I also feel sorry for Steve Lott, you can tell he had a lot of love for Tyson so it must have been hard watching him spiral down all those years after being frozen out. Insightful comments from him, he knew the guy.
Lennox Lewis doesn't get his just due among the casual fan, but for the purists it's clear how great a fighter he genuinely was. He was consistently overshadowed by the myth of Tyson, and to some degree Holyfield as well. Regardless the guy was brilliant in the ring.
@@mitchellglass6832 Lennox Lewis was an oppotunist and nothing special, he beat Tyson 12yrs after Douglas had hammered him and 6yrs after Holyfield had beaten him.. Lewis avoided every heavyweight who was at the top of their game, choosing to fight bums instead. Tucker, Botha, Golota, Morrison -- all junkies & steroid freaks. Grant, Butler, Mavrovic, Fortune -- all bums class C fighters David Tua - the fattest man to ever fight for the Title. Akinwande, Briggs - pathetic McCall rematch -- McCall only days out of rehab (pathetic) Ruddock -- Damaged Goods after 2 brutal beatings from Tyson Lewis priced himself out of a fight with Bowe in 93 & 95 by demanding options on Bowes next 5 fights should Lewis lose. he turned down $12 million and a gauranteed title shot against Tyson in 96 stepping aside and selling his position to Holyfield for a meagre $3 million, he done so because he knew that he was a one round KO for that version of Mike Tyson
Tyson was definitely past his best, but Lewis had just reached his zenith. They both peaked at different ages. Unusual for boxers to get better with age, but Lewis was the exception.
@@TheDuke4100 blah blah blah, anyone "15 years" past their best at that age was never anything great to begin with. All this crybaby but but but excuse making is simply fangirls who don't know boxing, quite sad.
Two of the best to ever lace up gloves. Its funny growing up in Vegas I've met Iron Mike; he is among the most kind and seemingly gentle men I've ever come across despite his "in ring" reputation. He saved someone's life on the freeway about a year ago as well. Great guy!
I met Mike at the opening of Tao Nightclub in September 2006. He had a table upstairs next to us. Pre cell phone camera, etc. Had tons of security around him but let me take a picture and speak with him for a few minutes. Super nice guy
He was a great fighter but he was boreing didn't fight bowe as a pro got knocked clean out twice by b level heavyweights and when vitali made him work and gave him a real challenge he decided to retire instead of take the rematch.
Stick Talk Gorilla Did you not see the clip when Bowe dropped the belt in the bin rather than defend it against Lewis? Plus Lewis stopped him in the Olympic gold medal bout, so who really ducked who?
@@DifferentFan0 the only possible yardstick to even get close to judging between Bowe and Lewis is Andrew Golota. Bowe was getting beaten by Golota in both fights before the disqualifications when Lewis fought him next after those 2 fights it lasted less than 90 secs
Tyson, perhaps, is underrated in his ability to withstand a punch and keep fighting. Buster Douglas? That is one of the most sensational uppercuts in history and it still took the left cross to send Tyson to the canvas.
he didnt get up. and tyson would lose to other soupcans later on. his peak was over at age 23. his ability to take a punch before douglas was barely tested.
That's a good point. Since Mike Tyson had the tremendous head movement and ring generalship he didn't get hit. The power such as the power against Marvis Frazier in Glens Falls, N.Y. also prevented his ability to take a punch. I think the official time was 30 seconds in that Frazier fight. When he's knocking out opponents in the first and second rounds he won't and can't get hit. But he was absorbing tremendous punishment from James "Buster" Douglas throughout the fight. That he took like a champion. Douglas was connecting with the lead-off right hand, double jab, ferocious combinations. It was an awesome display of true boxing. Tyson was taking a beating especially when his head was snapped back against the ropes in the 9th round. It's the same with Mike Tyson as George Foreman before Zaire in 1974. Nobody hit Foreman. When Ali did it was over in the 8th.
@@chrischichester7823 the comparison sort of ends when you realize that ali was a smart techinichian who held on to the title against the odds for a few more years and douglas apparently ate himself out of contention immediatly after his one moment. had douglas had a better legacy its possible that fight would lose some of its lustre as an unbelievable upset that dimished tyson in many peoples views, my own includued.
