If Mike Tyson Had Defeated Holyfield Twice And Lewis Once, Where Would He Rank Historically?

#1 All time

 

Could very likely rank above Ali as the greatest HW IMO. Add both Klitschkos on his resume and there's no denying that he's the GOAT HW.

 

1 or 2

 

In 1996? Probably three. If he had retired after the rematch with Bruno—also three.

Beating Bruno, Holyfield, and Lewis in 1996 would have been rated exactly the same as—or lower than—beating Holmes, Tubbs, and Spinks in 1986.

 

In that case, Tyson's 'second career' would have been better than Tyson's 'first career' and if he retired with only one loss to Douglas, he would have had good chances for the HW ATG No.1 spot.

 

What? No way.

 

Let's be honest. If Lewis lost, his own place would drop so much for so many of us, it wouldn't boost Mike up against the loss to Douglas as much as it might seem on the face of it. I don't know what I just said but I am very firm on its meaningfulness in my own mind.

 

What no way?

 

If you have to ask..

 

I have Lewis at 3 so if he'd knocked off Lennox AND Holyfield possibly #1

 

From today’s perspective, beating Lewis or Holyfield in 1996 seems like an impossible feat for the Tyson of that era—or, for some, for *any* version of Tyson—yet at the time, he was the overwhelming favorite to beat them.
After he defeated Bruno, *The Ring* asked if anyone could stop him, with Riddick Bowe being the only name put forward.
Lewis was known for having been quickly knocked out by one of Mike’s former sparring partners, and an inactive Ray Mercer had given him a tough, even fight; at one point, Holyfield was a 25-to-1 underdog. People generally expected Tyson to steamroll them, and had that happened, it wouldn't have impressed anyone. Spinks hadn't been as big an underdog in 1988 as Holyfield was, and many expected Tyson to be even better than he had been a decade earlier. Beating Bruno, Lewis, and Holyfield back then would be considered less impressive today than the Biggs-Holmes-Tubbs-Spinks run—even if Mike had torn them to shreds.

It would have changed little regarding how Tyson was perceived historically at the time.

Anyone who remembers those years knows this well.

 

And still lost to Douglas, Williams and McBride? He'd be a lock for the top 3. Probably #3, for me, closer to the top 2 than #4.

 

But... Lewis and Holyfield wouldn't be ranked the same they are now had they lost to Tyson