LewIS - TysON - who ducked who for so long?

I'm not sure what Mike's state of mind was in the mid-late 90s, but he sure as hell didn't truly want the fight with Lewis when it actually happened.

 

It is known that Lennox was paid money to not pursue the fight with Mike. The Holyfield fight for Mike, was made, as he was a big name, but seen to be a washed up fighter.

Mike after prison was a shell of himself, diminished speed, skills and co-ordination. Whilst personally, I think prime for prime Lennox always has Mike's number, post-prison Mike was not a great fighter.

 

Tyson was already pretty much washed up when Lewis wanted to fight him but King is who blocked the fight because he didnt promote Lewis.

 

didnt lewis turn down $13m in 96 to face tyson instead taking $4m not to fight him?

 

Lewis was 7-0 when Tyson lost to Buster Douglas.

Only 15-0 when Tyson had his last fight before going to prison.

Lewis had lost to McCall and didn't win the rematch vs McCall for the vacant WBC until after Tyson lost to Holyfield. Tyson did give up the belt and ducked him but he did fight Holyfield instead. Tyson wasnt in his prime after he got out of jail thought.

And after that Tyson became a circus while Lewis had a great title run until the fight finally got made When both were past it and Tyson pretty much shot.

That answer your question?

 

:deal

 

really ?? when did this happen ? After tyson got out the pen he was no longer the champ , Bowe was the champ, and lewis was chasing Bowe not tyson ..

In tyson's prime, lewis was a never an issue .. Only after tyson was a shell of his former self did Lewis try and seek tyson out.

 

Tyson even stated himself he wasnt ready for the fight and needed a few more fights to get into shape, it was Lewis who was desparetly pushing him into the fight

 

Well said. If youd mentioned Lennox Lewis in 88, no one would have a clue who you were talking about.

The Team Tyson plan after prison was to unify the belts first. Bruno, Seldon and Moorer, get Holyfield out of the way (who was percevied shot), then Riddick Bowe and then get the big showdown with Lewis.

Tyson-Holyfield And Bowe Golota, the winners were supposed to fight. It was widely believe it would have been Bowe and Tyson. But Bowe retired after getting his balls crushed and Tyson lost to Holyfield who moved into the forefront as Lennoxs main rival. Tyson then just went on a circus act of fights to try and pay off his bills.

If Tyson had beat Holyfield we would have seen Tyson -Lewis a lot earlier. We may also have Seen Bowe-Tyson depending on how the fights with Golota would have gone. None of it materialised though

 

The Holyfield fight was where the money was, Lewis wasn't that big a draw.

It's only been over the last 4 or 5 years Lewis has started to get his rightful dues as a fighter as well.

 

I agree with those who have said that Tyson's prime ended in the 80s and was very short! It was before my time, but I have watched all his fights from Tillis onwards and he is still the most exciting fighter ever for me.

In an ideal world I would like to have seen a 1988 version of Tyson vs a 2000 Lennox Lewis. My feelings are that Tyson would've knocked him out, but I am probably in the minority :think

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cd/Tyson_Lewis.jpg

God I love conspiracy theorists. :rofl I guess the promotional material was also trying to brainwash everyone into thinking about Sonny Liston, huh?

Anyway, Tyson's management knew that Lewis would be a tough opponent so King tried to put it off off for as long as possible. As so often happens with boxing management, they promptly miscalculated and blew it with the Tyson-Holyfield match.

Everyone thought Evander was easy pickings, he was finished. He'd had those health problems, he'd gassed badly and been TKO'd in his third fight with Bowe, etc. So the thought was that Tyson would run through him, continue beating soft touches for as long as they could, then finally have a showdown with Lewis at some point down the road, if someone hadn't picked Lewis off by then. Naturally, it didn't work out.

 

Someone did post Kings fight plan for Tyson on here quite a while back, it had names like Mercer, Morrison, Moorer and Briggs on there, not exactly soft touches. What King wanted was control of Lewis win or lose. No control, no match. simple.

Same way he promoted Ali and Foreman, before the fight he was in Foremans corner, after the fight, he was hugging Ali.

 

Tyson - no one can even argue

 

Just like what happened to Gamboa vs JuanMa and Angulo vs Kirkland. They wanted to wait and wait until the risk was worth the reward and looked whta happened. JuanMa lost to Salido who he was suppose to easily beat and that fight never happened.

Angulo lost his 0 vs Cintron, Kirkland went to jail and then lost his 0 by first round TKO and by the time they fought the luster wasnt the same if it happened a few years ago when both were hot, exciting, undefeated prospect in the same division. When it happened it was suppose to be an easy fight for Angulo..... exciting while it lasted but Angulo would walk over Kirkland and his glass jaw..... didn't happen like that but you get my point.