Peak Tyson V Peak Lewis

Exactly right. And part of that is that he seemed content to let bigger men just shove him backwards and then restart from THEIR range rather than fight to keep the fight in HIS range. With someone as huge and strong and skilled as Lewis this has Tyson hustling all night to impose his game.

Still, 1980s Tyson got to everybody eventually (except Bonehugger, who highlighted Tyson's lack of inside game).

 

He didn't get to Tucker either.

I see Lewis wearing him down with the same tactics as actually happened. Ugly fight, lots of holding, leaning, frustrating and bullying up close culminating in Tyson being counted out. It's a big ask for Tyson given Lewis' size, tactics and immense power.

 

You mean Tyson didn't KO Tucker? As I recall he outjabbed Tucker and hit him solidly a number of times.
Which is not to say that I have any bone to pick with your view on the hypothetical at bar. I could see it going that way, except probably a UD rather than KO.