Prime Mike Tyson vs Prime Lennox Lewis

The ref would have a big influence on this fight. If Lewis could tie up Tyson in the first 4-5 rounds, lean on him etc, I think he'd win the fight on points or late stoppage as Tyson tired. If the ref stops Lewis doing this he would be vulnerable to being taken out early.

The problem I have with this prime-4-prime scenario is Tyson's was very short and early in his career while Lewis evolved over years into the ATG he became.

For me Tyson's prime was 86-88 and he had started to decline pre-Bruno 1. But the 86-88 Tyson? I'd slightly favour that version in this match-up especially if he's not stopped from working in the early rounds....

 

Lewis wouldn’t approach a fight with prime Mike Tyson in the bored, disinterested lackadaisical manner that saw him lose to McCall and Rahman! A fit and focussed prime Lewis would be in the opposite corner to Mike and that version of Lennox isn’t getting beat.

On the other hand, a prime Tyson was frustrated by lesser fighters than Lewis like Mitch Green, James Tillis & Tony Tucker who were tall heavyweights who boxed behind a long jab but none of them had Lewis’s confidence, class or power.

Lewis punishes Tyson from the outside, landing big rights and the occasional uppercut as Mike rushed in. After smothering Tyson for 7 or 8 rounds I could see Lewis dishing out some nasty punishing shots.

Lewis by late TKO or UD

 

Peak Lewis [late enough for the full benefits of Manny to have taken effect, early enough for him to still have good athleticism], I guess around the time of say the Golota and Briggs fights, was a fairly horrendous matchup for anyone. Beatable if he got casual but only just, e.g. people often cite the Rahman loss but he was nearly 36 by then, I think he'd lost a goodly amount of speed and workrate.

Peak Tyson [say at the time of the Spinks fight] was probably just as formidable in his own way.

Overall I think Lewis would probably have taken it through strict adherence to 'jab and grab', provided he got through the handful of first rounds.

 

Prime Mike could always have a shot at knocking anyone out, Lewis is no exception. Lewis has lost to much lesser men. That being said, a tuned in prime Lennox would in my opinion still be favoured to ko Mike Tyson.
Too big, to slick, too methodical, too good

 

This.

 

Disagree Lewis had plenty of trouble with mercer. Who was smaller and technically very simple but determined.

Tyson could jab with a really good tall boxer on the outside at his best(tucker, Biggs). He was more elusive. Quick feet. He was dangerous for 8-10rounds instead of just 5(post prison Vs Holyfield) or 1 round(Vs Lewis and Danny Williams).

Tyson only needs to stay competitive, either Lewis' chin(Tyson eventually lands the bomb) or tentativeness(Lewis is too defensive and loses on points like tucker or Smith) cost him the fight

He had much more heart and desire (Ruddock, Douglas) and threw bombs until basically completely dead.

 

Mercer fought nothing like Tyson and I think that's another fight Lewis sleptwalked into.

 

Lennox.

 

Lewis would have beaten Tyson at any point. Mike had trouble with tall guys and boxers.
Lewis was both and more talented than anybody else Tyson fought.

 

Lewis probably. Lewis would get hurt at some point though, but he had good survival instincts

 

A prime Tyson gets a lot of hype for his power, but he was really a speed demon. And he was also hard to hit clean, on top of having an iron chin. Lewis was very good technically and he fought well for being a tall fighter with a good jab and right hand. But I think he gets clipped against a prime Tyson. I don't really think Lewis was all that durable to be honest. He was hurt in other fights besides the ones where he got KTFO (like Briggs and Tucker for example). And against a prime Tyson, you need to absorb at least 5 or so rounds of damage to have any shot. And I don't think that is any version of Lennox Lewis.

 

Lewis would have beaten Tyson at any point. Tysons prime gets overrated (although still an ATG HW).

 

Lewis though it would be very close as I believe a prime Tyson has the ability to defeat anyone.

 

Lewis all day

 

It Would be the Wlad formula all over again.

Lewis UD.