassing loss to Fury.

Lewis had entered heavyweight elimination against the top 3 guys in division and was more that willing to square off with Bowe in finale, only to have Bowe wet himself and opt out. Leaving Lewis to make official statement title win vs Don King default Tony Tucker. He was forced a backward step there.

[Fenster]

Good idea Batman.

It's quite staggering how much stronger AJ's opposition is by comparison, he has a superb record for a heavyweight with so few fights.

[X]

I suspect Al Malcolm and Emanuele Leo may have both sparked out Prince Charles Martin

[X]

Good idea Batman.

It's quite staggering how much stronger AJ's opposition is by comparison, he has a superb record for a heavyweight with so few fights.

I think it depends entirely on what age you are. I remember a lot of Lewis' opponents and they were handier fighters than AJ's. That doesn't make Joshua a worse fighter ...

[Fenster]

Good idea Batman.

It's quite staggering how much stronger AJ's opposition is by comparison, he has a superb record for a heavyweight with so few fights.

I think it depends entirely on what age you are. I remember a lot of Lewis' opponents and they were handier fighters than AJ's. That doesn't make Joshua a worse fighter ...

It also depends on what colour glasses you wear.

Anyone that remembers Quarless, Chanet, Williams, McCrory etc is having a laugh if they think they were better competition than guys like Sprott or Bakhtov let alone Takam or Whyte.

Biggs and Weaver over Breazeale and even bloody Martin? Or Kingpin? Really?

Get those rose-tinted goggles off.

[Master]

Lennox's era was a lot tougher and probably the hardest with the 1970's. It was important to get good grounding and experience because when they were ready to fight for the title they had at least gone the distance in their fights.

If AJ was fighting in that era he would have taken the same path Lennox did and conversely I am sure Lennox would have gone for the title a lot quicker as AJ did.

[sanatogen]

AJ has a standout victory against Wlad which beats early Lennox's opponents.

WTF was Lennox even fighting Glenn McCrory?

I believe he was goaded into it by Glen McCrory when they both attended a boxing evening. He must have needed the funds.

[X]

I don't know, Fenster .....

I think a decent journeyman is likely the same back then as now - experienced, will go a few rounds, knows enough to not get hurt but probably not win.

I think the fringe contenders are weaker now. A bit more hyped, not many fights or experience at all. I think it's easier to climb the ranks now than then, generally speaking.

I'd be interested to know how many rounds the currently ranked numbers 5-15 heavyweights have, compared to those in Lewis' rise, then again in Tyson's rise, then again in Ali's rise, then again in (say) Joe Loius' rise.