Was anyone expecting Mike Tyson expecting Tyson to win against Lennox Lewis

No. Tyson was finished by the time he fought Nielsen. He bloated to 240 pound for that fight and visibly tired at the time the fight was stopped, so he's definetely not in shape for championship fight at that point.

He did look good and fast against Golota , Savarese, Etienne, but considering his punching power, there's always be a chance for that kind of stoppage in early rounds. However if the fight goes pass 3 rounds, Mike would simply lose, even against journeyman.

People who believe Tyson had a chance against Lennox simply hoping that one-punch KO that Mike could still land at any moment. He did that against Botha despite losing all rounds, and since Lennox has been stopped twice in that fashion, lots of casual boxing fans think he'd beat Lennox that way. However, Lennox was 100% prepared and treated this fight as pinnacle of his career (He said himself).

In post fight interview Tyson even asked for rematch , saying the payment was wonderful. That alone explained Tyson motivation going into that fight, and its the $ not the belt.

 

Plenty were picking Tyson. The highest i saw the odds get were 2-1 in favor of Lewis and where i am they ended about 8-5.

Here's a quick example of a few -

FRANK MALONEY

Maloney managed Lewis from the moment the Olympic gold medallist turned professional in 1989 until an acrimonious parting last year.
"I can honestly put my hand on my heart and say I hope Tyson knocks Lennox Lewis out. If I said anything else, I'd be lying.
"If Tyson can get back to somewhere near his best for this fight, and I think he can, he can overcome Lewis mentally. The minute that they walk into the ring, I think physically you will probably see Lewis freeze.
I really feel that the fear factor will be the biggest thing in this fight." TYSON

EVANDER HOLYFIELD

Holyfield went 24 rounds with Lewis in 1999, gaining a controversial draw in the first fight and losing a decision, which he still contends to this day, in the rematch.
He has also fought Tyson twice, claiming one of the great upsets when he won an 11th-round stoppage in 1996, then having his ear bitten leading to disqualification for Tyson in the second encounter.
"I think Tyson knocks Lennox out.
Tyson has the perfect style for Lennox. He's explosive, he just jumps out like a rattlesnake and hits you. Lennox isn't used to anyone coming at him like that. Lennox likes to fight going backwards, and we know Tyson fights real well when guys go back. Lennox will try to hold, but when Lennox takes time to get ready to punch, I think Tyson will bust him." TYSON

RIDDICK BOWE

Grew up five blocks from Tyson in the Brownsville district of Brooklyn. Lost to Lewis in the superheavyweight finals of the 1988 Olympic Games. They should have met as pros, but Bowe famously dumped his championship belt in a dustbin rather than face Lewis a second time.
"I think Tyson is going to knock Lewis out and inside seven rounds.
"Lewis can't fight going backwards and the idea is to put pressure on him, just like I did in beating Jose Luis Gonzalez (the Cuban who beat Lewis in an amateur bout). When he went backwards in a survival mode I kept after him until he had no place to go but to the canvas." TYSON

LARRY HOLMES

Destroyed by Tyson in four rounds in January 1988, admitting he had never been hit harder. Tried to get a fight on with Lewis, but they never met in the ring.
"Lennox saw no reason to fight me, just like a lot of these other younger guys. They're scared that they might lose to an older man.
"Lennox will not beat Mike because he won't be able to keep him off him.
"The jab may make the fight last a little longer, but you know that Mike will land some shots and when he does, Lennox will fall.
"Mike is determined, and he has trained real hard for this fight. I can't see the fight going more than four or five rounds." TYSON

 

Not surprising since fighters prediction are usually subjective.

 

Nobody with any common sense thought Tyson had enough left to beat Lewis. He was damaged goods, eschewed training, and was shown hanging out in Hawaii before the fight smoking weed. It was a total money grab, nothing more.

 

I hoped he would, and for about 2 minutes my hopes were up as the remnants of Tyson won the first round. It was actually one of the bravest performances I've seen. Tyson knew he was done by the second round, he stayed in there way longer than he should have, to the point he could have been permanently damaged or killed. It irks that Lewis goes around claiming the fight proved he was always the superior fighter after beating a tranquilised shadow of a once true great.

 

I don't think many truly believed in Tyson by then. There was no good reason to.
Tyson especially didn't believe it. I remember thinking he was trying to sabotage the whole event when he went crazy at the press conference announcing it early in 2002, when he bit Lewis's leg. Managed to get Las Vegas to throw it out.

Lots wanted him to win.

 

No. He was completely washed up. He was a 3 round slugger at that point giving up size and reach with little of the defense and quickness he had 14 years earlier. He couldn't miss Golota with his right hand in their fight and busted him up enough to make Golota quit but I actually didn't like Tyson's body language at the end of the second round in that fight! I think Golota would have given him serious issues had that bout continued.

 

I was the only one in my group of 5 watching that night expecting Lewis. As you see today, Tyson fans are nuts, they think he beats top guys TODAY. It was crazy then even. I bet them all and won.

 

I thought Tyson would have knocked him out tbh.

I stayed up listening to the fight on the radio haha.

 

To the fighting buffs in particular " YOU SURE " no way was Tyson, at that stage in his career/life going to beat Lewis, and frankly am a little surprised anybody who posts on here, would give Tyson any chance at all of beating Lewis, I had more than a few bob on Lewis, buying money I called it, just proves again, that some people are blinkered when it comes to some fighters.

 

No way was Rahman going to beat him neither.

 

I believe it was on a Joe Rogan podcast that Lennox says he beat a prime Tyson. I love Lennox Lewis, I regard him much higher then I do Tyson as a boxer, but he simply can not believe that to be true. Tyson was a shell of a shell of himself.

 

Let’s keep in mind that ...Lennox Lewis had recently been knocked out by Hasim Rahman

 

Completely agree--he had a good first round---then it was a beatdown. I thought he would catch him but Mike was not in shape. Give credit to Lewis---he fought a smart fight