you've got two options zak.... 1. you can take the money and you won't get to fight tyson. 2. you won't get a penny, we'll drop the belt and you won't get to fight tyson. which do you choose?
Tyson was past his prime when he went up against Lewis, I don't think he was scared (he went for Lewis at the press conference so I very much doubt he was afraid of him). It was however one of the biggest if not the biggest fight of career so it wouldn't surprise me if he was nervous, not many people would fail to be.
He took the payoff to STEP ASIDE not to not fight Tyson. The understanding was Tyson faces Lewis next after taking on Seldon. Of course, we all know who reneged on that agreement, dumping the title to ensure he could get out of the fight!
Tyson paid Lewis so he could fight Seldon first, with the stipulation he fought Lewis in his next fight, which is why Tyson's WBC belt was safe. Of course Mikey had no intention of doing that as the Holyfield fight was announced at the Tyson-Seldon post fight press conference. & how was Lewis waiting for Holyfield when Holyfield was the one raising his asking price in 97?? Get out of this thread.
[quote="TKO";3195596]He took the payoff to STEP ASIDE not to not fight Tyson. The understanding was Tyson faces Lewis next after taking on Seldon. Of course, we all know who reneged on that agreement, dumping the title to ensure he could get out of the fight![/quote] Lewis took the cash, that's the bottom line. It is amazing how overrated Lewis is on this site. These other guys managed to fight each other, Lewis either didn't face them or faced 'em when they were old. And of course this is because the other guys were "afraid" of him! Just like there are ALWAYS tons of excuses why Lewis got knocked out early by second-raters, there are always excuses why he fought the other top fighters of the era when they were old, or in the case of Bowe, not at all.:nut
Thats ridiculous Zak.He would have LOVED to have fought all of those guys in their primes.Tyson and Bowe avoided him.He was frozen out until people needed Lewis. Anyway Tyson was nervous and reluctant way beyond the norms of a fighter before facing Lewis. He wanted to be in that ring less than any other time in his career. Its up to the individual whether he calls that fear or not.
Afraid?... NO He just knew in his heart that he didn't have the tools to beat Lewis at that point. He basically gave in after 2 rounds.
from a different angle, how much did tyson need the purse? his life in shambles, and rumours of tyson broke, might have put an unusual pressure on him?
Indeed.If he was rolling in it,he wouldnt have fought Lewis. If they dont NEED the challenge financially,often fighters will simply swerve the fight altogether(see Floyd-Margo) HAVING to go in the ring because you must against a formidable opponent you would sooner sidestep must be a shitty feeling,however brave you are.
Are you for real???? It was Bowe that ducked Lewis, even going as far as dropping the WBC belt so he could go on his bum of the month tour!!? How on earth you can call Lewis overrated is beyond me.... Do you just watch highlights of fights an just read newspaper reports??
tyson landed a great left hook in the third. lewis took it well though it surely was a harder shot than mccall's straight right that dropped him.
Of course I'm for real, and I've probably been watching boxing since before you were born. Lewis about the most overrated HW champ that I've seen since I began following boxing 30 years ago. He never fought ANY of the other top guys of the era until they were old, like Holyfield and Tyson - and he didn't fight Bowe at all. Not only that, he's the ONLY top level HW champ taken out early by second raters when he held the title. Yet there is always a brigade of nuthuggers that makes excuse after excuse for this guy. Both Holyfield and Tyson were better HW champs.
He didn't want the fight in 96 so why would he want it 02?Money its obvious!At the weigh in he looked very much on edge the interviewer even said so.Tyson also admitted to his trainer that he was hurt real early in the fight.He didn't want to be there he just needed the money at that stage of his life. Anyone know what his purse was btw??