Mike Tyson('88) vs Lennox Lewis('95)

ive always said that prime vs prime lewis doesnt make the 5th round , he simply hasnt got the chin to take tysons power

 

Prime Mike takes it by brutal KO. I rate Lennox highly despite his shaky whiskers, but Mike at his best was another animal. His footwork and head movement were sublime, his hand speed would have given Lennox fits, and he could break big, tall guys down with that body-body-head hook combo that he loved to throw. Lennox's jab wouldn't land with the regularity needed to keep Tyson at bay and he'd fall victim by the sixth.

 

Lewis by late ko/tko.

the mystical "Prime" Tyson is greatly overrated by a generation that grew up watching his highlight reel.

 

Tyson and Lewis represent nightmares stylistically for each other.

 

its one of those fights that could last 1 round or go the full distance :rasta

 

Tyson smashes his glass jaw into fine dust

That lazy stupid jab isn't going to keep Tyson from getting in range and mauling him ... it took Lewis 8 rounds to beat shot, overweight, zombie Tyson and Tyson even stopped fighting after the 3rd round ... prime Tyson would've connected clean and destroyed him

Lewis was feeding off guys that Tyson had already beaten at their best, like Tucker, Bruno, Ruddock, Biggs etc.

Bums like Shannon Briggs gave Lewis trouble and Tysons sparring partner Oliver McCall put him down and away ... Ray Mercer arguably beat him ... prime Tyson would easily score a KO victory, he hits far harder than Rahman, McCall and is more aggressive and a better pressure fighter than Mercer ... no one ever stopped Tyson from getting in range and getting his punches off, not even Lewis in 2002 when Tyson was on drugs and only there for the cash.

No one from the human race, past, present or future can beat a prime 1988 Iron Mike Tyson in a boxing match.

 

i know im gonna get alot **** for this but **** it
:yep i dont give a **** who you pick from the history books of the sweet science tyson+rooney= unbeatable :thumbsup only my opinion of course

 

Had Tyson gotten a few more fights in preparation for the Lewis fight we might have even seen a different result of Tyson vs Lewis

Mike's last fight before that was with Brian Nielsen and Mike was fighting at the heaviest weight of his career at nearly 240 lbs ... more than 20 lbs heavier than his fighting weight against Spinks ... Mike was at the second heaviest weight of his career against Lewis and had clearly lost the speed, agility, and skills that he possessed in his prime.

 

This and your prior comment.
It amazes me how many fans still want to believe that MT was such an ATG. He also has this very short prime - it was over when he was 23? :huh

The rest is more myth than reality - just look at the votes MT by T/KO vs LL by T/KO atsch

 

i somewhat agree if tyson was more focused at fighting lewis rather than getting a payday like the tyson that fought ruddock it would have been a more interesting fight possibly lasting the distance im not saying that tyson would have won but it could have been a possibility the only way i truly see tyson beating lewis is only with kevin rooney in his corner

 

WTF was Lewis prime?? Between getting KTFO by McCall and then Rahman??

He was beaten by Mercer, shaken by Shannon Briggs, and and barely squeaked by Holyfield in their second fight

What was his most impressive fight? When he fought a shot Razor Ruddock or an Andrew Golota who had toxic levels of local anesthetics in him?

Anyone who judges Tyson based on his performances against Lewis and Holyfield knows nothing about boxing ... these guys would've been part of Tysons extensive highlight reel if they had ever met in the late 80s

 

You think Lewis would be able to take the bombs that Ruddock did? Mike was still getting off combinations during that time and showed some head movement and defensive skill. Anyone that tried to fight Mike with Rooney in his corner either went in there looking to survive by holding or was stopped early. Only guys that were competitive were James Tillis and Tony Tucker, who were mobile, athletic and had excellent chins. Lewis is athletic for his size but doesn't have the durability. Holyfield would tend to trade during the early 90s and would get KTFO.

The Tyson with Rooney from about 86-88 would beat Lewis and Holyfield ... and so would the Tyson of 89 and the Ruddock fights. I think the Mike that fought in England would've had a great shot against Lewis.

 

If, as you put it earlier, "no one from the human race, past, present or future can beat a prime 1988 Iron Mike Tyson in a boxing match" then are you going out of your way to ridicule Lewis and rubbish the level of his opposition to make the argument that the 1988 version Tyson would beat him?

 

i think he could of course tyson would first have to land those shots besides did you forget the mercer fight lewis took some good shots there and lasted the distance of course i remember scoring that fight a draw i dont think tyson from 89 would beat holyfield tho it would be a hell of a slugfest what makes you so sure the tyson that fought julius francis would a have a shot against lewis? :think

 

Even post prime,post prison Tyson was able to win WBC and WBA world titles.
So yeah he had a short prime but he did it younger than anyone. 20 years old he was WBC champ. Lineal title soon followed.