@@cartonbox5174 not true. I mean anyone can lose. But james bonecrusher Smith, razor Ruddock, Tony Tucker to name a few were no ordinary boxers and they lost to Mike
@@sugs1191 they were ordinary Tyson dodged all the good ones like holyfield and even paid Lennox Lewis 4 mil to step aside Also he lost to Buster Douglas another ordinary boxer
The main difference between the young and old Tyson is just quality of opponent. In the 1980s he could out speed heavyweights that belonged in the 1970s. Holmes, Berbick, Thomas etc. Ten plus years later he had to face "live" opponents like Lewis and Holyfield. The emergence of the "big" heavyweights like Lewis, Bowe, and Vitali also meant that he could no longer compete because just not big enough at 5'11".
Not really because Frank Bruno was huge. Lou savares was huge. In response to your comment on the heavyweights from the 70s, I don't think he would be able to beat Ali. Ali would have always beat Tyson or Lennox Lewis. Muhammad Ali was a complete fighter. Good footwork, technical skills. Power
Tonny Tucker was 6'5 Ribalta 6'6 Carl Williams 6'5 Holmes 6'3 Biggs 6'5 Tubbs 6'3 Thomas 6'3 Bruno 6'3 Ruddock 6'3 and do you really think mfs like mcbride are better than Tyson or something
I am right there with you brother! Tyson had not just power but speed a great jab and the best head movement in the heavy weight division. It infuriates me when people who are new to boxing know him as a crazy guy who bite Holyfield's ear.
All you chumps needa stop discrediting both Tyson and Lewis , they are both some of the greatest heavyweights in boxing history and did alot for boxing . we can all agree that since their departure , boxing has died and no longer the same . I would love to have these fighters back in the ring and re-live their Era of Boxing .
Lewis is one of the greatest Heavyweight Champions, ever! And the greatest of his era! Sadly, he never got accepted because he was an outsider and a serious threat, i.e. a Brit dominating a Sport where it is usually dominated by Americans, and the majority of the latter didn't like the sound of that one bit & they certainly didn't like it when there was no more American Boxers left to through at him. If Lewis had been an American he would have been the Golden Boy of Boxing and more than likely coined the Greatest! They would have put him right up there with Ali without contemplating a seconds thought about it. But hey, the main thing is, he's a Brit, and he dominated and done Great Britain proud!
I will never understand a comment like that? Lennox was a star in America doing commercials for American products! Lewis always got & gets crazy live in the US so I don't know why you feel Americans care if the HWC is British cause WE DO NOT CARE! I'm serious & im not trying to be disrespectful @all my brother just talking is all & im serious, where the best athlete is from doesn't matter here in the US. Pacquiao is loved & he can barely speak English lol David Beckham loved & we loved & love Lennox. Respect to you bro I'm just talking
Caught Teddy Atlas on Joe Rogan's podcast recently and what he said about Mike really rang true. He captivated the imagination of boxing fans the world over, but when met with resistance was never the guy we thought he was.
and the same can be said for just about anyone else I can say the same thing about ali too All he did was trash talk until he got met with guys who couldn't handle his BS and whooped him Teddy is just jealous and nothing else
There's no debate. Lewis deserves the credit of being the best fighter of his era. Tyson dodged Lewis when young and in his prime. Lewis made no excuses, I never liked Lewis, but he was the best boxer/fighter of that amazing era, as hard as his life was, Tyson ultimately can only blame himself for not fulfilling his potential to have a longer and more consistent reign as heavyweight king!
@@SP-tr6jm I think Tyson would win the first few rounds since Joe was a slow starter and took a while to get into his rhythm. The question is if Tyson could knock him out in that time. If the fight goes into the later rounds, I see Frazier taking over.
I respect Lewis, truly a great fighter but Tyson was an empty shell by this time and for everyone's information if you dont know Mike was champion at 20 whilst Lewis was an amateur still years away from the pro ranks so who would have won then? All I'm saying is very few fighters meet at their peaks.....I think Holyfield v Tyson 1990 which never happened could have been the one.
I remember all the Tyson fanatics at the time that were so cocksure that he was going to knock Lewis out, it was so satisfying to see Lewis destroy him.
