Eighteen years ago today: Lennox Claudius Lewis vs. Michael Gerard Tyson

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by IntentionalButt, Jun 8, 2020.


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  1. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

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    It has been the lifetime of an adult American citizen* since "Is On" was on.

    (*a neonate conceived around 9/11/01 and born on the date of the fight would as of today legally be old enough to vote, buy tobacco and porn, and get conscripted in a time of military draft).

    It should've been on half that length of time before it finally come together. Much like the next era's 'most anticipated fight', between Mayweather and Pacquiao, it was several years late and did not live up to expectations of what it could've been when the combatants were nearer their primes and demand for the match was at its peak. Like that fight, however, it was better than it has been credited with being in light of everyone's disappointment. Neither the Lewis vs. Tyson match in 2002 nor the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao match of 2015 were great, or even good - but neither sucked. They were mediocre. They also meant only a tiny fraction of what they would've meant in the mid-1990's or late aughts (2008/9) respectively, but they still didn't mean nothing. Lewis deserves some credit - yes, beating a shell of Tyson but on the night a highly motivated one, who started the night competitively enough (you could justify having it 38 apiece through four, honestly) but from the fifth on was a walking clay pigeon and yet continued to march through punishment and keep trying despite critics predicting he would fold at the first sign of any such adversity - not zero as some would say. Mayweather likewise deserves some credit - yes, beating a smaller guy he already enjoyed a stylistic (and style lending itself more to longevity) advantage over to begin with and whose best years he spent taking a proverbial knee and running out the clock through, waiting until Pac had been recently KTFO and hadn't stopped anybody in 9 fights over 5½ years - not zero as some would say.

    It was an okay fight. It was a tremendous event. The dueling ring announcers, the co-GOATs of the modern era - the buzz of the crowd, all of it.

    Set aside the decade of built up anticipation, or musings on what a FOTY candidate it could've been at some earlier date - this still rates at least one rewatch, or at least a compulsory first viewing for any younger (or recently emerged from living under a rock) boxing historian. True, after the skirmish about half a minute into the first, where Mike lunges in with a spearing body 1-2 and Lennox counters with a triple uppercut, both of them swinging for the fences but only grazing - there are really no fireworks, nor even sparks to speak of. It settles thereafter in a boxing match (with back-and-forth tactical adjustments making it competitive until roughly, as I said above, the 5th round), with long stretches of feinting & flinching, baiting & clinching ...but there have been worse heavyweight title fights. Far worse. :deal:

    Kid Dynamite was past it physically at this point, barely half the 'baddest man' he was in his late teens - but he brought a lot of mental fortitude, came in shape, and on that night could have become a thrice over HW king, were he not facing someone as great as The Lion. A fully matured super heavy Kronk jab on display is something to behold, even against so-so competition (see also: Wlad K.'s entire reign).
     
    IntentionalButt, Jun 8, 2020
    IntentionalButt, Jun 8, 2020
    #1
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  2. KO KIDD

    KO KIDD Loyal Member Full Member

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    This was one of the first big boxing events I was old enough to truly remember

    I was rooting hard for Tyson to do it though I also liked Lennox

    I remember being most impressed by Pacquiao who I would be a huge fan of until the first Marquez fight when I shifted allegiances during sort of like rocky 4

    I remember Tyson coming out strong in round 1 maybe even winning it then taking a horrible beating and going out on his shield. My brother kept the sports illustrated image of tyson stretched out on the canvas hanging on his door for about 7 years
     
    KO KIDD, Jun 8, 2020
    KO KIDD, Jun 8, 2020
    #2
  3. N17

    N17 Loyal Member Full Member

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    I didn't like this fight, I couldn't enjoy it, Tyson was on the slide and Lewis was probably at the peak of his powers, Lewis was mature and had such an all around solid game.

    When I think of Tyson I like to think of that 20-21 year old who was terrifying everybody, not this version, it started to get sad around this time, he wasn't the same animal when he fought Lewis, that spark had long gone.

    Tyson lost this fight on a stage, when he was screaming at reporters, he looked like a frightened child in those moments, maybe that's when his mental health really started to cause him problems but it if you watch that video of him screaming "I'll F you until you love me" through the lens of "he is suffering mentally" it really isn't pleasant watch.

    He looks frightened, he looks like a man who just realised he was nailed on for a backside kicking, a complete humiliation and just wanted out.

    But credit to Mike, he held it together, took his beating like a man and came out of the fight with a lot of good will.
     
