Lennox Lewis would not have lasted 12 mineutes with Tyson when he was committed

[squealpiggy]

What was Lewis doing when Tyson was establishing himself as the last true Heavyweight Champion? Nothing. Nothing of note at all.

Tyson became Heavyweight Champion in November 1986. While Tyson was establishing himself as an undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox was training for and winning an Olympic Gold Medal. Tyson's pro career began four years before Lewis's. When Lewis had been fighting professionally for four years he won the WBC title. During that time he also won the European title and the British title, while Tyson didn't bother with any regional titles. After all why would you, when the world champion is Trevor Berbick?

[.Mik.]

The Lewis that beat Tyson was probably the best Lewis that ever fought.

However, there is a simple reason why Prime Tyson would defeat any version of Lewis (and that it not belittling the achievements of the best Heavyweight champion of recent history). That reason is that Tyson was always a question mark over the career of Lewis and because of this fact, Lewis always felt that he had to prove himself. Furthermore, Lewis' chin was always another question mark holding him back from true credibility and greatness. Had he ever fought a Tyson truly capable of still fighting and knocking out a top heavyweight (ie in his prime) there is no way that Lewis would have been able to refrain from being drawn into a scrap. He was too ****y, too complacent and too confident in his own abilities (not necessarily a bad thing, it may have led him to a couple of shock losses, but it led him to some great wins too). Lewis' pride would have made him stand toe-to-toe and scrap with Tyson...scrapping with a prime Tyson only leads to a knock out victory to Tyson, doesnt really matter who he is facing. He punches too hard, too accurately, too fast, with such unexpected combinations and angles and moves too well for the result to be anything else.

[gixxer]

he would have knocked out any version of tyson

NO HE WOULDNT HAVE ....HE WOULD HAVE GOT HIS BIG ASS BUSTED UP

[squealpiggy]

I'm not sure I entirely agree with you about Lewis's chin. Sure he got knocked cold twice but he also faced plenty of big hitters and stayed on his feet. Could Tyson have knocked him out? Well of course. To argue otherwise would be insane. On the other hand would Tyson have knocked him out? Not necessarily. While Tyson was knocking everyone over I don't think he ever faced a big man who could punch and had the will to win that Lewis had. It's interesting to note that Lewis' defeats were both from stoppages (and his first one he beat the count before the ref stopped it). Lewis wouldn't give up unless he had to. While Tyson did tend to fold if things weren't going his way.

[.Mik.]

I'm not sure I entirely agree with you about Lewis's chin. Sure he got knocked cold twice but he also faced plenty of big hitters and stayed on his feet. Could Tyson have knocked him out? Well of course. To argue otherwise would be insane. On the other hand would Tyson have knocked him out? Not necessarily. While Tyson was knocking everyone over I don't think he ever faced a big man who could punch and had the will to win that Lewis had. It's interesting to note that Lewis' defeats were both from stoppages (and his first one he beat the count before the ref stopped it). Lewis wouldn't give up unless he had to. While Tyson did tend to fold if things weren't going his way.

Oh I'm not saying that Lewis COULDNT take a punch at all. The problem with his two knockouts were that he let himself take the punch in the first place, he should never have been in that position. His arrogance/pride/complacency was his downfall. There's no way that he wouldnt have allowed himself to go toe-to-toe to try and prove a point against his biggest rival. Had he done that with Tyson anywhere near his best, there is no way that Tyson wouldn't have landed enough punches in rapid succession to knock Lewis clean out. I'm not saying that Lewis didnt have the tools to beat any version of Tyson, but unfortunately for Lewis, his career and his legacy, he had a few flaws that you could expose if you had the right tools. In his prime, Tyson had those tools perhaps better than any heavyweight in history.

[me2007]

The Lewis that beat Tyson was probably the best Lewis that ever fought.

