If Tyson Had Been In Prime In His Fights With Holyfield and Lewis?

87-88 Tyson was the complete package. The ultimate destroyer.
His style was impetuous ..... His defense was impregnable ...

No other fighter in history could stand in his way. Not Sullivan, not Holyfield, Lewis, not even mythical pretty boy "67 Ali". They would all crumble at his feet.

 

Prime Tyson looked less then stellar against Bonecrusher and Tucker which is a reason why he struggles with a Peak Lewis. Lewis by UD.
Prime Tyson against Prime Holyfield I got 55/45 in favour of Holy. His heart might just be what wins it for him.

 

The styles are still big problems for Mike. I'd still go with Holyfield and Lewis to beat Tyson. Prime Mike sure could make those fights interesting, though.

 

If Mike fought Lewis and Holyfield in his prime, then he’d have gotten knocked out in his prime just as he was by Tokyo Douglas.

 

I reckon if James Douglas could beat a 24 year old peak Mike Tyson Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis have a real shot.

 

You're talking about a past it Holyfield from 96-97? Mike would have beaten him, but it would would have been the most competitive fight he'd have until Douglas. Holy would have masterfully tied him up, landed flush with some really good shots (I see Mike's legs buckling), might have swollen him up some. But things would have caught up to Holy; I see him getting blasted, knocked down a couple of times and mauled out in the 8th at the absolute latest. Prime for prime things would have gone to a decision (Holy might have been floored) and again been more competitive by far than anything Mike had experienced pre-1980.

Past it Lewis survives a very scary first two rounds and then schools Mike for several rounds, winning them all. Again, somewhere in the middle rounds he gets caught the kind of overhand that reached Holmes in the last round of their fight and that sets Lennox on the course to destruction. There wlll be more, but in the end he's knocked down and gets up with his legs wobbling in every direction, it doesn't get past the 7th.

Prime for Prime Lewis/Tyson, other the other hand...hmmm. I can see Mike possibly getting mowed over by the Ruddock-destroying Lennox in maybe three rounds....except, that sloppy and relatively reckless Lewis got hit more so...can't decide that one.

The more cautious, Steward-era Lewis picks Mike the hell apart in 7. Mike would be more swole up and nastily cut than ever at the end.

 

Why the somewhat cynical reference to Muhammad Ali of 1967 ? The 1967 Muhammad Ali,your so-called '' mythical pretty-boy '' was far tougher,even more talented,and had a much higher
ring IQ than Tyson.If you really think that Ali would '' crumble '' before Tyson you really need to educate yourself about Muhammad Ali and his achievements.

 

I actually feel 96/97 Holy was better equipped to deal with Tyson than prime, smaller, more reckless Holy was. I'll go with Tyson in a hard fought decision, but I think prime Lewis beats him.

 

Don't take the bait.

 

You remind me of a good point. For whatever reason, when they did fight, Holyfield looked like he was hurting Tyson over and over. I pick that Holyfield for this time machine battle because he's proven able to throw punches that hurt Tyson.

 

LOL ! Ok mate,I'll take your advice !

 

Tyson was only 24 when Buster ko him.Tyson fans always talk about his prime as before he lost,what if we did that with all boxers.Tyson was only 30 ( still very young as hw go) when (34) Holyfield ko him.Lewis sparred Tyson when he was only 19 & gave Tyson fits in sparring & Tyson's legendary trainer said of Lewis he is going to be a champion one day.What great HW did Tyson fight & defeat before he fought Holyfield if you said Holmes you would be right Holmes was one of boxing's great HW but he came out of a 2 year retirement to fight Tyson & was 38 years old & no tune up fight either. Holyfield vs Tyson both in their prime Holyfield wins every time.Tyson vs Lewis both in their prime Tyson's has the punchers chance because of lewis questionable Chin but still think Lewis wins 80% of time.Ali beats them all.

 

I Have Tyson 11 th on greatest HW all time.Ali & Louis are legendary HW & Tyson doesn't deserve to be in the same conversation.Louis defended his hw Belt (only 1 world title at the time so you had to fight the best to keep it) a record 25 consecutive times a record for any weight division.Ali fought in the 1970's ( the toughest hw era in hw boxing history) when he was in his 30's & beat them all.He was only the second hw to win the belt a 2nd time & the first at the time to win it for the 3rd time & when there was only 2 HW belt not like 4 today.He beat the top 2 hardest punchers in hw boxing history.Had he not come out of retirement for a 3rd time ( he was already showing signs of parkinson's) then he would have been only 1 of only 4 hw to have defeated everyone he had faced.He went through a lot of problems out side the ring but didn't let that effect him inside the ring.Tyson doesn't beat Holyfield at any age.He would have a punchers chance against Lewis but lewis at 6'5 knew how to fight tall & have him still beating doesn't just as he did when he sparred a 19 year old Tyson.

 

Tyson had fast hands for a HW & good power in both hands & looked great ko lesser opponents but when you put him in against a great boxer like Holyfield who had a great chin & was a good defensive boxer who could nutralize Tyson's aggression then Tyson is not so great anymore.Remember Tyson was only 30 (very young as HW go) when Holyfield (34) ko him.Tyson Fans always want to put Tyson in his prime between 1987-89 & that is because he lost his first fight against Douglas in 1990 when he was only 24 how much more prime can we get.Ali was 36 when he won the belt for a 3rd time.( a record at the time) I have Tyson 11th great HW all time because there were just to many more deserving Heavyweights for the top 10 over the last 120 years.

 

Holyfield beats him everytime.He has a punchers chance against lewis but only that.