Two myths about both fighters are Lennox' chin and George's stamina.
Myth 1: When it counted, Foreman knew how to "suck it up". Just look at the Lyle fight. He fought a dumb fight against ALI and people are unaware of the disadvantages Foreman faced. It's not fault to ALI but George wasn't at his best in Oct. 74 on that night.
Myth 2: People point out Lennox' "weak chin". What they often leave out is that he was knocked out by two of history's hardest punchers. I dare say that both Rahman and McCall are in, or just below "Class Foreman/Shavers.
The Lewis who faced Ruddock, while the same age as what we know as Prime Foreman, was not yet in his prime. Lewis was a late bloomer. People are quick to point out that Tyson was passed his prime when he faced Lewis. What they leave out, or don't know, is that Lewis is actually nine months older than Tyson. Still, the point is that fighters don't peak at the same pace, regardless of age.
The reason I have Prime Lewis beating Foreman is because, even by his own admission, Foreman never learned to pace himself. This takes me to the two myths I stated above. Your question actually puts Prime Foreman, or close to it, against a very green Lewis. Sure he knocked out Ruddock. But if you don't know that the Tyson-Ruddock war took everything out of Ruddock, you have to do your homework and view that fight again. It was the kind of war that changes the career of one or both fighters. Look at the performances of both Tyson and Ruddock after that second fight. There was little left of Ruddock. This takes nothing from Lennox but it's just the facts.
Lewis 92 wasn't prime yet. Foreman was certainly past his prime in 92. However, believe it or not, he was probably a better fighter than he was in 74. Still, Lewis had some developing to do. Foreman 74 was a mean guy who had no fear or even the sense enough to know he could be beaten. He was no dummy but he just didn't know fear or defeat. He would wade through Lennox' offense and stop him.
Foreman by KO in 3
Foreman 92 was a much wiser fighter who paced himself. He retained much of his earlier power because he never abused his body. Foreman would know that he can't let the fight progress or he runs the risk of being stopped by this young hard-punching boxer. George takes a few shots from a cautious Lewis but finds his mark in the early rounds.
Foreman by KO in 4.
Prime Lewis, the one who bested Evander Holyfield in 99, would beat both versions of Foreman. He beats Young George by KO in 7 and Old George by clear decision.
Oh man I'm going to say something many people don't have the guts to say because of all the Lewis fans. Lennox Lewis was great but he wouldn't have beat some of the boxers he fought if he would have met them face to face in the ring if they would have been in their prime. Evander Holyfield in his prime was as tough as they come a true warrior but he also had heart, good speed, and a little more then the normal heavyweight hand power. Holyfield lost some of his heart for the love of boxing after the Bowe fights. Yeah Yeah he beat Mike Tyson after the Bowe fights okay Tyson was beat before he stepped in the ring. Mike Tyson had gangsters, thugs, and Don King in his corner during those fights also Tyson was loosing his heart for the love of boxing, he is another fighter who had lots of problems and those problems played a big part in his boxing career. If he would have fought a prime Holyfield like the one who destroyed Buster in 1990, or the Holyfield that beat George Foreman at the beginning of his comeback. At that time Foreman was on a run and would not let any man stand in his way of the heavyweight title. Foreman's heart was as big as ever, his Chin was steel. Holyfield had the heavy weight title. He was the man that had the title that was taken from Foreman many years before from Ali. All he had to do was beat Holyfield. Foreman was tough but Holyfield was younger, faster, and had a heart as big as Foreman's. Holyfield won my decision. Holyfield fought a great 3 fights with Bowe but those fight took his heart for boxing. He didn't stop fighting but maybe his mind is saying don't quit and his heart is already down and out. He had some wonderful wins after the Bowe fight but his prime was before and during the Bowe fights. If Lewis would have fought a late 80's early 90's Holyfield he would have lost in my opinion by UD or stoppage. Lennox Lewis fought David Tua was short and powerful but he did not condition right and started to become out of shape. David Tua showed us this in the Lewis fight because that was the first fight where I was just appalled by Tua's body stature and stamina he looked to bulky and a bit chubby. If you believe Tua was in good shape then you are indenial. If Lewis would have ran into the Tua with heart, intensity, and well we all know he had one of the greatest chins in boxing all the way till his last fight, then it could have ended differently Lewis may have been KO'd by a Tua from the early and mid 90's. Also Lennox Lewis fought an aging, no love for boxing, depressed, washed-up, beat Mike Tyson. If he would have fought the Mike Tyson that went all the way with James Tillis beating Tillis by UD looking good every round, Tyson that ended Marvis Frazier's career in 30sec in the 1st round, the Tyson that beat down Berbick and Holmes, the Tyson that got through Razor Ruddock's The Smash twice, the Tyson that KO'd Bruno twice, then it would have been a completely different story Tyson's speed, power, movement, counter punching, defense, and style would have been to much for Lewis and it would have ended in 4-5 rounds KO right uppercut, left hook by Mike Tyson.
George Foreman 1992 would not have been enough to stop Lewis. Foreman was tough and he had a giant heart, he also had extreme power, but Lewis was pretty tough, quick with his hands and on his feet,he had a great jab and good combos. In 1992 Lewis was prime and Foreman was old. If it was a Prime Foreman. The Foreman that KO'd Frazier, Norton, and Lyle in the mid 70's then it would be a whole different story.
But since it's 1992,
Lewis by Decision
Lewis was knocked out by guys with much less power than Foreman, so unless he can run and hide he is going to sleep.
Foreman wins this in less than 10.
the lewis that beat ruddock was a dangerous fighter and stylistically i think lewis would be a nightmare for foreman,foreman threw his punches from around his waist which is deadly against short guys like frazier but against a taller bigger lewis he would get hit from distance . foreman could well blast out the less than Iron chinned lewis but i see lewis ko'ing foreman in about 6/7 rds
i think this one of those ERA fights where guys that were around for foreman blasting everyone out will go with him and guys that see lewis like myself will learn to the fighter they know better.
in his prime Foreman would ko Lewis in the first three rounds once he gets hit by Foreman on the chin hes down and not getting up If your talking the older Foreman unless he gets a bomb on LL chin he would lose by pts
lewis wins 9th round tko.. lewis looked a solid fighter with in his whole career his losses were basic flukes that he revenged george looked bad near the end was pretty good younger anyway I look at it cant really see lewis losing this one..
Sweet Science fans,
Lennox Claudius Lewis, at 6 foot 5 inches & 84 inch reach, defeated Vitali Klitschko in May of 2003, after a Lewis punch cut Vitali's eyelid in the 3rd Round; stoppage at the start of 7th round. TKO before 7th due to doctors orders. 60 stitches were needed on Vitali's face.
What if, in 1992, a young Lennox was facing George Foreman, instead of Donovan ''Razor'' Ruddock,
Q 1. Disregarding eras boxed, with both Lewis and Foreman the same age / physical conditions of 1992: Who wins a 15 round bout?
Tale of the tape:
Lewis - 6' 5'' & 84 inch reach
Foreman - 6' 4'' & 82 inch reach
