He was champion for three years and he did dominate but what did he dominate? Trevor Berbick! Plinklon Thomas? Lewis and Holyfield fought every body and usually got the best of their opponents ( Holyfield up until losing to Lewis ).
Tyson had his shot at both these guys and was knocked out. The two dominate heavyweights over the past 15 yrs have been Holyfield and Lewis. Larry Holmes dominated the first half of the eighties, Tyson the second half. But the quality of competition that Tyson faced was the worst ever. Holmes fought Shavers, Norton, Ali, Micheal Spinks, Cooney and Cobb. Holyfield fought Douglas, Foreman, Holmes, Bowe, Tyson, Moorer, Lewis, Rahman, Mercer...i could move on to Lewis but i think you have all got the picture here. Trevor Berbick was 36 yrs old and never that good. Bonecrusher smith had 5 losses in 25 fights when he fought Tyson. Pinklon Thomas was fresh out of rehab and Tony Tubbs looked more like a elephant than a challenger for the hevyweight title. The only decent fighters Tyson fought in his title reign were Larry Holmes ( 38yrs old ), Tony Tucker ( rising contender with IBF belt ) and Micheal Spinks who was really a lightheavyweight. Based on this, how can anyone compare Tyson`s achievements to those of Holyfield and Lewis? You can`t, they were a different league. Tyson was the most exciting heavyweight of all time but thats where it ends. Tyson doesn`t make my top ten heavyweights, maybe top 15 but he didn`t beat anyone special and he never won a match when the opponent hit him back consistantly. hardly a legend, hardly a great heavyweight really. More of a bully who when hit....lost!!

This article is pretty good and it compares Lewis and Holmes competition.

Comparing Opposition: Holmes/Lewis

25.12.04 - By Don Caputo: Larry Holmes and Lennox Lewis both ruled the heavyweight division for a number of years and are considered the dominant champions of their respective eras, but who defeated the better opposition? Here is a list of their best wins:

Holmes's best wins - Ken Norton(W15), Earnie Shavers(W10, TKO11), Muhammad Ali(TKO11), Trevor Berbick(W15), Gerry Cooney(TKO13), Mike Weaver(TKO12), Bonecrusher Smith(TKO12), Tim Witherspoon(W15), Carl Williams(W15), Ray Mercer(W12).

Lewis's best wins - Razor Ruddock(KO2), Tony Tucker(W12), Frank Bruno(TKO7), Tommy Morrision(TKO6), Ray Mercer(W10), Andrew Golota(KO1), Evander Holyfield(W12), David Tua(W12), Mike Tyson(KO8), Vitali Klitscko(TKO6).

Ken Norton vs Evander Holyfield: Both were slightly past their best but by no means washed up. Norton would deteriorate rapidly after losing to Holmes but a few months prior to their memorable battle he had claimed a portion of the heavyweight crown with a victory over Jimmy Young, so he was without a doubt still one of the top fighters in the division. Holyfield was considered the best heavyweight in the world when Lewis outpointed him & was comming off one of his most impressive performances against Micheal Moorer, a man he lost to a few years earlier. He also went on to win the title for a 4th time after losing to Lewis.

Lewis

Muhammad Ali vs Mike Tyson: Both were washed up but Tyson at least had a punchers chance against Lewis, Ali on the other hand had nothing against Holmes, no power, no speed, no movement, he was just a punching bag.

Lewis

Earnie Shavers vs David Tua: Both were incredibly powerful but limited fighters. Shaver’s had an unreliable chin & poor stamina to compliment his devastating right hand. Tua despite having a concrete chin and excellent power had shown he could be out boxed as he was very small for a heavyweight (5’9”) and had a frustratingly low work rate. Even though Shavers right hand is considered to be one of the hardest punches in history I don’t think Tua's left hook is too far behind, both fighters were dangerous every second they were in the ring. Going into his title fight with Holmes Shavers had a KO win over Jimmy Young and a close and some think controversial decision loss to an ageing Muhammad Ali in 1977, but losses to Jerry Quarry and Ron Lyle who both stopped him forced a lot of people to only give him a punchers chance against Holmes. David Tua on the other hand was being compared to a young Mike Tyson before he faced Lewis, his highlight reel knockouts exited the boxing public and many experts predicted a stunning KO win over the long reigning champion.

