Did Lennox Lewis have a harder right hand than Wilder?

[Boxing Goat]

Its kind of weird because Lennox didn't always seem to put his everything in his right, but we've seen it on rare display a few times with Ruddock, Rahman, Grant and that devastating uppercut to Vitali.

I saw the Rahman and Vitali fight live and each time i said HOLY SHYT out loud. He literally did did not hild back on either of those punches.

So i kind of wonder if he actually punched harder than Wilder, but rarely put in on display.

I think Lennox and Wlad both have awesome right hands. Both probably all time power type power. But Wilder's power is ridiculous. I'm not sure there's been a harder puncher ever.

[HitmanTommy]

Wilder puts everything into his punches, that is why he loses position stumbles and leaves himself open.

But when you are fighting tomato can you can get away with that.

Lennox is a boxer, yes he can generate more power but against top opposition you leave yourself open to be countered, and you waste shots and look silly much like how Wilder looked against Fury.

This makes sense.

[club fighter]

Lewis was a more disciplined fighter and didn't rely on the bomb. Even that shot against Rahman wasn't flush, and you also have to take into account that Rahman endured 3 rds of punishment before getting stuck with that right.

Lewis didn't go in and plow thru top contenders in the 1st rnd like a hot knife thru butter. Maybe he did have the same level of power but didn't go in for kill shots right away. You have to remember Lennox got KTFO a few times so he was less cavalier about what he did in the ring later on.

[HitmanTommy]

Lewis was a more disciplined fighter and didn't rely on the bomb. Even that shot against Rahman wasn't flush, and you also have to take into account that Rahman endured 3 rds of punishment before getting stuck with that right.

Lewis didn't go in and plow thru top contenders in the 1st rnd like a hot knife thru butter. Maybe he did have the same level of power but didn't go in for kill shots right away. You have to remember Lennox got KTFO a few times so he was less cavalier about what he did in the ring later on.

What about Grant?

[club fighter]

What about Grant?

Yea but I think Wilder does it more regularly.

[billeau2]

impressive thread!

A lot of good ideas here actually. I would first of all distinguish between what one CAN do and What one CHOOSES to do. Like... when Lewis CHOSE, he got rid of the foul pole, Grant, Rahman, And a few others, relatively quickly. Other times Lewis chose to fight more defensively...this does not mean he could not have chosen otherwise. Perfect example, against Briggs, most people fault Lewis for bidding his time. But knowing that Briggs would burn out, Lewis took a bit and had no problem finishing Briggs off.

Lewis is a chess player and fights in that fashion. So we have to somehow measure what Lewis could at all times do with his right and uppercut, if he decided to use them the way Wilder chose to use them. Let me also say that these choices made by Lewis have given ample room for critics to say he has no killer instinct, and other such things. HOlyfield imo said it best when He was given that gift draw their first fight, and chided Lewis "why didn't you just finish it, go for it? were you scared?" In other words, why did Lewis let the fight go when he had Holy in trouble? Is that a foible? A lot think so.

Wilder has no choice by comparison. He cannot fall back on defensive skills, other than offense being the best defense. Wilder does use his jab well, and sets hios big shots up. but looking at the tape of Breazile, the man had his hands down as Wilder waltzed in! If Lewis had hit Breazile with his hands down...I kind think it would look like Grant: a big man caught flush, falling...falling...falling...chrome bubbles ahoy! "mom is that you?" Lol.

Lewis certainly dropped fewer guys percentage wise... And we have to consider that Wilder did drop Fury spectacularly that one drop (the other drop not so spectacular) and he did get to Ortiz finally after getting hammered a bit himself.

I would have to say that if we follow the numbers...yes Fury got up, and guys like Lyle, Foreman, and of course Ali have gotten up from massive shots. With that said, the only big KO for Wilder would be Ortiz, that was impressive. We have to see more of Wilder to see if he will keep his power as he fights better competition.

People thought Tyson would knock em all down also, but at a certain point, Tyson could not drop them like he could coming up. Lewis dropped some good guys when we consider that Briggs was a highly touted prospect when he fought Lewis. Golota also was not yet an easy mark when he fought Lewis. Lets keep perspective before we decide that Wilder has power unseen before. At the higher level, guys don't drop their hands and guys find a way to get up...