From Abilene, Texas, lightweight prospect Malik Lewis has yet to taste defeat in his career. That’s due to going 7-0 as an amateur and 4-0 as a professional with all four pro fights ending by KO/TKO. Fighting quietly in regional promotions and on the LFA prelims, Lewis is destined for the big show.
Lewis grew up playing sports and was always the athletic type. He wrestled in middle school and briefly in high school while competing in basketball and football as well. Although he made his amateur debut in 2014, he didn’t fight again until 2017, mainly because he joined the Air Force.
It was pretty evident even early on as an amateur that Lewis oozed potential. Lewis doesn’t lack any confidence and has a high ceiling in terms of his overall potential. While his hands have done most of his talking he can back it up with what seems to be a competent ground game.
When watching Lewis fight what stands out first is his explosiveness and athletic ability. With that said, nearly everything is sought out and set up. Lewis will use a lot of hard feints frequently. He’ll feint on one side and attack from the other and does it from both sides. He throws snipping straight punches splitting the guard and moves in and out very well. Lewis fights in different patterns always changing up his combinations and mixing in his punches and kicks. He can go from landing on the outside to landing a barrage of knees in the clinch. He likes to throw a flying knee as well.
Lewis is a big lightweight standing at 6’0″ who has fought at welterweight a few times. Someone with his size who knows how to use it is going to be a big problem. He’s still a young guy too, so he hasn’t even come close to his full potential. With strong stand-up, being able to control the fight anywhere, and being able to wrestle and grapple when needed, his skill set is going to take him far. Lewis isn’t fighting the best of competition just yet but of what he’s shown I envision a very successful career ahead of him.