Lewis

Gerry Cooney vs Andrew Golota: Both had a lot of ability but ultimately proved to be over hyped. Cooney was big and had a fantastic left hook, he notched up some good wins which including a first round blow out of Kenny Norton before challenging Holmes. Golota build his reputation on 2 DQ losses to Riddick Bowe, who at the time was considered the best heavyweight in the world after knocking out Evander Holyfield in1995. The “Foul Poul” looked like he was on his way to winning both fights before getting thrown out for repeated low blows.

Holmes

Bonecrusher Smith vs Razor Ruddock: Although they were both big hitters Ruddock was certainly the more gifted fighter as he showed when they faced each other, he had a tremendous left hook and gave a prime Mike Tyson all he could handle in back-to-back fights. Lewis was a big underdog going in against Ruddock, Iron Mike was in prison and Razor was being hailed as the uncrowned champion based on brutal KO wins over the likes of Michael Dokes, Bonecrusher Smith and his wars with Tyson.

Lewis

Trevor Berbick vs Tommy Morrison: Morrison was equally dangerous as he was vulnerable; he had a lethal left hook and enough boxing skills to out box an old George Foreman in 1993. His power punching style was exiting and he had plenty of heart as he showed by getting off the canvas to stop Razor Ruddock, but after being brutally knocked out by Ray Mercer in six rounds many questioned his punch resistance. Berbick was less talented but wins over a washed up Muhammad Ali and Pinklon Thomas showed he could fight.

Lewis

Carl Williams vs Tony Tucker: In my opinion Tucker was the better fighter but I have to take into account that he was 35 when he lost to Lewis whereas Williams was young, unbeaten and hungry when he challenged Holmes.

Holmes

Mike Weaver vs Frank Bruno: Although Bruno has a more impressive looking record he never beat a top contender. His best win was against Oliver McCall, a good top ten type fighter but never one of the elites of the division. He performed courageously in all of his losses and will always be remembered for rocking Mike Tyson and giving Bonecrusher Smith, Tim Witherpoon and Lennox Lewis very tough fights before being stopped. Weaver had quite a few losses he was but he also defeated high quality opposition on a few occasions.

Holmes

Tim Witherpoon vs Vitali Klitscko: Witherpoon fought Holmes very early in his career before he was an established top name in the division. He went on to have a successful but inconsistent career, picking up a couple of titles but never reaching his full potential. Klitscko is one of the biggest heavyweight champions in history and the current number one man in the division. He is potentially the next dominant heavyweight after Lewis.

Lewis


Holmes and Lewis both defeated Ray Mercer.

So, in my opinion, Lewis faced the slightly better opposition throughout his career but there really isn’t much between them. It’s often been said that they both reigned in weak era’s which if you look at some of the names on their records goes to show how good you have to be to dominate any era regardless of how good or bad it is perceived to be, especially in the heavyweight division.

lewis dominated a weak erea of HW boxing..filled with "once good" boxers and shot legends...he would have not even made a dent in the 70;s-80's HW divison...homles was never able to get out of ali's shadow...everyone knows he beat a shot/old ali..and most think ali would have taken him to town in his prime

Holmes was head and shoulders above Lewis. He had one of the fastest and hardest jabs in the history of the game, and a great right hand. He used his natural talent and boxing skills to beat some very good fighters, while Lewis was simply able to make good use of his size advantage, you can't even compare the two, Lewis could never have touched Holmes in actual talent and boxing skill.