    N17, Jun 8, 2020
    N17, Jun 8, 2020
    #3
  4. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    To me this fight was way more about discovering for sure Mike Tyson had a heart than Lennox Lewis' domination. At times the fight was so wincingly one-sided I thought of it as torture porn. Mike was useless after the first round. But he kept making the bell and moving forward, even threw some shots that would have definitely done some damage...had he been even ten years younger, some certainly would have landed.

    I began to respect Iron Mike a lot more after that. He wasn't a Sonny Liston-type, quitting when things got rough He had courage. A great fighter...maybe not on the level of Lewis, Holmes, Holy, Ali, or Louis...but top ten material ATG no doubt. Great fighter.
     
    Last edited: Jun 8, 2020
    RulesMakeItInteresting, Jun 8, 2020
    RulesMakeItInteresting, Jun 8, 2020
    #4
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  5. CST80

    CST80 De Omnibus Dubitandum Staff Member

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    I'd gotten rid of HBO for a few months, and subscribed again just to see the replay of this match, I'd avoided spoilers (it was much easier back then). , Even though I thought he'd lose, I was rooting for Mike. Needless to say I was quite pissed. I should have spoiled it for myself.:lol:
     
    CST80, Jun 8, 2020
    CST80, Jun 8, 2020
    #5
  6. UnleashtheFURY

    UnleashtheFURY D'oh! Full Member

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    Had the entire neighborhood in my living room for this fight. It was absolutely insane. As kids we were still debating over who would win. We had no clue about boxing at the time. Believe we all picked Lewis not for an logical reason but for w.e reason.
     
    UnleashtheFURY, Jun 8, 2020
    UnleashtheFURY, Jun 8, 2020
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  7. divac

    divac Loyal Member Full Member

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    After the Holyfield fights, Tyson was pretty much a fighter there for any legitimate top 10 fighter to if not take be really competitive with him. The Botha fight that came right after the two Holyfield losses showed that to me. Botha dominated every round against Tyson right up to when Tyson landed a lucky shot on Botha.

    I was embarrassed for Lennox having to watch Emmanuel Steward screaming at him not to be afraid to let his hands go against a fighter who had nothing left.
     
    divac, Jun 9, 2020
    divac, Jun 9, 2020
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  8. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Nailed it!
     
    Fergy, Jun 9, 2020
    Fergy, Jun 9, 2020
    #8
  9. lufcrazy

    lufcrazy requiescat in pace Full Member

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    *Mike Tyson
     
    lufcrazy, Jun 9, 2020
    lufcrazy, Jun 9, 2020
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  10. UFC2020

    UFC2020 Active Member Full Member

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    Tyson's worst beating of his life. Lost to Danny Williams and Kevin McBride 2-3 years later which should put this fight in contest. That Etienne punch was a lucky punch
     
    UFC2020, Jun 9, 2020
    UFC2020, Jun 9, 2020
    #10
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  11. UniversalPart

    UniversalPart Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Etienne came out swinging and had no regard for defence.

    If you have a brawl with Tyson and don't leave space for defence you'll get wrecked. The Nielsen fight showed that Tyson still had a variety in his game but he could only beat a certain style at that point.
     
    UniversalPart, Jun 9, 2020
    UniversalPart, Jun 9, 2020
    #11
  12. Decker

    Decker Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Why do peeps fail to mention that Lewis & Tyson are about the same age. Not going to look it up but isn't Lewis a few months older.

    I have nothing against Tyson, in fact he's been very likable in retirement. But among fans he seems to have had this supremo but oh so short prime. Too many ifs with Tyson. Not trying to mirror Wilder but how many greats did MT beat?

    I believe Lewis wins 9 of 10 fights between them. Although if the fight occurred earlier, Mike would've had a live chance at a win if he landed something big early on Lewis.
     
    Decker, Jun 9, 2020
    Decker, Jun 9, 2020
    #12
  13. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

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    That is true but a moot point as Lewis made his pro debut arguably past the apex of Tyson's rise and in the initial stages of his decline (in terms of his short-burning-fuse prime, if not his ability to hang at world class level necessarily). Tyson had more years and more wear & tear on the odometer, and his style (as the HBO commentators pointed out, correctly) lends itself to a shorter prime and/or half-life than Lewis'.
     
    IntentionalButt, Jun 9, 2020
    IntentionalButt, Jun 9, 2020
    #13
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  14. DirtyOldTown

    DirtyOldTown Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Was it the first ever dual MC?
     
    DirtyOldTown, Jun 9, 2020
    DirtyOldTown, Jun 9, 2020
    #14
  15. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

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    Probably not in all of boxing history, but of the Saturday Night Wars era (HBO vs. Showtime) first that I can recall.
     
    IntentionalButt, Jun 9, 2020
    IntentionalButt, Jun 9, 2020
    #15
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