Yeah I was a freshmen in hs. I remember catching the fight that Saturday. N let me tell you, Lennox Lewis put one of the biggest ass whippings ever on mike Tyson in boxing. It was as if a father was whipping his child with a belt after getting suspended from school.
I never realized that after fighting McNeeley Tyson honestly barely fought for the rest of his career. Just 12 fights with two of those being the Holyfield matches. He was just never the same after Buster Douglas. Losing Kevin Rooney lost Mike the one person who genuinely wanted what was best for him. Not a bunch of sycophants and enablers trying to profit off what was clearly a downward spiral. Happy to see Mike's doing a lot better now, and maintains a stoic if distant perspective on boxing.
Most underrated record is Tyson winning the HEAVYWEIGHT title at 20.. most 20 year olds arent even heavy enough to be a heavyweight let alone have the fight IQ, physical maturity, mental maturity, boxing skills, lunching power to be the heavyweight champion at 20. It'll never be broken because even if they turn pro at 18 there's no way that someone would get a title shot in less then two years these days
But again look at the heavyweight division when Tyson was reigning. Which of those contenders were good? Only ones I see were frank Bruno, razor ruddock, and Tony tucker. All the other fighters Tyson beat were garbage 🗑.
@@brianticas7671 Bruno was winning against Lewis and Tony Tucker gave lewis problems 3 years after he fought Tyson. Not to mention a 42 year old Larry Holmes (4 years after Tyson) went the distance with Holyfield and gave him a competive fight.
After the Michael Spinks fight, that’s when Mike’s life really started going to hell. Don King ruined him, he didn’t show a lot of interest in his fights & was going through the motions. Had he stayed w/ Kevin Rooney, he would’ve been undefeated & still the heavyweight champion of the world. I love the man he’s become now. He seemed to have made peace w/ himself & all the things he used to be.
I'm so glad mike is where he is today. He's grown up so much and has in fact become a more inspirational person than he ever was before. He denied what everyone here was so cynical on, that he would keep fighting for money and keep spiraling. Mike. I don't know you that much beyond what I see on videos, but to me you more than redeemed yourself as a human being. Mike is the best.
@Mercedesman. Tyson only ever knocked out big men who were "has beens" or "never beens". I seem to remember him struggling to beat big men like Mitch Green who were journeymen at best. You just can't answer the question - Name a truly world class fighter under 35 that Tyson actually beat.
cujo concep No you can't because Lewis knocked out Tyson and beat Holyfield. It is you Tyson fans that are fishing for excuses because your man could beat neither Lewis nor Holyfield (He has two attempts) Lewis only lost two fights and he avenged both those defeats by knockouts.
cujo concep Perhaps you can answer the question. Can you name one, and I'm only asking for one, world class fighter under 35 (so no Holmes) that Tyson beat during his career? Naturally I'm classing Michael Spinks as a blown up Cruiserweight so not a world class heavyweight.
Mike is one of the greatest heavyweight fighters. But, when your reasons for boxing changes, you are no longer the same boxer. Also, Tyson is a better fighter than Lewis. Why? Think about it. Mike won most of his fights at a disadvantage. Most fighters were taller than him and bigger. The truth is that the style that Mike Tyson used required so much energy that it is very hard to sustain. When a fighter is past 32 and is 6'4 he can use reach and distance. But, when a fighter is only 5'9 he has to use twice the energy to compete. Mike was at an astronomical disadvantage.
Tran Zilla that's a very poor excuse @ best that you're making for Tyson".... even a so-called prime Tyson is no where in the same area code with Lewis".... you sound either ignorant of the boxing game r maybe you're just a hater!... bottom line is that if Lewis was an American, people would be shouting from rooftops how he's the greatest!.
@@synergyhowacquisition3821 I really think you need to study boxing. When Mike Tyson was ranked Lennox Lewis was still in the amateurs. Lennox Lewis never fought Tyson in his prime because Lewis was not even ranked. Lennox Lewis would have got destroyed if he fought a prime Tyson. Lennox was not even ranked in the pros. If Lennox Lewis would have fought Tyson when Tyson was released from prison then Lennox would have destroyed Tyson. When Mike Tyson was released from prison Tyson was not trying to fight the best fighters, Tyson was only interested in making money. Further, Don King paid Lennox Lewis somewhere in the Ball Park of 4 million dollars to step aside and not fight Tyson when Tyson was released. A prime Tyson was fighting to win, a washed up Tyson was fighting for money.
