americanbulldog, i respect your input on this board. you are one of the few that DO know what you're talking about.
just to be clear, i have never said that having less weapons at your disposal ie boxing is greater than mma.
my point was re tito vs lennox and i have stated two this would go down imo.
jeremy williams is an excellent top flight experienced boxer and a very big strong hw. he was actually very close to lewis' class (at time of sparring) and actually does know how to get past lewis' arsenal (team lewis is not going to pay for a moving punching bag). please don't think that tito would be able to do the same thing.
now lennox is an arrogant prick so there's a good chance he would die laughing when he saw tito's defence, but a switched on ready lewis = dead tito.
the fact that lewis and williams were sparring for a BOXING fight is an important thing to consider also.
What makes Liddell great is his takedown defense. His takedown defense is so good because he was a D1 wrestler. He is a very unorthodox fighter who fights with his hands down with little head movement. When he does shift out, his hands are by his waist guarding centerline (why, to defend the single, double, ankle pick). He is a counterpuncher by nature and throws only full power shots (with the exception of that probing jab that sets up his overhand right, left hook combo). The reason he beat Tito so badly is they were friends, training partners, and he knows Tito's game. He knows Tito is afraid of being clipped, and expects the shot. Is Page that much of a better striker than Liddell? No, but Page, stylistically matches up better with Liddell. Page sets up his slams, and takedowns with his striking. Page is willing to stand in front of Chuck, and unlike EVERYONE Chuck has fought of late outside of Pride, (Only exception being Tiger White, who is a small LHWY who actually caught Chuck a couple of times) are grappling based fighters.
Lennox would stand no chance against Fedor, Fujita, Josh, Mirko, Aleks, Sergei, Vera. Take the best of the breed from boxing and put them into a no holds barred scenario, and 9.99 times out of ten, the MMA fighter takes it. ODH, PBF would be mincemeat for BJ Penn. Make no mistake about it boxingphiles (I am one of them), but the well rounded athlete, with greater skillset will win. (The x factor is athleticism) Would PBF be a force if he got training, HELLYEAH! Guys a stud. Would a Cus D'Amato trained Mike Tyson if he got to train with Carlson Gracie been a load to handle? Unstoppable.... So lets stop arguing a moot point (it should be a mute point), I'd take a young Renzo Gracie over a young Mike Tyson anyday. Renzo with NHB rules before athletic commision rules was an ANIMAL.
