Could Tyson have beaten Lennox in 96?

[Banderivets]

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.

You might also add the point about the type of opposition he fought during his prime...

Was his prime his prime because that's when he was physically his fittest? Or was it because his competition made him look that way?


Its like watching old tapes of Wlad....man looked unstoppable...But why?...

[[ DUBBZZ ]]

Late 80's early 90's Mike but but '96, he was almost done.

[Jedi Vader]

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.

His sacking of Rooney was instrumental to his declination.

[Dirk Diggler UK]

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 ....

How can you wait for someone to go to jail?

[zab191]

Prime Tyson would beat any HW.

[davaw1]

Tyson of 86-90 vs Lewis of 98-02 would of been the greatest heavyweight show down in the history of boxing imo, can't pick a winner.

[paul750]

Well he did give Lewis a tough first round in 2002. So, considering he was 6 years younger in 1996 we can maybe say he'd have given Lewis 3-5 tough rounds but still lost after being worn down.

[I_like_wendys]

The opposite of what ever this guy says is normally correct. So ill go with that.

You sold me.

96 Tyson blows out Lewis in one round. Lewis hits nothing but air the whole time. Tyson does it with a jab, too.

[CarlosG815]

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.

Mike Tyson, even in 96, would have destroyed Lennox Lewis ala Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman. Even in 96 with eroded skills, he still trained hard enough and had enough will to win. No way was he going to lose to a fighter of Lennox career.

[IMDAZED]

Not a chance IMO. Lennox was at his peak from 96-97 and was very, very sharp.