Larry Holmes(1980)v Lennox Lewis(anytime)?

Question

Battle of the giants here,if this fight were today and both these men were at their fighting best,how would the fight go and who'd win?Ive just watched Lewis fight Rachman(again)and Holyfield and know were my money,as a betting man,would go!what do you think?

Answer 1

Although both were courageous athletes I'd have to give the edge to Larry Holmes.

(1) Larry lived in an era where championship fights went to fifteen rounds. I've seen Holmes' fifteen round thriller against Ken Norton and when it comes to stamina I'd give the edge to Holmes.

(2) Larry had a decent chin and very good recuperative powers when floored by some of the division's top hitters. We must remember that Larry was only kayoed by Tyson and that was when he came out of retirement and almost forty years old. Lennox as we all know was chinned by Rahman and McCall.

(3) Larry was also a very crafty fighter and although Lennox was an intellegent fighter I don't think he was as 'instinctive' as a fighter like Larry. I still can remember Lewis being OUTBOXED by Frank Bruno until Bruno's glass chin failed him.

In a fifteen round fight I believe Larry would have knocked him out in perhaps the thirteenth or fourteenth round. If over twelve, I'd give Larry the decision.

Answer 2

There are so many variables in this fight you couldn't logically with accuracy pick a winner.

I beleive Lewis didnt reach his prime till after the McCall lost,and the Rachman punch if landed would have flattened any champion Ali, Holmes, Marciano included.

Lewis is the bigger man, the bigger puncher. Holmes at 6'3 215 lbs prime weight and 81" reach, would be stepping up against a 6'5 240 lbs prime weight Lewis who had a 3 inch reach advantage. Of course Holmes had the hand speed that the 3 inches might not mean a thing.

People question Lewis chin, but if you really look at it, He got up after the McCall knockdown and didnt look in bad shape. The Rachman fight he was horribly out of shape and ill prepared and showed that the Rachman win was a fluke in the second fight.

Holmes was not a big puncher at all, Holmes broke his guys down, and put them away with combo's much like a Holyfield. And even an aged past his prime 6'2 Holyfield gave Lewis a close fight twice. But Holyfield had a different style then Holmes and was used to fighting bigger men, Holmes fought mostly smaller men them himself.  

The biggest advantage Lewis had over all other heavyweights is that he had Manny Stewart in his corner. Given that Manny would workout a game plan to negate Holmes speed and jab, and given Lewis huge size and huge power I believe he would catch Holmes with enough strait right hands to rattle his brains and possibly earn a TKO.

My money would be on Lennox Lewis, when that guy was determined and in shape and with Manny in his corner he was unbeatable by smaller fighters, he was a big tall fighter who fought like it.

Answer 3

Prime for Prime I would like Lennox to beat Holems via SD. An older (40 +) Holmes probably would've been stopped in four rounds. Prime for Prime it was a very tough fight to call. Both had great jabs and they both had good right hands. If they fought best of three prime for prime I could see Lennox winning two and Larry one.

Answer 4

Holmes. From a far more competitive era with twice the  competing heavyweights.

The first vote has to be for the champ from the biggest pool.

No different from comparing a 'great looking middle ranker' to a current champ.

They both look as good shadow sparring etc. but one is the best of only 'half the pool',(the bottom half)

And he gets knocked out  by the champ of 'the full pool' within a round or so.

Lewis is a champ of only half Larry holme's pool of fighters.

And lastly remember holmes was an early peak fighter. He lost his edge in his late twenties, so comparisons to later losses are not as relevant to his prime.

The fact lewis and our stumbling modern sloths last into their late thirties and forties is another indication how poor the division has become.

Answer 5

both had tremendous jabs, and good reach....lewis probably had the harder punch, but holmes had the harder chin

i say holmes wins this by unanimous 15 round decision, or late stoppage.

Answer 6

Larry Holmes and Lennox Lewis were similar fighters in that they were both good sized boxers with outstanding jabs and a tremendous right hand.  I watched Larry and Lennox throughtout the 80s 90s and early 00s and that would have been a tough fight.  Over 12 I would favor Lennox.  Over 15 rounds I might have to give it to Larry Holmes as he was one tough SOB.

Answer 7

Holmes in a TKO

Answer 8

I think both are in the top ten or twelve all time great heavyweights. Holmes was hurt and knocked down by two inferior fighters, while in his prime.(Renaldo Snipes & Mike Weaver). But he recovered and won both fights. Lewis was KO'd in two fights against inferior fighters. (McCall & Rahman) and won both rematches against them. That is one big difference, the other is Holmes jab. Lewis had a good one and it got better as he got older. Holmes had a sledgehammer jab! it was quick and hard!

I can't see Holmes being KO'd(because he only was KO'd once in his career, at 38 yrs old) and I can't see lewis out boxing Larry.

I'd say Larry either late round TKO or dec