And I do agree that Tyson didn't acheive what either Lewis, Holmes, or Holyfield acheived, he was a fighter that proved to be his own worst enemy, as his own behavior kept him from realizing his potential.

The difference is:

1) Tyson unified the belts (and gave the (almost) unified belts to champs that followed).
2) Tyson had the aura of fear.

Also you seem to have forgotten A LOT opposition during his rule.

Tyson was something different in the HW division since Ali. Also Tyson was the youngest HW champ ever, and Tyson was the guy that threw it all away. The biggest waste of talent.

Let me clarify by saying that not only could Lewis have ever touched Holmes's skill and talent, but he never could have touched Holmes in a fight.

And I agree, Tyson was a tragic case, somtimes the brightest stars burn out the quickest.

Tyson is a sad case, he could have been the greatest ever, had he just lived clean.

Tyson is a sad case, he could have been the greatest ever, had he just lived clean.

True, but he is still one of the greatest and will be a hall of famer.

He will be a hall of famer but he isn`t one of the greatest hevyweights of all time. He didn`t defeat anyone who would be considered a top twenety heavyweight of all time and he lacked courage and heart when faced with an opponent who stood up to him. he was one of the weakest heavyweights of all time in terms of courage. Check Holyfield II. Evander was beating on him and instead of fighting back he looked for a way out by biting. This guy is weak and lacked heart.

Damn right. In the sport of boxing its not how you beat them, its who you beat. Tyson was a bully. He was so talented he thought everybody is below him. And when he fought somebody who actually was not afraid of him and had a good gameplan....he lost. Douglas can tell you that, Holyfield can tell you that, Lewis can tell you that.

i agree hollister...this lenox has skills for big man thing has been way over blown...he dominated a weak era..and holmes (a big guy with real skill) would have owned lewis.

i am not saying it untrue what ur saying about tyson..but truth be told..he made the sport famous and exciting...everyone knows who your talking about when u say tyson. The man had great speed,stamina and power when he was in his prime...and all these things are what people remember and thank him for.

But true more have accomplised more then him...but in "boring fights"...tyson will be remembered before all of those

and thats the triht ... am not taking sides..but its true

Wow!! Lewis dominated a weak era??? Holyfield, Tyson, Golota, Bowe and so on, and so forth.

Lennox better. This is fact.

Lewis is better than Mike, but Mike used to have a bigger market appeal.

Lewis is better than Mike, but Mike used to have a bigger market appeal.
True. Even though mike was good and will be a hall of famer he was never as good as the brand said. Don King made Mike what he is now. Maybe if Cus was alive and could guide him. :(

1-i wasnt saying lewis was not better then tyson..i was
agreeing with the fact that lenox was never as good as other big guys like holmes

2-...a old/shot tyson...a again evander..a quitting golata...oh yeah..what a great era

ageing holyfield*

Lewis is better than Mike, but Mike used to have a bigger market appeal.
No question about it.

Tyson lost to a shot Evander holyfield, remember how bad he looked in the third fight with Bowe. Evander was spent when he beat Tyson but he had enough left to deal with Tyson. Without the imtimindation factor Tyson was one dimensional. His work could be nuertalized quite easy (see Bonecrusher Smith, Tony Tucker ). A decent chin, an intent of attack and fast reflexes is all one needed to beat Tyson. Yes, Tyson was fast in his prime and had great power but he could be shut down and out hustled. I believe Holydfield would hve beaten Tyson had they met in 1991. It was mind over matter. Holyfield was one of the mentally toughest fighters ever while Tyson was one of the weakest, it didn`t what Tyson would have done, Evander would have dominated him.

yeah i agree totally...and the holy that fought tyson in their first fight was not a old/shot as the one that lenox beat

...my thing is how can you arue lenox HW divison (era) was not weak...come on

holy accomplished more then tyson hands down...i know it sucks that tyson will be rememberd before all of those but its true...i like tyson(he's exciting and grabs ppl attention) but know its true that he hasnt accomplised much