Lewis vs. prime Tyson... who would have won?

[K-DOGG]

To me, Lewis' "prime" was separate from his physical "peak" because he wasn't as seasoned a professional in those days.

Lewis' prime, to me, is the years between Morrison and Tua.

[La_Vibora]

That's ridiculous. Typical revisionist stuff - changing history to match your opinion. Leading up to the Lewis fight, Ruddock had just come off two impressive KO wins over Greg Page (who himself would beat Bonecrusher Smith for the WBA belt 3 months later) and the undefeated Phil Jackson, and was easily the betting favorite over Lewis. Nobody was talking about him being "shot" or "damaged goods"; everyone thought he would take out the unproven Lewis, and it was just a matter of when.

The hypocrisy on this thread is hilarious, so I can't use James Bonecrusher Smith as a good opponent that Tyson beat, but yet you can use him to legitimize Lewis' resume, right? Its just like the Lewis fans who throw out an over the hill Evander Holyfield and a 15 year past prime Mike Tyson as Lewis' to legitimize Lewis' resume, but if I mention a Larry Holmes who was 2 years past his prime with much more in the gas tank than the Mike Tyson that fought Lewis, then all hell breaks out.

Anyways, I stand by my statement that Ruddock was a shot fighter. I find it comical that you think wins over Phil Jackson and Greg Page proves that he wasn't. Greg Page was nothing special, in fact when he fought Ruddock he was coming off of two knockout losses at the hands of a bum named Mark Wills, there was a reason that Ruddocks people chose to fight him after a brutal fight with Tyson. Phil Jackson was a nobody, sure he was undefeated(so was Brian Nielsen when he was like 45-0, with one of those wins actually being over Phil Jackson) but he hadn't beaten anyone of note at that point to suggest that he was anything special, so don't sit here listing this guy like he was a world beater.

[La_Vibora]

Thankyou for that. I must admit, it's one of the things I'm most ashamed of that my look through boxing's back catalogue has yet to include Larry Holmes. Extremely Ali-like in his style, though that's stating the obvious. (not from that clip, but from what else I've seen).

It's frightening to think how much power Foreman and Shavers had that Holmes could repeatedly land flush on Norton yet not KD him... they both took him out in less than two full rounds.

Yeah K-Dogg is right that Holmes had a bum arm going into that fight. However, Big George and Earnie Shavers were on a different level from everyone in terms of power. There were many fighters who avoided Earnie Shavers for his power, in fact George Foreman was one of them. As for big George, even Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis said that George was the hardest hitting heavyweight that they had ever seen.

[La_Vibora]

anyone who argues that tyson has a better record than lewis are ******,

Lewis dominated a division for longer and with better fighter in it, he never ducked anyone (like tyson ducked him), and he has never qujit or bitten anyone in a ring

end of

If Tyson had a weak resume, then so did Lewis, because his resume was on par with Tyson's despite what you say. Furthermore, Tyson never ducked Lewis, if anyone ducked anyone, it was HBO ducking Tyson, since apparently they were too scared to let their guy fight on Showtime. Also, Mike Tyson, never quit a match, when he lost, he took his beating like a man, Lewis on the other hand was a soft fighter who got layed out as soon as the going got tough.

[Vanilla Gorilla]

If Tyson had a weak resume, then so did Lewis, because his resume was on par with Tyson's despite what you say. Furthermore, Tyson never ducked Lewis, if anyone ducked anyone, it was HBO ducking Tyson, since apparently they were too scared to let their guy fight on Showtime. Also, Mike Tyson, never quit a match, when he lost, he took his beating like a man, Lewis on the other hand was a soft fighter who got layed out as soon as the going got tough.

WRONG !

Tyson paid Lennox a substantial amount of step aside money so he would not have to fight him.

Your whole post is incorrect.

[hollister]

Tyson would indirectly quit by sabotaging fights, he was a mentally weak fighter.

[La_Vibora]

WRONG !

Tyson paid Lennox a substantial amount of step aside money so he would not have to fight him.

Your whole post is incorrect.

I suggest you research your facts, he paid the so called "step aside" money to Lewis as per a court order after Showtime and HBO could not come to terms on the fight. This "step aside money" was paid so that Mike could fight Holyfield, while the negoiations between the two parties continued, and then once the terms were settled, they would fight one another afterwards. However, Mike lost to Evander, and then Lewis would be KOed by Oliver McCall. If you don't believe it, look it up, and don't buy into HBO/Lewis propaganda.

[Vanilla Gorilla]

I suggest you research your facts, he paid the so called "step aside" money to Lewis as per a court order after Showtime and HBO could not come to terms on the fight. This "step aside money" was paid so that Mike could fight Holyfield, while the negoiations between the two parties continued, and then once the terms were settled, they would fight one another afterwards. However, Mike lost to Evander, and then Lewis would be KOed by Oliver McCall. If you don't believe it, look it up, and don't buy into HBO/Lewis propaganda.

This doesnt make sense...

Mike lost to Evander in 96. Lennox lost to McCall in 94.

Tyson was still in prison in 94.

However way you look at it , Tyson clearly ducked Big Lennox.

[La_Vibora]

This doesnt make sense...

Mike lost to Evander in 96. Lennox lost to McCall in 94.

Tyson was still in prison in 94.

However way you look at it , Tyson clearly ducked Big Lennox.

You're right, I got the first fight mixed up with the rematch. The point of this is that it has nothing to do with Mike himself, it was between HBO and Showtime, and the money was paid so that Tyson could fight Holyfield while negoitations went on, however Mike lost to Evander, which caused the fight not to happen. Now does it make sense?

[Atnan]

I watched Tyson v Berbick, Spinks, Holmes, and then watched Tyson v Bruno, Williams, Buster Douglas and Stewart.

We have all seen his fighhts, but to really compare him during those fights is amazing.
At his best he was truly ****ing great. His movment, his reflexes, his jab. He didnt allow fighters space to out jab him.
After Spinks, against Bruno and all his fights after, he jumped in with wild punches, forgot his jab, gave his opponents room to pick him off.

The Tyson that fought Lewis was nothing. Totally spent.
Holmes, although past his best, still had his jab. In round 3 Tyson outjabbed Holmes. He could hook off the jab better than heavyweight, his reflexes were brilliant.

Lewis absolutly could not have lived with a prime Tyson IMO. Lewis who was KO.d twice and rocked by Bruno stands no chance.

here is your answer!