After watching fights of both fighters in their prime, I am seriously beginning to doubt the Tyson who beat Spinks can best the Lewis who knocked out Golota and toyed with Tua.
Why, because Jim Lampley said it?
Prime Tyson would have been kryptonite to Lewis. Post-prison 90's Tyson was a shell of his former self (flat-footed, plodding, no combinations), and the guy who eventually did fight Lewis was a shell of a shell.
It's weird that Lampley didn't mention his stint in prison, his domestic problems, change of trainer....like it never happened.
Yet go watch the post-fight interview between him and Merchant after Douglas beat Tyson and Lampley says that "That wasn't Tyson in there for who head movement was important, I do believe the change of trainer affected him..." Said it right into the camera. He's getting senile.
Youre forgetting the part where Lewis didnt play with Don King. Don King wouldnt get you a fight with his guys unless you signed a multi fight contract and Lewis was too smart for Don King's bullchit.
Tyson and Bowe both gave up their belts rather than fight Lewis
There is a reason why Bowe and Tyson ducked Lewis.
Because they knew Lewis had their numbers.
Mentally weak.
Youre forgetting the part where Lewis didnt play with Don King. Don King wouldnt get you a fight with his guys unless you signed a multi fight contract and Lewis was too smart for Don King's bullchit.
Tyson at his very best would have beaten LL a couple of times in 5 fights.
They could beat each other. But at LL best, maybe Tyson wouldn't beat Lennox. So theres no definite answer. Depend what mood each other is in on the night
This. I can see it going either way.
A lot of people here writing Tyson off, Lennox proved he could be KOed, prime Tyson has that chance to KO anyone.
People are forgetting that Tyson fought Lennox 13 years after Spinks. That Tyson was a shell of even the Tyson that fought Holyfield.
People have to understand the current dilemma with the modern Heavyweights, some guys are just too big for the weight class.
The Heavyweights from Ali's era were about 215 lbs, in Tyson's era they weighed 220 lbs. Now we have guys that are a solid 250 lbs and over 6'5'' in height, that's a whole new weight class.
So I'll put this plainly, Lennox Lewis is a Super Heavyweight (250 lbs, 6'5''and up) whereas Mike was the standard Heavyweight (220 lbs, 5'10'' - 6'4''). Mike loses even his prime because he was too small for Lennox.
Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko and Vitali Klitschko changed the Heavyweight game forever, they ushered in the Super Heavyweight class.
Holyfield and Lewis both beat Mike . They just had his number in different ways. Evander had fast hands and could take a great shot . He would counter Mke and he wasnt afraid of Mike. Lewis awas a style matchup nightmare . Jab, right hand , hold.
The Tyson that crushed Holmes against the Holyfield that laboured twelve with him? The Tyson that flattened Stewart against the Holyfield that fought Cooper? I dont know, primes are so hard to define. Im not sure the Lewis that Steward trained, where we think of hes prime being, was more dangerous than the Lewis who beat Ruddock. But for sure, although Smith and Tucker arent Holyfield and Lewis, the Tyson that boxed them from the outside with a jab, footwork and great headmovement, would be a very different fight for both men.
Remember that while Tyson may have been shot Lewis was also way past prime and older than Tyson. Maybe that flush punch he landed on the old Lewis would not have landed on the prime Lewis.
I’m british so I support Lewis, being impartial about this, Lewis did a lot of shoving, pushing, and holding.
But as I said, can’t recall the details but I do remember thinking that Tyson had gassed about in round 2 and was running on fumes thereafter
Can’t remember the fight in detail as was ages ago, but it showed Tyson had an iron chin, and he landed one blow flush on Lewis’s chin (think left hook) which he would have easily polished Lewis off in Tysons prime but he was shot to goddamn hell in that fight and even then took Lewis biggest punches and actually gave up in the end.Remember that while Tyson may have been shot Lewis was also way past prime and older than Tyson. Maybe that flush punch he landed on the old Lewis would not have landed on the prime Lewis.
They were both great fighters in their primes. The Prime Lewis would have an excellent chance to beat the prime Tyson. Both men would need to fight their best fight with no careless mistakes to win.
After watching fights of both fighters in their prime, I am seriously beginning to doubt the Tyson who beat Spinks can best the Lewis who knocked out Golota and toyed with Tua.
Can’t remember the fight in detail as was ages ago, but it showed Tyson had an iron chin, and he landed one blow flush on Lewis’s chin (think left hook) which he would have easily polished Lewis off in Tysons prime but he was shot to goddamn hell in that fight and even then took Lewis biggest punches and actually gave up in the end.
Prime Tyson would have done to Lewis what McCall and Rahman did.
Lewis is somewhat over-rated, he beat a shell of Tyson and an ageing Holyfield. He picked off Ruddock after Tyson had drawn his sting. He looked somewhat average against Frank Bruno, a fighter Tyson totally dominated.
What Lennox had was patience and discipline. He outlasted his peers.
Tysons career was basically on the decline once he fired Kevin Rooney. U can tell the difference Mike's first fight without him. Couple fights later ko!!
Lewis was too good for any version of Tyson. Tyson would always have a punchers chance but lewis' excellent fundamental skills would beat Tyson 8 times out of 10 in my opinion.
Hard to say prime for prime. But its a straight fact that Holyfield Lewis fights Tyson dont compare with the fleet footed Mike who outboxed Tucker, swatted guys like Tubbs and Thomas like flies, and crushed Holmes and Spinks. Not even close in terms of movement and speed.
Holyfield and Lewis both beat Mike . They just had his number in different ways. Evander had fast hands and could take a great shot . He would counter Mke and he wasnt afraid of Mike. Lewis awas a style matchup nightmare . Jab, right hand , hold.
Hard to say prime for prime. But its a straight fact that Holyfield Lewis fights Tyson dont compare with the fleet footed Mike who outboxed Tucker, swatted guys like Tubbs and Thomas like flies, and crushed Holmes and Spinks. Not even close in terms of movement and speed.
of course he coudln't. can't think of a worse style match in history. if tyson really got close enough lewis would just hold on. only shot mike has is a puncher's chance and that's probably only for 4 -6 rounds at the absolute most.
Tyson at his very best would have beaten LL a couple of times in 5 fights.
They could beat each other. But at LL best, maybe Tyson wouldn't beat Lennox. So theres no definite answer. Depend what mood each other is in on the night