@@tranzilla6960 you're the one that needs to study boxing"....... roughly 4 years prior to Lewis and Tyson getting it on, their was an agreement for them to fight!... however, Tyson's camp ended up backing out of that fight, there by forfeiting 4 million dollars to Lewis".... so get out of here with your Tyson mythology shite!. all of you Tyson fanatic fanboys are mesmerized by the Tyson mythos.
God bless you bro. You just reconfirmed what I told you. When Tyson was with Don King that version of Mike Tyson was fighting for money. Why would a no longer prime Tyson fight Lennox Lewis that would have beaten him. When you are trying to win an argument you can't go with the way you feel you have to go with what actually happened. This is what actually happened: 1. When Mike Tyson was a Champion Lewis was not ranked to fight Tyson. That is what actually happened. 2. When Lennox was in his prime, Tyson was a decent fighter and avoided a fight because Tyson was a marketing machine to make money. Why would Tyson's camp and others help Mike Tyson lose and miss out on a chance of making millions. Tyson's camp wanted to make money millions not lose bro. 3. Lennox beat a washed up Mike Tyson. Tyson style is not based on endurance. It's a 18 to 32 age limit. Why is this right? Because this actually happened. Why argue with the reality. Base your opinion on what actually happened, not your feelings or some emotional out cry 😭.
walkwithme please dont ever compare lewis to mayweather, you sound insane. Lewis could be a violent man in the boxing ring when the time came he just has a calm demeanor dont let it fool you. hes definitely no runner, watch the klitcko fight or the holy field fight. tyson was towards the end of his career at this point he had been dealt alot of bad hands with his original trainer dying and prison time and the alleged rape.
The thing that gets me about the commentators and comments is the implication that Tyson was too old and some how Lewis was not. Lewis is 10 months OLDER than Tyson. Tyson had been avoiding Lewis all his career 'cause he knew he would get the whooping he finally did.
i agree. When he began training under Emanuel Steward he reached his full potential. Lennox was an outstanding champion and deserves more credit for his accomplishments than he receives. He fought the best fighters of his era and won. He was smart enough to know when to step down, and he has his mental faculties intact. He is reputed to have a financial net worth of $35,000,000. I don't think he cares about what the naysayers think. I'm sure that just about anyone who has crawled through those ropes would be more than satisfied to walk in his shoes. Sadly too many outstanding champions are financially broke at the end of their career and necessarily continue to fight because they need the money. And that is when so many become severely impaired for life. There's an old saying...."There was never a horse who couldn't be rode and never a rider who couldn't be throwed." Pride comes before the fall.
Ok if you look at boxing from a age only perspective that would be true. When you look at boxing styles and what it took to condition those fighters than Tyson was WAY past his prime where Lewis would of only been slightly past his prime. Tysons peak was at age 22 Lewis Unified the Title when he was 33. Its not due to their age as much as it is their style of fighting. Tyson required high level endurance and conditioning to swarm a fighter and knock them out much like Frazier, David Tua, and Rocky Marciano. Lewis was a boxer/puncher would could rely on his physical advantages to either win a decision (i.e. Holyfield or Mercer) or score a knock out (Rudock, Tyson). Or in other words if a 34 tyson fights a 35 year old Lewis which one is past his prime the most? Well it depends on the age of the prime. Tyson was 34 with a prime of 22 so he was 12 years past his prime and Lewis was 32 at his prime and was 3 years past his prime. When we watch the fight in 2002 its quite obvious who is more prepared for the fight. It is a long complex answer but makes sense I hope.
So what your saying is you didn't actually listen to LENNOX HIMSELF! LENNOX SAID he was hoping he never fought or had to fight tyson back in the day! Now I could be mistaken but hoping you don't need to do something in the future means you will try to avoid it. Did tyson avoid fighting Lennox because he made Lennox hope he didn't have to fight him for real?? I'll try to make some kinda sense of that but I seriously doubt I will. Just saying....
