Roy Jones Jr believes Muhammad Ali stands alone as the heavyweight who could defeat Lennox Lewis. The boxing legend shared his thoughts in a recent "Winner stays on" feature for Mail Sport Boxing.
Lewis, known as "The Pugilist Specialist," had an impressive career that spanned over two decades. He turned pro in 1989 after winning Olympic gold in the super-heavyweight division. His rise was rapid, claiming the European title in his 14th fight, the British in his 15th, and the Commonwealth in his 20th.
In 1993, Lewis became the WBC world champion when Riddick Bowe refused to face him. His career wasn't without setbacks, though. He suffered shock defeats to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman but avenged both losses in rematches.
Lewis's fighting style was classic heavyweight. He used his impressive reach to keep opponents at bay but could get aggressive when needed. This approach led him to 41 wins, with 32 by knockout, against just 2 losses.
Lewis himself considered Ali one of his heroes. When he served as a pallbearer at Ali's funeral, he said:
"Ali has always been an enormous inspiration to me, not only in my boxing career, but also in life. His journey began 74 years ago, and in that time, he not only transformed the world of sport, he used sport to transform the world."
In Jones Jr's assessment, Lewis comes out on top against a who's who of heavyweight greats. He picked Lewis to beat a prime Mike Tyson, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Wladimir Klitschko, Tyson Fury, and Oleksandr Usyk.
But when it came to Muhammad Ali, Jones Jr saw a different outcome. Ali, born Cassius Clay, had a career record of 56 wins (37 by knockout) and 5 losses. His fighting style was unique - a slick-moving jabbing machine with sneaky power and unmatched confidence.
Lewis's last fight was a bloody victory over Vitali Klitschko in 2003. He retired as the undisputed heavyweight champion, a title he held for over two decades until Oleksandr Usyk claimed it in 2023.
Both Lewis and Ali left significant legacies both in and out of the ring. Their impact on boxing and beyond continues to inspire new generations of fighters and fans alike.
