Could Tyson have beaten Lennox in 96?

[Tiozzo]

After the Mercer fight every commentator on Sky HBO etc were saying Lennox was next in line for the super fight, obviously Don King and Lennox settled it in court and Holyfield got the shot instead. If Lennox had met Tyson instead of Holyfield could Tyson have beaten him then? I for one highly doubted it. I actually think the Lennox that fought Morrison Mercer etc was more dangerous then the later day Lennox. The combinations Lewis was throwing against Mercer and Morrison were pretty damn impressive for someone that's 6'5 247. I think Mike was still a B+ fighter in the mid 90's though so it would have been closer.

you realize Lewis arguably lost to Mercer right?

[LEFTYGUNZZ]

No. Even though Mike was still good in the 90's, he was past his prime. Even prime for prime, I think Lennox would have beat him.

]A prime version of Tyson would destroyed lewis, 96 version of him I'm not so sure.[/B]

I fully agree with this statement.

In 1996 the Tyson that fought Holyfield in the 1st match would have ended Lewis early. After the eat biting incident no one ever took Mike seriously and he still had Lewis ****ting bricks in the corner for the first 2 rounds.

Tyson 1985-1991 destroys Lewis during those yeara

Tyson 1996 up until ear biting incident KO's Lewis (watch Holyfield 1 youll agree)

watch some of the shots Tyson lands on Holyfield.The body shots and right hands even some good hooks. He hurt Evander several times in that fight but Evander fought back.Then think of Rathman tapping Lewis in the chin and the china shattering all over the ring hmmmmm...

It is a shame Tyson it didn't happen.I would have loved too see it...I think it would have been much like this with Ruddock

[Brother Jay]

After the Mercer fight every commentator on Sky HBO etc were saying Lennox was next in line for the super fight, obviously Don King and Lennox settled it in court and Holyfield got the shot instead. If Lennox had met Tyson instead of Holyfield could Tyson have beaten him then? I for one highly doubted it. I actually think the Lennox that fought Morrison Mercer etc was more dangerous then the later day Lennox. The combinations Lewis was throwing against Mercer and Morrison were pretty damn impressive for someone that's 6'5 247. I think Mike was still a B+ fighter in the mid 90's though so it would have been closer.

Personally, I believe that if Cus were alive, Tyson would have retired undefeated.

Lennox wouldn't have had a chance against "Iron" Mike.

But let's be honest: Does anyone really believe that it was a coincidence that Lewis waited for Tyson to go to jail and for Holyfield to have heart problems to face them?

I mean come on ....

[polarcub]

To read guys with like 4000+ posts write things like 'Tyson woulda shattered Lewis's glass jar' and 'lewis ducked Tyson and waited for him to go to prison' is appalling and shocking. It seem like most of the 4000-5000 posts you guys wrote are troll posts if after such a long time on boxing forums ******ity like that still exists...


1-Lewis did not have a glass jar lol. He fought a train line of monster punchers and took them very very well. Mercer-Bruno-Briggs-even faded Tyson-Grant-Tua-Vitali. And a lot of those fights Lewis was hit and hurt but didn't fall. The shot Mc Call and Rahman hit him with would not only have koed most HW's but probably they won't even make it up for the count, and Lewis avenged both of those in stellar fashion. Lewis's chin is very very underrated.

2- When Mike went to jail, Lennox was busy demolishing Euros and Razer Ruddock, he was a late bloomer and Mike was the superstar attraction, there was no way Lewis could have called him out early 90's.

3- After Mike came out of prison Lewis chased him all through the courts just like he did Bowe and they both ran. If you want concrete facts? Go youtube lewis vs Mercer, the one with John Sully or something commentating, they were reporting as the fight was going on how Lewis was suing Tyson for ducking him and he was taking Don King to court.

4- I dont even know if a 80's Tyson could have beaten the Lennox Lewis that demolished Golota-Grant-Tua. Let's not forget, LENNOX got to Golota first, not Tyson. You can even say Lennox ended Golota's career. Going into that fight Golota had a lot of hype and outboxed Bowe, albeit a faded fat Bowe. Lennox delivered a very brutal beatdown that left Golota against the ropes, two years later Tyson took his leftovers and everyone was screaming how Mike's Back lol.

[Evil Abed]

[UglyPug]

no way in hell. . . Lewis is Tyson's kryptonite; Powerful, accurate, rangy jab + greater or equal power = Tyson's kryptonite . . Even a "prime" Tyson as his hardcore fans claim (which has gotta be the shortest prime of any boxer. . . ever. . . ) would be dominated by Lewis. . .

[Champ Is Here]

If we talking when 2Pac was alive, yes. 2Pac dead, no

[polarcub]

Mike Tyson was the most exciting heavyweight ever and had immense talent/abilities and a fan friendly style. BUT, when Tyson fans talk about 'prime' it's really funny because Tyson had the shortest prime I ever seen lol. It's like Prime Tyson was 86-88 or something.

Not quite the same but examples of how ludicrous bringing up a PRIME Tyson all the time is.
Gilbert Arenas a NBA basketball player in 2006 averaged 30 points a game, he faded quickly and never recovered. So Gilbert Fans will debate arenas vs Kobe like 'man the 06 version of ARENAS owns any version of kobe, MAN REMEMBER in 06 that GILBERT can **** on wade, man 06 Gilbert >then Lebron. IT WAS 1 SEASON. lol

Michael Owen a footballer from 2002-2004 was averaging around 30 goals a game for liverpool, he never recovered after a 'prime' of 2 years.

OWEN IS >THEN Ronaldo man that 04 version of owen >then any version of ronaldo. REMEMBER 2004? remember that year owen was DESTROYING everything. 04 owen>then any striker to ever live.

Tyson really is like that, he dominated for 2 years 3 years then vanished in terms of skills and ability. And he's considered a ATG by so many lol.

[UglyPug]

Mike Tyson was the most exciting heavyweight ever and had immense talent/abilities and a fan friendly style. BUT, when Tyson fans talk about 'prime' it's really funny because Tyson had the shortest prime I ever seen lol. It's like Prime Tyson was 86-88 or something.

Not quite the same but examples of how ludicrous bringing up a PRIME Tyson all the time is.
Gilbert Arenas a NBA basketball player in 2006 averaged 30 points a game, he faded quickly and never recovered. So Gilbert Fans will debate arenas vs Kobe like 'man the 06 version of ARENAS owns any version of kobe, MAN REMEMBER in 06 that GILBERT can **** on wade, man 06 Gilbert >then Lebron. IT WAS 1 SEASON. lol

Michael Owen a footballer from 2002-2004 was averaging around 30 goals a game for liverpool, he never recovered after a 'prime' of 2 years.

OWEN IS >THEN Ronaldo man that 04 version of owen >then any version of ronaldo. REMEMBER 2004? remember that year owen was DESTROYING everything. 04 owen>then any striker to ever live.

Tyson really is like that, he dominated for 2 years 3 years then vanished in terms of skills and ability. And he's considered a ATG by so many lol.

Excellent post, and excellent analogy drawn. . .

[Banderivets]

Prime Tyson or 90s Tyson would always have a punchers chance, just as did the version that actually fought Lennox.

But I would always bet on Lennox.

Tyson is a legend, everyone's favorite fighter...but you have to be objective about who he would be able to beat historically. And he would have beat many, but then again, I'm one of those guys who completely writes off most old timers VS Ali and post Ali fighters.

The sport evolves, fighters become increasingly better (stronger, bigger, more efficient, more effective).