Yeah that is partially true. I heard Lennox Lewis was Tyson's mandatory when Tyson came out of prison. That Tyson paid Lewis some step aside money. But I don't think Tyson in the 80s was scared of anyone though. Possibly after Douglas beat him and he went to prison yes. People come out of jail and they become cowards. I seen it. You can't blame them though.
I'm not asking for a the "he was over the hill" or "if he'd have faced him at his peak" fanboys to reply but this is my personal opinion. They both peaked at opposite ends of their career thats a fact Tyson first 5/6 years and Lewis last 10/11 years. The one thing I will say is even when he struggled or gave up he never looked as beaten up as he did when he fought Lewis. The Holyfield fights he took some vicious hits but didn't look as bad. Testament to Lewis's underrated power.
I think the reason they paid Lewis $4 million not to fight Mike was if Buster beat him how much better a fighter was Lewis? they knew by the time Lennox was a pro Mike was finished a very short lifespan for a fighter, personally I think they make too big of a deal out of Tyson, Buster showed the world what Evander, Bowe or Lewis all could have done with Tyson in his prime
22:45 He took a vicious asswhoopin', he got one of them down-home Mississippi asswhoopins in that fight. I mean Grandma's lye soap couldn't wash off what he got that night. Truer words never spoken.
If Lennox was American he would be the greatest ever, I find that really childish from some Americans the fact that he's British and there not willing to concede that he was even great
maybe not the greatest ever but kno what u mean americans only cheer and respect their own for instance joe calzaghe was way better than mayweather and isnt appreciated and he even beat roy jones and is still ranked as lower than him
no one wants to be american there time is over in the heavyweight division its the brits that rule the world not over hyped yanks like the cowardly wilder fury could beat this poor excuse with one hand tied behind his back even the over hyped aj would beat wilder long live the brits
+Cobretti20001 Ruddock never beat a top 20 fighter in his entire career. He was big and strong but he was very limited. As I say, never beat a top 20 opponent.
+Jack Kenna I respectfully disagree. I know that Tyson didn't have many top opponents, however he did beat Larry Holmes. I know Holmes had just come out of retirement and got Ko'd, but he came back again a few years later, beat a top fighter, Ray Mercer, and earned a shot against Holyfield. That's how good he was. I don't think a prime Tyson beats Ali, but I do think that he beats all of Ali's great opponents, Frazier, Foreman, and Norton.
JasonMarshMusic Respectfully suggest the fact Holmes beat Mercer is a demonstration of how average Mercer was rather than how good Holmes was at that stage of his career. Mercer was big and tough but that's about it. He had no boxing skills to mention and the only quality he ever beat was Morrisson who gave Mercer a battering for 5 rounds before being caught. Mercer didn't beat another top fighter in his entire career. Holmes had class but was very much past his best and Mercer was simply very average . Holmes readily admits to being 6 or 7 years past his prime when he faced Tyson. He was 38 years old, inactive for 2 years (and yet Tyson still couldn't land a glove on him for first 3 rounds).
Mike Tyson was a combination of physical and psychological explosiveness and that's what made him great. Mike Tyson, wherever you are, have no regrets for what you've been or done, you couldn't have done it any differently.
After watching this, doco am glad the fight lasted that long now.. Tyson deserved all what he got, am thinking would have been knocked out earlier if Lewis didnt hurt his right hand in the earlier rounds.....
I don't like many black people, but Lewis is a gentleman and a credit to his race. Tyson is an animal at times but can be humble but unstable for sure.
+MrDiache If it meant my purse for the fight was going up by ten mill and I knew he wouldn't actually eat my children then he could say whatever he wanted.
I don't mean bums in the sense that they are worthless people. I mean that they were not great or even good fighters. That is what Tyson and his management team sought out so he could look impressive. It was a staple of Tyson's career.
He reigned supreme for six years and even when he didnt train or wasnt in shape it took opponents at least 8 rounds to knock him out he was the youngest heavyweight champion ever. He was the first to unify the WBO WBC and IBF titles. He was the most perfect fighter to ever box in his prime. If your just going to argue about that than go watch a video that doesn't involve Tyson.
25 minutes of Americans making excuses, Tyson was good for 3 years an in them 3 years he fought old guys and bums. The first young prospect he fought knocked him out, Mike tyson is the perfect example of brilliant promoting, Holyfield or lewis or bowe deserve to be classed as the best of that era not tyson.
