If Tyson had beaten Lewis in 2002 - where would you rank Iron Mike as a HW ATG?

Thats a good question, but probably not much. I think it would do way more damage to Lewis' legacy in my opinion, because I always questioned Lewis' reign by the fighters he fought, and the struggles he had against some of the guys he faced.

 

I can see that point somewhat, but Tyson would still be scoring the biggest win of his career, and he'd be showing far more determination and resilience than he'd ever had in his career up to that point in coming back to win this fight.

I'd have him in my top 10 HWs for sure if he'd have pulled this off.

 

Even if Tyson ended the fight like the Botha fight, where he was behind for 5 or 6 rounds before landing a big shot? That was really the only scenario I ever pictured in my mind happening if Tyson came out victorious.

 

It would only have reaffirmed Tyson's power and re-affirmed Lewis' shaky chin, i.e Tyson's place (top 10) gets solidified, Lewis' place (top 5) is no longer there. In fact he probably doesn't make top 10. As it goes, he managed to keep going with some impressive showings and confirmed himself as a seriously hard to bear HW, who was stopped only on bad nights (I don't thing anyone would suggest Lewis has a china chin)

As it is, Lewis showed what a great boxer he was, and Tyson showed what a crude slugger he had become.

 

I dont know I would say Lewis had a bad chin not china, but not a good one. He was hardly hit cleanly by his opponents, and when he was he was hurt.

 

Credit to the thread starter because its a good question imo. Considering Tyson's state of mind at the time of the Lewis bout, the medication he was on, things that was going in his life, if he would have done the business then his legacy would have been enhanced without a doubt!

I mean, if he would have regained the title in 2002, thats some 16 years after he first won the title. That alone, without considering what else went on in Tyson's life during those sixteen years, would have been a massive achievement!

As it turns out, Tyson had a solid first round, but that was all she wrote! I wanted Mike to win so much, but deep down, I knew it wasn't going to happen. All that about him training hard in Mauii, Hawaii, was a load of crap!

You only had to look at Tyson's condition when he weighed in to see what sort of training he hadn't been doing!

 

Tyson regained the title in 1996 against Frank Bruno. I agree, especially after he molested the wal-mart worker old lady, and was photographed smoking weed with a bunch of hippies.

 

Tyson would be a borderline top 5 HW of all time.

 

He`s in my top 10 regardless of the Lewis fight.Lewis fought a shell of a man that night who took his beating with no complaints.

The Tyson that was trained by Kevin Rooney was an awesome heavyweight with plenty of speed, plenty of power and a very under rated jab.

 

It would have put in him in the top 5.

Although something tells me that it would detract more from Lewis's legacy more so than it would enhance Tyson. They perception would have been that Lewis's chin was always going to be a liability and that he was never a match for Tyson regardless of when they fought.

It would've been a big win but the damage to Lewis's legacy would give Mike Tyson's detractors reason to downplay it.

 

Yes.

 

Would've been a massive boost to Tyson. Top 5 pretty certain.

He'd have won heavyweight titles over three decades and become The Man again at the age of 36.

 

that isn't the question mate

 

Tyson would be the clearcut number 3 imo, only behind Louis and Ali.