prime Tyson vs prime Lewis

[LEFTYGUNZZ]

I think a young Tyson ('86-'88) beats any form of Lennox Lewis.

He was just too much.

I think the above statement is true for most fighters put against this form of Tyson Lewis included. I think if Mike was focused in 2002 he could have beat him he gave in and stopped doing things he was doing in the first 2 rounds....Lefty

[TEXSTRO]

[QUOTE=anonymousboxing;4168498]TYSON ADMITS THAT HE COULDN'T HAVE BEATEN LEWIS - EVEN IN HIS PRIME!!!

Those are TYSON'S own words. He said so in an interview.
It might've been on the special features of this dvd:
http://www.biggsports.com/servlet/th...de-with/Detail

Tyson said, Lewis was "just too big & strong"


I'm a BIG Tyson fan, and would've argued against this if I hadn't heard it from Tyson himself.


Thats the problem.......He didnt beleive in himself....He lost the fight before it started...I think we believed in him more than he believed in himself.....

[anonymousboxing]

Thats the problem.......He didnt beleive in himself....He lost the fight before it started...I think we believed in him more than he believed in himself.....

No, No. What I meant was Tyson was interviewed a few years AFTER feeling Lenox's power, and admitted that EVEN in his Prime, HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BEAT LENNOX.

I hear everyone's argument on this thread, about Tyson being able to beat Lennox, and I probably would've argued along the same lines until I heard Tyson say that.




[IMG]http://i423.***********.com/albums/pp312/anonymousboxing/cotto20.gif?t=1221838066[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i423.***********.com/albums/pp312/anonymousboxing/delamoney.gif[/IMG]

[Khalid X]

[QUOTE=anonymousboxing;4168596]No, No. What I meant was Tyson was interviewed a few years AFTER feeling Lenox's power, and admitted that EVEN in his Prime, HE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO BEAT LENNOX.

I hear everyone's argument on this thread, about Tyson being able to beat Lennox, and I probably would've argued along the same lines until I heard Tyson say that.




Well tyson was just being humble due to the negative image he was getting prior to the fight. Lennox lewis also said mike was the baddest man on the planet and that he wanted no part of him during the early 90's (ill try to find the video later). Just two boxers showing respect to each other skills.

[anonymousboxing]

Well tyson was just being humble due to the negative image he was getting prior to the fight. Lennox lewis also said mike was the baddest man on the planet and that he wanted no part of him during the early 90's (ill try to find the video later). Just two boxers showing respect to each other skills.

Yea, of coarse they respected each other. If I'm not mistaken they trained in the same gym when they were starting out.
I can see your point if it was shortly after. Along with holding Lennox's baby, you remember that. All that negative media and Tyson making up for it.

But this interview I'm talking about was a long while after the dust settled. All hype aside. The guy interviewing was looking back at Tyson's career and they covered everything from religion to jail to controversial fights.

They brought up Lennox and I was devastated to hear the IRON himself admit that he didn't have chance against Lewis when they fought - that was number 1. And he followed up with "not even in my prime...He was just too big and strong"
He didn't say that about ANYONE else.

Yea, it's somewhere in my collection. I'll have to dig through, cause I have to find it now.



[IMG]http://i423.***********.com/albums/pp312/anonymousboxing/cotto20.gif?t=1221838066[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i423.***********.com/albums/pp312/anonymousboxing/delamoney.gif[/IMG]

[Khalid X]

What most people dont realize it that this fight did happen in the early 80's. While both fighters improved greatly the way this fight played out pretty much tells alot about it would have played out if they fought in there primes. Cus said both of these fighters would one day meet for the HW title and were future greats in the sports. Cus was worried because he thought lennox was the one type along with foreman that would give mike problems(style wise). So as soon as the bell rung mike rushed lennnox and within 10 secs. knocked him out the ring. Lennox trainer came up to him and asked him that he doesnt have to do this and they could fight another day but lennox said "I know how to fight him" so lennox got up and they went back n forth with no one being the clear winner.
Both have got light years better no doubt but this was only a few years b4 tyson won the belt and lennox a year later if not the same year became junior HW champ of the world and olympic silver medalist.


Some other interesting facts
Lennox and tyson were real good friends and roomate who trained together while up in catskills

lennox said tyson was one of the most dedicated boxers he has ever seen and a real student of the game. He said while he was trying to sleep he would wake up and tyson would be watching old fights studying all the greats styles and talking about ways he would be able to box them.

[Khalid X]

If they fought prime for prime which is the 87 or so version of mike and the 95-00 version of lennox (once manny cleaned up his bad technique) This is how it would have probable played out. I cant see lennox keeping mike off of him. Lennox jab was good but not great and if a slow outta prime tyson of 02 (same one that was slow ass hell against Botha) could get on the inside of lennox then he sure as hell could if he was in his prime. One thing no one talks about and if you are a student of the game is this....once tyson got in lennox really had no answer. Looking back at that fight in the first round tyson rushed inside and lewis had a deer in the head lights look and just resulted in grabbing and holding. Tyson eventually ran outta gas and lewis picked him apart but also of interest is that lewis landed his trade mark right hand and tyson took several clean ones without dropping. Only after a severe a$$ whooping did tyson finally get Ko'd but that tells me that a tyson in his prime (with that great head movement who doesnt get hit cleanly ofton) doesnt lose by KO. Lennox chin has always been suspect so Tyson can KO him.

fight ends 3 ways.
Tyson KO
Tyson Decision
Lewis Decision

WHile lewis is a great boxer he isnt hard to find and tyson could get inside with ease and his aggressive style will give lewis problems all night.
I got Tyson by 8 round TKO.

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

Lewis all day, prime Tyson couldn't beat Bonecrusher Smith convincingly. He had his hands full with Razor Rud****. Lewis is a step above thse guy and his reach and boxing ability would have been too much for Tyson.

[Burning Desire]

Mike Tyson struggled against James Tillis and had to pull out a bit of lucky KD to earn a close decision. Against Tony Tucker he was getting beat until Tony Tucker broke his right hand after the 4th round and Tony Tucker went into a shell, but Tony Tucker still manged to win the 12th round.

Why im bringing up these fights is because both these fighters have something in common, there both tall Heavyweights who kept Mike Tyson at distance and had good success, the same success a prime Lennox Lewis would have, i know people will say Lennox Lewis has a suspect chin and he wouldn't handle Mike Tyson's power, but James Tillis's chin was weak and he still lasted the distance.

[Randall_Hopkirk]

Mike Tyson struggled against James Tillis and had to pull out a bit of lucky KD to earn a close decision. Against Tony Tucker he was getting beat until Tony Tucker broke his right hand after the 4th round and Tony Tucker went into a shell, but Tony Tucker still manged to win the 12th round.

Why im bringing up these fights is because both these fighters have something in common, there both tall Heavyweights who kept Mike Tyson at distance and had good success, the same success a prime Lennox Lewis would have, i know people will say Lennox Lewis has a suspect chin and he wouldn't handle Mike Tyson's power, but James Tillis's chin was weak and he still lasted the distance.

Lewis was buzzed by shots he didn't see coming. I think a Lewis against a peak Tyson would be on his game all night long, not letting displacency creep in. Hence no KO for Tyson. more like a boxing clinic with a possible late stoppage for the Lion.