Big - Yes, he was. Notice how he started losing more after Cus died and he fired Rooney. Then there was his divorce from Robin Givens. His life was mess after that. Had none of those things happened, he probably could have remained unbeaten for a longer time.
no politician tells me what book to buy and read or what radio station to listen to or what movie to watch in a theater or what television show to watch!
Tyson in 88 or 89 would have beaten Lewis those years in a more impressive way then how lewis beat tyson.The two ko's lewis suffered in his prime vs two guys not known for their power or top level fighting ability,wipes out an all time great.
Was buster douglas known for power? If you are talking this fantasy match up it's only fair both are in their prime and I doubt Lewis would have underestimated Tyson. If he didn't ko Lewis in 6 Lewis would have won, Tyson didn't knock anyone out over 6 and would have been unlikely to win on points.
Why,That's one of the tyson doubters deception that if he didn't ko his opponents, he was slipping nonsense. Lewis would fight the exact same fight as he did with Tua. The difference in tyson classic 1988 and TUa 2000 is that tyson had tons of more experience with top 5 boxers in his era beating them by decision and barely losing 1 minute of any round.Tua had problems finding boxers.TYson had more success, in his best ability ,to find the runners and defense guys because of his stellar,possibly most underrated asset in 1988,his footwork to get inside with his shots in an instant.That footwork progressively declined to a predictible step.TYson 1988 the night he beat spinks, would outpoint a defending lewis all night.TYson vs lewis on their best model, would go alot like the first round went, tyson won their first round regardless if Lewis landed a huge uppercut in that first round.When tyson was in his fight mode the correct way, like the first rounds of his later fights, there wasnt much any other opponetns could do,including lewis. TYsons stmaina was well conditioned to go 20 rounds and still bob and weave and move his head in the 12th rounds of all those fights and Rooney said tyson could do the head movements for 18,19 or 20 rounds ,if required. Thats how conditioned tyson was from 86-88.This is a huge underrating from tyson doubters and bashers. They glorify the douglas and holy wins and surmise that tyson was always overrated because of his opposition from 86-88.IN other words, they believe douglas and holy would have beaten any year tyson, including the 87-88 strethc of almost invincible skills.That's where they're wrong. He would have ko'd douglas and forced holy into a war which tyson wins. IN the Lewis fight in 2002,With tysons 20 round stamina ability in 88, the 88 tyson would have duplicated that first round 6 more times and win a close decision vs Lewis. That's why tyson bashers and doubters get subjective,they lose their objective views because they are absorbed in the fact that tyson back in his best first few years, needed to ko an opponent to make it worth it's while!WRONG.Winning all 12 rounds vs a terrified 235 lb bonecrushing opponent called smithwas extremely impressive, not to forget that smith claimed before the fight, he was going to STOP TYSON.But,he couldnt deal with the tyson force of nature with defensive wizardry in constant head movement and slipping like a welterweight, all rolled into one with great stamina. SMith had no chance in hell to do anything and tyson won all 12 rounds and that was as good as a late round ko. Tucker had a great first round with that uppercut and progressively lost every round going into the 12th. TYson even won the 12th round on effective aggression.He had easy fights with boxers,Tillis was a dude, tyson truthfully actually won 8 of 10 rounds vs Tillis. Tillis actually did NOTHING but dance and look like ali a little. actually!! It was the delusion of tyson bashers always wanting "a ko or else we dont like tyson", attitude.
TYson ko'd Ribalta in the 10th and ribalta was the perfect style that was "supposed to" beat the tyson style.WRONG. TYson had a field day winning round after round vs these boxers.Boxers had a huge disadvantage over the prime tyson.They couldnt hurt him and that spelled the end of the fight.DOuglas fight was a farce and the timing was perfect,douglas got a hold of a disinterested retired tyson from what he went thru years back and douglas in shape fighting for his mother. Motivation vs a guy who gave up in the third round.ANd the guy who gave up in the 3rd round, still managed to knock down douglas for 9 seconds!!
