Lennox Lewis responds to fan saying that Tyson was washed up when he beat him

If Lewis fights a perfect fight, he wins that even against the best version of Tyson. If he screws up though and gets caught...

 

At that stage I think Lennox would have beat him.

Let's not forget, it's come out here at 24 that Lewis turned down a huge payday to fight Bowe in the mid 90s. Strange, because he stood a good chance of beating him at that point.

 

As I understand it now, Lennox had a chance. He was offered step aside money so Tyson could do his thing, he took the offer and according to Jan got ripped off. Stands to reason if he pressed the issue he would’ve got the fight as Lennox was in a position to be paid to step aside.

 

I’ve always felt like Lennox’s “boogeyman” rep is all a myth.

 

It was Lewis pressing the issue, which resulted in the court order (and this being subsequently reaffirmed, in a separate court), making him the next WBC Title challenger, no matter what; effectively forcing Tyson to fight Lewis for that belt.

There was no longer an issue to press or chance to be had, once Tyson relinquished the WBC belt.

 

Lewis could have forced him to fight or get him stripped. He was happy to take 6 million step aside money. I would have done the same but you can't then put it all on Tyson for the fight not happening. Business decisions were made so both guys could get easy money.

 

Sorry not one of them fought like Douglas- the way Douglas did that night in Tokyo. Rewatch the fights!!!! That night Douglas was in a zone sorry! And a prime Holmes would have certainly pulled that off also!

 

Those fighters I mentioned had the same style. Most of the 80's bunch did. Douglas was no different.

Douglas fought that way because Tyson wasn't doing the things that made fighters like Douglas look for the canvas soft spot. Watch the Tyson-Tubbs fight from 2 years earlier in Tokyo. Tubbs was having success early on but Tyson adapted and made Tubbs pay for his bravery.

2 different Mike Tysons at 2 different nights in Tokyo.

 

I sympathize with this, I don't think that was the same Mike. Just as there were 2 different Larry Holmes, one that beat Ali and one that fought Iron Mike. Tokyo Mike wasn't the guy that wasted Spinks.

At the same time, absolutely, Buster did a great junior-league-Larry-Holmes job that night in Tokyo.

 

I agree. Buster showed up and fought the fight of his life. Was it special? Sure it was. Does Tokyo Douglas beat everyone who ever lived? Hardly. Douglas said he was in the zone that night.

 

For me what complicates the best Lewis vs. the best Tyson question is the fact that they are contemporaries who peaked at far different parts of their careers. Neither the Tyson nor the Lewis of 1996 is the Tyson or Lewis of 1988. In 1996 Tyson was far worse and Lewis was far better. That is, I don't think it's fair to Lewis to pit his 1988 version against Tyson's 1988 version or to Tyson to have them fight in 1996.

In that regard, I see them as being more akin to ATGs from different eras than to contemporaries whose actual meeting would have settled anything concerning the best vs. best question.

Besides peaking at different times in their parallel careers, Lewis learned from his mistakes, and Tyson did not. At a time when Lewis was servicing his legacy, Tyson was servicing his cocaine habit. When asked a similar question I've seen Lewis say that, contra Tyson, he "aged like a fine wine."

 

Tyson was not washed up at all he still had enough power to tear down fighters like Lewis but he had zero trunk movement so he became too easy to hit, not only for Lewis, in particular with uppercuts when he got close. That determined a confortable win for a "Pugilistic Specialist" like Lennox Lewis.

 

What a moron.

 

yes these persons are not talking realism. this all is caught up in nostalgia thinking & hype
this is like persons predict Ali one final victory comeback with Larry Holmes. it is not the realism. is the sentimental only

 

He did:

The Lewis and Tyson camps could not agree to a deal for a bout between their two fighters. Tyson, therefore, was stripped of his title by the WBC, adhering to the court ruling. "We are disappointed and surprised that Tyson decided to give up the title instead of fighting Lennox," said Dino Duva, Lewis' promoter. Tyson is scheduled to put his new WBA title on the line against former undisputed champion Evander Holyfield on Nov. 9 in Las Vegas.

https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/Bruce_Seldon_vs._Mike_Tyson