However, there is a simple reason why Prime Tyson would defeat any version of Lewis (and that it not belittling the achievements of the best Heavyweight champion of recent history). That reason is that Tyson was always a question mark over the career of Lewis and because of this fact, Lewis always felt that he had to prove himself. Furthermore, Lewis' chin was always another question mark holding him back from true credibility and greatness. Had he ever fought a Tyson truly capable of still fighting and knocking out a top heavyweight (ie in his prime) there is no way that Lewis would have been able to refrain from being drawn into a scrap. He was too ****y, too complacent and too confident in his own abilities (not necessarily a bad thing, it may have led him to a couple of shock losses, but it led him to some great wins too). Lewis' pride would have made him stand toe-to-toe and scrap with Tyson...scrapping with a prime Tyson only leads to a knock out victory to Tyson, doesnt really matter who he is facing. He punches too hard, too accurately, too fast, with such unexpected combinations and angles and moves too well for the result to be anything else.

did Lewis stand toe to toe with tyson when they fought? why would a fighter of lewis's style need to stand toe to toe with someone 7 inches shorter.

Tyson didn`t fight anyone as good as Lewis in his prime...he only knocked out tired old men.

Your comment about Lewis not being able to refrain from a scrap is completely absurd and groundless...do you know him personally? I didn`t think so.

How can a man who was dominated by Buster Douglas whilst still a young man be worthy of the praise you are heaping on him.

Lewis' was never outboxed for a fight like Tyson was...he got caught with two punches which was unlucky. Tyson was systematically beaten down by Douglas and exposed as the chump he really was.

Watch as many Tyson knockouts as you want....but if you put the two boxers records side by side...its obvious that Lewis was the top level fighter and Tyson was just taking advantage of a poor heavyweight division.

[.Mik.]

did Lewis stand toe to toe with tyson when they fought? why would a fighter of lewis's style need to stand toe to toe with someone 7 inches shorter.

Because Lewis had a habit of doing it, of getting involved in scraps if someone caught him well instead of relying on his boxing. It got him in trouble a number of times in his career that his skills were able to just about get him out of.

Your comment about Lewis not being able to refrain from a scrap is completely absurd and groundless...do you know him personally? I didn`t think so.

Do you? Or is this all conjecture, the whole thread? Yes, I thought so.

Its not groundless at all, its based in educated opinion. Lewis was a complacent fighter, he also had a great ego and throughout his career many times a huge chip on his shoulder because he didnt feel he was getting the plaudits he deserved. The reason he wasnt getting those plaudits is because everyone told him throughout his career that he wasnt the true champion while the question-mark of Tyson hung over his head. When he finally fought Tyson, Mike was old and tired and had lost most of his skills. Lewis on the other hand had developed a maturity that he did not have in his youth. It was the perfect time for Lewis to take the fight. If he demonstrated an immaturity and an arrogance that got him clocked and involved in scraps a number of times against fighters with inferior reputations in his youth as a fighter, what makes you think that he wouldnt do the same against someone who was better than those fighters and who many felt was the best fighter on the planet?

How can a man who was dominated by Buster Douglas whilst still a young man be worthy of the praise you are heaping on him.

What praise am I heaping on him? That if he went toe-to-toe with Lewis he would have won? Oh ****, how over the top I am. What a joke. I think thats a pretty fair statement to make and many others would agree. Again...if you think that Tyson was 50% of his best when he fought Douglas, you are the joke. His prime was long before that.

Lewis' was never outboxed for a fight like Tyson was...he got caught with two punches which was unlucky.

Would that suggest that...he was complacent and lost concentration when he thought that he was on top?...Doesnt that back up what I'm saying pal?

[Super_Lightweight]

The funny thing is. Tyson out of his own mouth in the post fight interview said that he would have NEVER been able to beat a guy like Lewis because he was too big and too skilled.

That doesn't really matter much. Fighters say things similar to this when it is not even really true. That's what happens when you lose.

I'm not even a Tyson fan, but realistically, his chances of beating Lewis in 1993 would be much greater than what he had in 2002.

[.Mik.]

Lewis also said in an interview that he didnt much want to fight Tyson when he was in his prime because he was insane.

Doesnt mean thats the case, Lewis could've just been saying it to be modest or humorous.

[realheavyhands]

tyson would of beat lewis very easily becuase lewis was admittedly scared of the young tyson.. and if tyson smells fear he was relentless.. bruno was beating lewis before he got lucky... and look what tyson did to a 6'4 247 pound bruno