Wow, so I take it you like Tyson lol. IMO anyone who says a fight between them both in their prime is won by Tyson with ease is deluded but hey it's all opinions. I disagree that Tyson beat top guys, tall guys who could stick the jab and move using the upper cut on the inside would and did give Tyson trouble at any time. I also disagree that he had great stamina and I don't see how that is supported by the facts. Even in his magical "prime" he tired in fights like against green and tired badly against smith getting rocked late on, started strongly against Holyfield only to tire and in others I won't mention because you will tell me they don't count because he wasn't in his "prime". Tyson wasn't made for point decisions although he may have got a few against largely poor opposition so I stick to my assessment Tyson would have to win in the first half of the fight or Lewis late or on points. In a fantasy match up like this with 2 greats being sure of any one outcome is silly but if you were going to create the perfect foil for Tyson he would look a hell of a lot like Lewis.
Tyson won most his victories through his opponents being afraid. Tyson could hit really hard but Lennox & Holyfield both had Tyson number. He would beat neither even in his Prime.
***** Well, it's been documented that Tyson wasn't at his best, and neither was his preparation for the Douglas fight. Mentally and phsically he was at his lowest. No excuses... it was all his fault for not being in tip top shape. The fight was supposed to be a tune up to keep Mike active before his match with Holyfield in June later that year. He took Buster lightly and got his ass handed to him. But saying Mike lost to every fighter who wasn't intimidated by him is a complete myth. There were plenty of guys who weren't intimidated and stood up to him who were simply outgunned and outfought and realized how difficult it was to hit Mike cleanly so they fought in a defensive shell. It wasn't until Mike became too overconfident and lost focus when things started to catch up with him. "I intimidate people by hitting them." Mike isn't unbeatable, no one is, but I wouldn't bet against him. Place him with any heavyweight great in history and Tyson would at the least be considered even money. Head to head he's at the top of the list. What hurts Tyson's legacy was his disrespect for the sport and the way he handled himself with the public. He was a fuckin dickhead and hung out with the wrong crowd. That's what tarnishes his place in history, the shit he did outside the ring. What he did inside the ring, for that brief amount of time from '85-'88, no one has been able to replicate. Probably never will.
Holyfield would always be a tough outing, for anyone, but he caught Mike at the right place and right time. Had they fought before Tyson's prison stint it would've been a much different fight. Holyfield was smaller then, more prone to brawl and didn't have the big fight experience he needed to handle Mike the way he did in '96. Remember, when Tyson was in prison Holyfield was facing Holmes, Bowe, Stewart, Bowe, Moorer, Mercer and Bowe again. Those 4 years outside the ring put a lot of rust on Mike who has the style needed to stay active and in the ring.
tyson never reach his full potential, no one beat mike tyson but himself and his personal life. his prime was from 86-88 then you can him slowly getting worse
Cujo Jowels forget prison.... once he fired Kevin Rooney he was all done..... Rooney was the key to Tyson's legacy. He fucked all that up by getting rid of him and was NEVER the same. He relied on fear and psyche at that time because that's all he had. His combo's were gone and his head movement was mere nonexistent..... He was a powerhouse looking for a 1 punch KO... and if he didn't get that by the mid rounds, he was cooked. He would get frustrated, get off his game, and get picked apart. Tyson in the 80's era destroys Lennox and Holyfield.... Especially Holyfield because he stands toe to toe. Lennox would have gone the distance, Holyfield would have gone to the cemetery.
You can say whatever you want and I know Mike is not among TOP5 greatest boxers but it's the perfect example of a rising star who was destroyed by industry and people who surround you after you are gaining fame. It's a shame. Mike was a very, very sensitive person. There's no other boxer who is shocked by someone hurting him in the ring. He couldn't believed it. The same story goes with my native boxer Andrew Golota who could win 3 rounds in the beginning but in 4 he was just like "i don't want to, i don't" and he could hit Bowe in fucking nuts over 5 times. Mike was scared, so was Golota. But media can brainwash you to thinking whatever they want and can brainwash even the person they're writing about... It should be a lesson for everyone.
Please stop with the Lewis ducking Tyson shit. Tyson paid Lewis moneyed to step aside in 96 when Lewis was his wbc mandatory so Tyson could fight holyfield who pretty much everyone in boxing said was washed up at the time. Could Tyson have Kod Lewis in 96 I don't know but his chances would have been much better then they were in 02.
