Lennox Lewis v Antony Joshua

[Master]

Who wins this peak for peak?

You could argue that AJ has not hit his peak yet but he is not that far from it. Lennox fought in an era with stronger competition and earned his title shot.

Both have susceptible chins but Lennox only lost when he took his opponent lightly. Against AJ Lennox would be on his A game and when in that form he would win.

What do you think?

[imp]

Lennox.

[X]

Lewis has had his entire career, so we are in a position to judge him as a fighter, whereas Joshua has only had a handful of fights so far against extremely mediocre opposition (Wlad notwithstanding, as he was well past his sell by date)

I don't think Joshua has peaked yet, but my instinct is that Lennox would be too athletic, too skilled and too seasoned for AJ ......

Lets see what transpires in the AJ story yet. He hasn't been hurt by boxing yet as a pro. Much too soon after so few short fights against the likes of Charles Williams!

[Master]

AJ has been visibly been hurt by Whyte and Wlad.

[Primo Carnera]

AJ has been visibly been hurt by Whyte and Wlad.

yep, and Lennox "was visibly hurt" by Rahman and McCall! so fucking what? and I don't buy this "wasn't focused" bollocks. Having said all that, if you had to say at this moment in time, you have to give it to Lewis. AJ isn't the most Skilled, Cultured or experienced Fighter YET. he wouldn't get past Lewis's Jab.

[imp]

Every fighter gets hurt at some point in their career...it's how they deal with it.

[Master]

AJ has been visibly been hurt by Whyte and Wlad.

yep, and Lennox "was visibly hurt" by Rahman and McCall! so fucking what? and I don't buy this "wasn't focused" bollocks. Having said all that, if you had to say at this moment in time, you have to give it to Lewis. AJ isn't the most Skilled, Cultured or experienced Fighter YET. he wouldn't get past Lewis's Jab.

Point being that he would not take AJ lightly and treat him as if he was fighting dangerous punchers like Grant, Golota, Ruddock, Tua and Tyson.

[J_Undisputed]

AJ has been visibly been hurt by Whyte and Wlad.

yep, and Lennox "was visibly hurt" by Rahman and McCall! so fucking what? and I don't buy this "wasn't focused" bollocks. Having said all that, if you had to say at this moment in time, you have to give it to Lewis. AJ isn't the most Skilled, Cultured or experienced Fighter YET. he wouldn't get past Lewis's Jab.

Point being that he would not take AJ lightly and treat him as if he was fighting dangerous punchers like Grant, Golota, Ruddock, Tua and Tyson.

Lennox in 5-6. Lewis took out grant and golota early, because lewis knew when you had someone who wasn't ready. There are the guys you give a little slack to and drag into deep water and fatigue and attrition takes their heart.(tyson, tua, briggs because they used to finishing early...) and there are the guys you spook and take the heart from first and everything collapses after that.

I don't think Joshua has peaked yet, but right now he falls in between categories. Joshua has a fighters mentality in that he gets up and tries harder if hes been put on his @$$. He's trying to refine his game and fix mistakes, but he's not approaching the in ring contest from a mental stand point. Hes a combo machine, looking for countering opportunities and projecting invincibility. He's not setting traps, or walking opponents into punches or using his weight to lean on opponents and wear them down physically. Lewis knew when a guy was ripe for the quick start bum rush. I think Lennox is off to uncharacteristically fast start in this one like he did with golota, grant and botha... and establishes a jab and counters the counter to confuse Joshua and walk him into punches. Joshua tries harder to force it and burns himself out wailing away on Lewis in the guard and Lewis stitches this up shortly after. Lewis wouldn't fear Joshua's power (same for wilder) because the punches are easy to see coming... the wind ups are bigger and the delivery is deliberate and unmasked.

[smashup]

Just to gets this clear.... when does everyone think/agree that Lewis was in his prime?
I'd say around the Holyfield fights back in 1999 when Lewis was about 34 years old and in his 35th pro fight
Joshua is still only 28 and only had 20 pro fights against Shit opposition so far (apart from Wlad)
Basically unless some real live fighters suddenly burst onto the Heavyweight scene in the next 2 years comparing AJ and Lennox is impossible because they will never ever fight each other so what is everyone gauging it on?
If's, Buts and Maybe's.

When you think about it, as the Division stands now, After AJ fights Wilder and Fury then What?

Who's next who's around now who looks remotely like they could pose him a threat in the next few years?

Dubois (possibly) but there's fuck all else coming through and making any sort of noise that i can see

[Master]

Lennox was at his best against Holyfield onwards.

AJ will have worthy opponents Wilder is up there with the likes of Ruddock/Golota/Grant. The TV companies will create a challenger for AJ.

[Fenster]

AJ needs to get past Povetkin before Wilder, Fury, Ortiz come into it. Fat Baby Miller is a highlight reel KO away from becoming the next big American favourite. Uysk is moving to heavyweight, probably some other outstanding cruisers too. That takes care of the next few years without the "gimmes."

Lots of new faces/threats/challenges will come and go in that time, always the same, nothing changes.

[Fenster]

As for Lennox.... AJ is lying on his back with a big goofy grin about 2 minutes after the opening bell, about 50 seconds later the ref is motioning to the corner as he struggles to keep the big lump upright.

[Alpha]

I'd agree Lennox stops AJ at this stage.

[Spicoli]

Yeh AJ is definitely not near a peak and had not began to learn or show major adjustments imo until mid point of the Wlad fight. Ironically AJ reminded me of the aloof version of Lennox at times in his last fight. Wasn't putting shots together, jab was half ass and was reacting and talking up Takam. At this point Lewis balls AJ like he was dirty laundry and leaves him in a heap. One thing I never thought I'd say so clear cut is that Lennox was just way to fluid for him right now. In fairness though at similar point in his career Lewis was looking so-so after pole axing Ruddock. I don't think he found his stride really until Morrison, the war with respected Mercer..even though the long jabber was out jabbed by a stocky bulldozer ..and McCall getting all teary eyed in 'revenge' rematch. AJ has a massive future but in the back of my mind I just hope he doesn't get too far ahead of himself, inside and outside of the ring, as he refines his tools along the way.

[Ron Swanson]

The problem with historic matches is the rose colored glasses. People make lazy statements that dumb things down like Lennox took people lightly, against X Y or Z he wouldn't. Lennox was lazy, if anyone could tell who he would take lightly it wouldn't have happened.

Bruno was beating the snot out of him and he was about to go until he landed a miracle punch.

Vital was pummeling him.

Rahman set him up and took him out.

McCall knocked him out with a punch that was planned before the fight.

Point being, he wasn't perfect. But he is without a doubt one of the greatest ever. AJ has not proven that yet so you have to pick LL