Mike Tyson interviewed before the Lennox Lewis fight

I can't believe I thought Tyson would win. But I really didn't follow boxing like I do now. He had little chance in retrospect.

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Tyson came into that fight dreadfully prepared. He was out in Hawaii smoking weed instead of sparring, and was on anti-depressive meds. It was just a payday to take a beating. Not sure he even threw a meaningful punch after the first round. Nobody who understood boxing gave that version of Tyson a chance.

 

He had a puncherś chance but that was it. Lewis prob coulde taken him out in the 4th or 5th round but he was hesitant since he remembered getting clobbered by Rahman and McCall.

 

Both the first time I ever felt sorry for Mike, plus the first time I admired him for going out on his shield. He was useless after the 1st round.

 

Tyson was a 1 round fighter at this stage. I do remember Tyson throwing a powerful right hand in round 6 that slightly shook Lewis but Lewis took it well to his credit. Tyson's energy was really low at this stage so if he had landed the same right early in the fight, it could have been different.

Coming in at 234 lbs did not help. It didn't make him stronger. It just slowed him down even further.

If Tyson had come in at 220 lbs and well prepared, could he have won? Nah, he was too old and lacked the footspeed that he once had in spades. However, i think a well prepared Tyson could have gone 12 rounds and maybe even won 3-4 rounds. Lewis was so risk averse when facing Tyson that he was reluctant to pull the trigger vs even this version. I am convinced that if Tyson showed up in shape, Lewis would be too afraid of a ko and would have been content with winning a decision.

At least a prepared Tyson had a punchers chance for full 12 rounds. This Tyson had a punchers chance for maybe 7-8 rounds instead of 1-2.

 

Lennox “I beat the best of my generation” Lewis

 

Nice find.

 

A dude who has been one shotted going up against any version of Tyson needs to be really careful.

And he was. Lewis dominated the entire fight masterfully. I love making casuals who think Mike was invincible watch that fight (which they often haven't seen). By round 2 they're like "wait, what's going on".

I'm a big Tyson fan fwiw. I'm just realistic. No version of him beats Steward trained Lewis.

 

I disagree, people act like Steward was a god. Lewis wouldve lost to the 1980s Tyson inside 3 or 4 rounds.

 

If I knew then what I know now, the outcome wouldn't have surprised me anymore than snow in January In Michigan.

 

He wasn't a god. But he fixed Lewis's flaws, helped him reach his full potential.

 

You were not the only one.

 

Wlad and I believe Tom Hearns as well.

 

If it is to be believed, Hearns wasn't a big hitter before Steward got a hold of him. I tend to not believe it. His power was so out of proportion to his weight given his height, I have to think that sort of thing is just pure genetic gift.

 

And he helped Dennis Andries win the light heavy belt a couple of times.