Lennox Lewis vs Mike Tyson, prime for prime, who wins?

This right here. I can relate because I'm an athlete, as are many people on here, and have gone through many tests of character in my sport. I have triumphed and failed along the way. I'll have to catch up with the rest of the posts to see where this is headed.

 

None whatsoever. The point I'm making I just don't think Tyson showed mental frailty in his losses to Holyfield I, Douglas and Lewis.

Tyson against Douglas and Holyfield I showed up and was complacent and over confident and he found himself in an unexpected fight but he fought to win despite coming up short and went out on his shield like an honorable champion.

The relevance is that Both Frazier and Holyfield beat their adversaries making it plausible for them to repeat the task. Their inability to do so is not a reflection of their mental shortcomings. You seem (at least that's my impression) to be convinced and rightfully so i suppose that Tyson was fully capable of beating Douglas and Holyfield even in the condition he came in but was able unable to do so because of his mental shortcomings.

I'm saying that it's not his shortcomings rather his professionalism and conditioning played a large role in those fights.

I think mentally the only fight you can hold him against is Holyfield II where he snapped because things weren't going his way.

Fighters can't fight with Monkeys in their corner. A great fighter sometimes needs a great trainer (or one that can bring out the best in you). Rooney kept him on the rails against Tillis and Ferguson whereas Snowell and Bright may have failed him. Brooks him kept his head cool against Botha despite the obvious frustration that Tyson exhibited. Trainers can call audibles mid-fight. It may sound like common sense that trying to bomb out opponents with single shots isn't wisdom but in the ring it's always easier said than done and especially if you can punch like Mike Tyson can. Tyson probably knows more about boxing than just about any poster on this forum surely giving advice is not as easy as implementing it.

Tyson's desire to win was eclipsed by his lack of discipline which increased over time. Over the course of time one's dedication and devotion can change if conditions allow it to. Look at marriage, divorce is not rare occurrence and when a couple can divorce even after 30 years of marriage it is because certain conditions led to it. So initially Tyson had the mental make up of a warrior. His first meeting Bobby Stewart showed a young 13 year old kid getting beat up in the ring but fighting furiously to show his worth.

Besides, frustration is not a concept only relevant to Mike Tyson everybody endures it at some point.

I guess it's a non issue.

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I'm arguing for a Tyson victory as well but on the merits of styles and skill not will. And I disagree he fell apart against Douglas.

I agree that Tyson would never walk into a Lewis fight if this was prime for prime out of shape and under prepared.

Divisive indeed, his threads get many responses.

Foreman fan's will tell that George has 4X the power of _______ and 10X the heart of ______ and 1,000,000,000 X the toughness of __________

No you're reasonable but I can't say the same about everybody so sometimes I can be remedial about things only to address in a general context.

 

bottom line, we are talking of a hypothetical peak, prime tyson vs the same version of lewis...that being the case, the young, viscious, blisteringly powerful tyson would be facing his biggest challenge, his fiercest foe, his nemesis....that being the case, the whole 'underestimating' of his oponent just doesnt rear its ugly head....tyson was a shrewd boxing historian and i think he would have prepared like no other for a fight against big lenny....prime, peak tyson was unshakeable in his belief come ring time, had the right team around him, the right corner, and the dark, doubtfilled corners of his psyche would be illuminated by the light of realsiation that these factors would bring, rather than left to grow and grow as they were when he was surrounded by sycophants and dollar bill chasers....

likewise, lewis is unlikely to be caught cold as he would know tysons force, his strenghts, and, presumeabky 'peak' lewis is post ko lewis..so his frailty had been exposed, and dealt with....so prime l;ewis is gonna be hard to catch, hard to break down...but i realy do blei ve taking all this into accoiunt, mike does the job and stops lewis late or wins a close but c;lear decsison

 

exactly

speed , power and combination punching

4 rounds max , lewis chin would not hold up vs a peak tyson

 

After re watching the first round of their actual fight, i am pretty convinced Tyson would win by knockout. I dont see Lewis's reach advantage being a big advantage since Tyson was so fast. I think Tyson stops him in five.

 

Well said, i forgot how strongly Tyson was coming on in round 10, after being brutally battered throughout rounds 6 to 9.
Perhaps with better physical conditioning, he would've had the stamina & endurance to survive to lose a decision.

 

Bump

 

I'd favour Lewis to stop him late or win a UD. Lewis' height, reach, big uppercut and strength would be too much for even a prime Tyson to deal with. Tyson even in his prime could be made to look less effective by big strong guys like Tucker and Smith and Lewis could do the same but also had the offensive tools to fight back.

Tyson would be dangerous early and would definately have a punchers chance but unless he gets lucky or Lewis gets careless, I can't see him putting on enough pressure throughout the whole 12 rounds to force a stoppage.

 

peak tyson would have destroyed peak lewis if it lasted more than 4 rounds id have been surprised lewis chin would not have withstood tysons speed and power .

 

For the record, I take Prime Holyfield over both.

But to answer your question, I think Tyson gets Lewis prime for prime.

 

I have nothing but admiration and respect for Lennox Lewis. He was an excellent fighter. But even against the faded version of Tyson, Lewis sometimes dropped his hands and left himself wide open for counters. The 19-20 year-old Mike Tyson would blast that chin eventually, either with a single shot or a devastating combination. Lewis would land some hard uppercuts, I'm sure. But the young Tyson wouldn't submit the way the 2002 version did. Tyson took vicious uppercuts from Razor Ruddock and Jose Ribalta and kept on coming.

 

Lennox Lewis..!

 

OMG ,Would you listen to this guy?!!! Nobody could **** with TYSON IN 86-90. Douglas should've been counted out in the 8th rd when he went down. James "Bonecrusher" Smith fought a smart fight against Tyson as well as James Tillis(non title). I think that a prime Tyson is too aggresive and quick for any version of Lennox Lewis.

 

Lewis would have won. People talk about his chin....I don't think he was up mentally for McCall or Rahman, two guys that stopped him. When motivated, he beat them both. He'd be very up for Tyson and would have too much size, reach, and skill on Mike. Tyson was a wrecking machine against guys who werent't that big, or else against big guys who weren't that good. Lewis is big AND good...he'd TKO Mike much in the way Buster did.

 

Lewis could have one. Those three (Holy, Lion and Iron Mike) are the best of the last 25 years or so. It's a fun debate for sure.