1996-Tyson vs Lewis - What would have happened?

I think the point Gaz is trying to make is that there is little evidence to suggest that Tyson would have been able to live with a 1996 Lewis - pretty much peak.

Granted, he defeated Bruno quicker than Lewis and much more convincingly, but Tyson was a stylistic nightmare for Frank, who had mentally retired after accomplishing his dream against McCall. It also ought to be said that the Lewis fight was probably his best performance.

Furthermore, people tend to forget that Lennox was also past his best by the time he and Mike shared a ring. Not to the same extent that Mike was (nowhere near) but still......

 

the story goes that lewis used to pick tyson apart in sparring

 

I think in 1996 Tyson def, has a chance to drag up one last great performance and Lewis could obviously be KO'd when caught but I think at that point Tyson really fallen out of love with boxing, was mentally "all over the place" and also his skills were in decline (the head movement and combos esp.).

The opposition up that point hadn't been able good enough to really expose this and even a 80% Tyson was good enough to KO most of the contenders out there but the Holyfield fights showed what Tysons level was at that point. He was out fought, out boxed, out manned, basically went into survival mode when his initial attacks didn't deter Holyfield and was more than happy to take the KO and end the beating. He never beat a top heavyweight after that fight IMHO.

Lewis has shown himself to be fragile against McCall and Rahman but these were not part of a general decline like Tysons performances, more like slips of concentration or appilication and a focussed Lewis still had the skills to give his best performances, whereas for even a focussed Tyson that time had gone.

I think in 1996 Lewis outpoints or stops Tyson late, then goes on the get the points decisons against Holy a couple of years earlier then he did actually get then and go on to dominate the division as he did.

 

Firstly, yes I do believe that Lewis would win, probably late stoppage in a similar fight to the one that actually happened, but not as one-sided.

I think that the late 90's of the heavyweight division would have panned out in a similar manner to how it actually did, but we would have seen unification earlier.... the Holyfield fights would still have happened, and there would have been two.

Stylewise Lennox is Evander's worst nightmare, and therefore but for some dodgy judging, it would have been two wins for LL.

From say 1998, from when this would have been concluded, we would have seen Lewis do pretty much what he did - there wasn't much by way of competition that he didn't fight at that stage.

 

Lewis ko 10. People make far too much out of Tyson's chances of a ko. He'd have no plan B after not hurting Lewis & still end up a sitting duck by around the halfway point.

 

Why dont you tell us why.

 

Who knows but I will say that Tyson while raw in 96 was still young and was 10 X better than the Tyson that fought Nielson and Lewis, IMO Tyson's speed would've given Lewis fits.

 

I think Lewis was off-colour in the Holyfield rematch, whilst Evander probably had the 'I dodged a bullet last time' feeling and was determined to put it right.

But for Eugenia Williams's sheer incompetence, there would have been no reason for a return at all - Evander was stood on his head for the most part, the only error Lewis made was not trying to stop him in the 5th.

Bowe is a tough one for Evander I admit, but in terms of his great showings, they were pretty much it - take those away and his resume is pissweak. He was scared of Lennox - so not even going to talk about that one!

I must say I have no idea how he would handle a powerful southpaw..... I suppose his jab would be neutralised to a degree, but with his height and reach he was pretty hard to hit when focused. Tough question, one that I cannot answer :good

 

:rofl I'm not saying tyson would win BUT it took Lewis 8 rds to KO a shot, used up Tyson, if anyone gets KO'd here its Lewis.

 

Ah fair enough, you may be right.

People still thought Tyson was as good as ever at that point didnt they?