Lennox Lewis responds to fan saying that Tyson was washed up when he beat him

Yeah, Patterson was a better boxer. More creative in how he set up his punches, better at cracking open an opponents guard, better at fighting on the inside, more educated footwork, better at making adjustments in the middle of the fight analyzing the opponent.

These are all purely mental things that a coach can't really drill into a student the way you can teach someone how to throw a proper hook. Tyson wasn't an instinctive fighter, nor was he a thinking fighter. He was a programmed soldier/robotic terminator who got lost when he deviated from his instructions or encountered a problem he couldn't simply overpower or which forced him to think. That's the main difference between Patterson and Tyson. To answer your question, I think Tyson would always struggle with the need to try and knock guys out quickly along with his tendencies to brawl.

It's easy to look at highlights and only look at Tyson's stunning blend of power, speed, and athleticism and assume he's the better fighter. He was simply more gifted and had the chin and talent to make up for most holes in his game plan. Tyson was a very hard worker when he was younger, but didn't have very many guys in his prime who could make him adapt and develop into a better fighter. That would always be a problem even if he improved on things like inside fighting, defense, etc. I think if Tyson came along in the early 90's it might have improved him in the long run with the wider variety of styles and having more elite fighters closer to his level to clash with.

 

Lewis gave those three title shots - they had no title to lose themselves and everything to gain. Lewis also, i'd bet, gave them career high paydays at the time they fought.

It's chalk and cheese, they were never ever going to say no.

 

That will sort him out Mark

 

Tyson is not great win fight of Lewis. just washed shot Tyson. yes Tyson avoid in 1996
but even also in the 1996 Tyson is not great. already untested since the prison & then Holyfield was small test he did fail it.
Lewis was not ready when Tyson was good champion in 1989.

 

is just a fame name & money
this is what is worth
not proof of greatness

Lewis has more good better wins

 

That's all true. And I do agree with you. But do you agree with me that it's a bit strange Lewis went to court to get the belts? Do you also agree that his own team could've made the deals with Bowe (a career high payday for Lewis himself) and Tyson (another huge career high payday)...?

There's plenty of documented evidence to support these claims.

 

yes he want green WBC belt most. even also while WBC was not always straight & forwards to keep promise. Lennox he love it that belt. always .

 

To be honest i am not overly sure. I've seen all sorts of opinion and "evidence" over the years going all sorts of ways.

 

The WBC was also the organization, with which Lewis was the Mandatory Challenger and had been for over a year, by this point in time.

People tend to forget that the WBC pushed Lewis aside, from his position as Mandatory Challenger, to allow Comeback Tyson to just step in as the number-1 contender and face Bruno (who had, by then, taken the title from McCall).

Contrary to the spin that some Lewis detractors like to put on this episode, Lewis was not attempting to gain the Titles through the courts, he was simply trying to maintain his position as Mandatory Challenger so he could fight for the WBC Title.

 

this is fair.
the belts is messy business. a chaos.

Bowe was give a bad treatment from WBC & threw it in the bin!
Haha
this is not Lennox Lewis fault
only the WBC