Tyson vs Lewis '96...

[mickey malone]

Tyson lost his prime in prison which was pre 96 but i agree he was still a force to be reckoned with and considerably better than when he actually did fight Lewis. His two best wins around this time were blowouts over Bruno and Seldon with both opponents folding out of fear for the 'old' Tyson more than anything else. Seldon, to his shame, took to the canvas as soon as Mike missed him with a wild shot lol.
I think his first fight with a near best Holyfield which took place towards the end of 96 proves indeed he would have stood a chance with Lewis. As for beating him, well it's doubtfull but i'm pretty sure we'd be discussing a completely different fight to the one they had in 2002. A 96 fight between Tyson and Mercer would've been good too.

[fight_professor]

Mike went for the supposedly easier Holyfield fight. As for the result, Mike of 1996 still had some pop. I'd back him to KO Lewis within 6.

[Pastrano]

Mike went for the supposedly easier Holyfield fight. As for the result, Mike of 1996 still had some pop. I'd back him to KO Lewis within 6.

Yea, he screwed himself on that assumption. He didn't count with Holy's incredible resilience, warrior spirit and also incredible build, which might have been supplemented by illegal stuff.

[physiker]

A 96 Tyson certainly would have done better than the 2002 version. Probably the same result but would have gone the distance.

Never forget that Tyson himself said he was not the same after the Douglas loss. He basically said he was just going through the motions after that.

So maybe a better question of what a pre-Douglas Tyson would have done to Lewis? I think he likely would have won.

And if you say Lewis was not yet prime at that time, remember Lewis is a year or so older than Tyson. But apparently took much longer to mature--or did he just wait till his toughest competition was shot?

[Pastrano]

A 96 Tyson certainly would have done better than the 2002 version. Probably the same result but would have gone the distance.

Never forget that Tyson himself said he was not the same after the Douglas loss. He basically said he was just going through the motions after that.

So maybe a better question of what a pre-Douglas Tyson would have done to Lewis? I think he likely would have won.

And if you say Lewis was not yet prime at that time, remember Lewis is a year or so older than Tyson. But apparently took much longer to mature--or did he just wait till his toughest competition was shot?

Lewis was born 2nd September '65, Tyson 30th June 1966, so Lewis is less than a year older. I think Lewis as a boxer developed greatly after the McCall loss, when Steward took him in and started teaching him how to box. Before that, Lewis was a decent but unpolished boxer who preferred just slugging it out rather than boxing.

[Joeyzagz]

Lennox beats any version of Mike Tyson 8/10.

Prime Mike was way too easy to tie up...Tony Tucker had a broken right hand and had no problem neutralizing Mike for 12 rounds.

Lennox is every bit as capable as Tucker plus he has 1 punch KO power. Too strong, too smart.

[J.R]

IMO Lewis beats Tyson of any era.

[Pastrano]

IMO Lewis beats Tyson of any era.

HOW can you say that?!?! Gimme an explanation, fast! And if it ain't good, I suggest we ban your arse out of here! Just kidding, but youre dead wrong buddy.

[J.R]

HOW can you say that?!?! Gimme an explanation, fast! And if it ain't good, I suggest we ban your arse out of here! Just kidding, but youre dead wrong buddy.

Tyson always struggled against tall, jabbers with a long reach, Lennox was also just too smart for Tyson.

Tyson would have struggled to get anywhere near him, lost his rag and game plan and being taken out, people say that Tyson was shot, well Lewis was older than Mike, I just can't see him having ever beating Big Len.

[Pastrano]

Tyson always struggled against tall, jabbers with a long reach, Lennox was also just too smart for Tyson.

Tyson would have struggled to get anywhere near him, lost his rag and game plan and being taken out, people say that Tyson was shot, well Lewis was older than Mike, I just can't see him having ever beating Big Len.

Look man, I think you are a nice guy and otherwise you don't post a lot of ****** stuff, but this is totally wrong. Lewis TOO SMART for Tyson?! Really, forgive me but I gotta . If you read my earlier comments about Lewis, you'd see that pre-Steward Lewis was everything BUT smart. He was a lunging, lumbering fighter who had problems maintaining his balance partly because he swung so wildly. Watch his fight with Bruno, he looked like total CRAP. Bruno was no technical fighter yet he managed to totally outbox him mostly by jabbing.

Even after Steward started training him, Lewis was still in no way a clever fighter. Thats why he suffered against Mercer. Thats why Holyfield almost BEAT him in the rematch, a faded Holyfield. Thats why even Vitali had his way with him for most of the fight.