Prime Tyson vs prime Lennox

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Jeff3300, Sep 18, 2014.


Page 1 of 2
  1. Jeff3300

    Jeff3300 Guest

    There's a lot to factor in. Both at their primes:
    - Lewis was still about 20-25-lbs heavier and knew how to use his weight (it had him getting winded and take a middle round off here or there)
    - Tyson was in top condition and had better balance and stamina.
    - Tyson moved his head not his just hands; he was hard to hit and when he was hit, he took it well.
    - Lewis had already learned his lesson about throwing with guys and was cautious which kept him from getting careless, so he could cut you up as long as he was able to lead at a slow and steady pace.
    - Tyson's mind was still in boxing at that point (before the women, drugs, and the leeches got to him)
    - Lewis had Steward which negates the Ko loss to Mcall (who was trained by Steward) but not the KO loss to Rachman (Poor training?)
    - Tyson had Rooney, Jacobs and other support to keep his head straight.Tyson had less reason to be afraid--he was always mentally insecure but in the right settings (trainer, polished skills, no distractions) he was a machine.
    - Is the ref going to allow Lewis to clinch/ hold/lean like he did with Evander to sap away his opponents legs?
    - Will the ref allow intimidation tactics from tyson (no arm bars in his prime but definitely forearms).
    - Height/Reach would have been an advantage for Lewis; Tyson was no sitting duck like Tua (Who was also 30-35lbs over his prime weight)

    There's a lot of stuff to be taken to into account. The more I take into account, the more I lean towards tyson. No annihilation or obliteration. Lewis was good at playing chess when he was given time and space. He knew to pick apart the brawlers and bum rush the guys with the jitters. It just seems that with the prime stipulation, Tyson's stock seems to rise more than Lewis'. Most people don't remember tyson being a student of the game and boxing because all they remember are the one punch knockouts and scared opponents taking a beating, then folding. Make no mistake, many of those guys knew they stood to gain more by beating tyson than losing to them. Don't think they didn't train, try or plot to. Tyson in his prime needed a less specific set of circumstances in order to be successful. He went about his work the same way no matter what the opponent brought. Tyson would have less issues about fighting a Prime Lewis with a height and weight advantage than Lewis would have trying to negate the pressure from a Prime Tyson. Just My opinion.
     
    Jeff3300, Sep 18, 2014
    Jeff3300, Sep 18, 2014
    #1
  2. HerolGee

    HerolGee Loyal Member banned Full Member

    41,974
    4,029
    Sep 22, 2010
    though guys like Wlad and Lewis had some of the tools to beat prime Tyson, I am not sure they would use them well at the time when Tyson was prime.

    Half the battle with Mike was fear of what he would do to you, and I think Lewis would offer him too much respect for too many rounds to really dominate him.

    SO I say touch and go, either way. though lewis as I said has the tools to win rounds off Tyson from round 1, I don't think that in the 80s (time machine travel not teenage lewis) lewis would be able to hold back from running from Tyson for most of the fight. I think Lewis confidence builds as the fight goes on, and he can win mid to late rounds once he feels he can win.

    But whether he can recover from giving Tyson too much room to roam early on is another thing.
     
    HerolGee, Sep 18, 2014
    HerolGee, Sep 18, 2014
    #2
  3. Sangria

    Sangria You bleed like Mylee Full Member

    9,019
    3,844
    Nov 13, 2010
    Sangria, Sep 18, 2014
    Sangria, Sep 18, 2014
    #3
  4. HerolGee

    HerolGee Loyal Member banned Full Member

    41,974
    4,029
    Sep 22, 2010
    its so bizarre how all these huge men lived in fear of someone who was 5 feet 11.


    that's my size (with my big trainers on), what a joke,
     
    HerolGee, Sep 18, 2014
    HerolGee, Sep 18, 2014
    #4
  5. Wass1985

    Wass1985 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    14,436
    2,839
    Feb 18, 2012
    Exactly, most the fighters were beat before they ever got in the ring with him.

    Bonecrusher Smith was embarrassing, big guy like that hanging on for dear life. What's the worst that can happen? Get knocked out! I'd rather give it my all and go out on my shield. The first punch he threw with venom had Tyson stunned, he even admitted on Ringside that he fell for the hype and should have gone out aggressively.
     
    Wass1985, Sep 18, 2014
    Wass1985, Sep 18, 2014
    #5
  6. pablod

    pablod Active Member Full Member

    788
    14
    Nov 14, 2011
    I think an early win for Tyson, lewis was too sloppy defensively I think Tyson would've exposed this early
     
    pablod, Sep 18, 2014
    pablod, Sep 18, 2014
    #6
  7. LightsOutJack

    LightsOutJack Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,636
    3
    Feb 21, 2014
    It's a very winnable fight for Lewis, and he may even deserve to be favored, but we're talking 40-60 if not 45-55...

    Lewis would have to hug Tyson like there was no tomorrow to survive early, than he would just beat on him in the later rounds.

    Tyson's biggest character flaw even in his prime was how he chose not to work in clinches
     
    LightsOutJack, Sep 18, 2014
    LightsOutJack, Sep 18, 2014
    #7
  8. Sangria

    Sangria You bleed like Mylee Full Member

    9,019
    3,844
    Nov 13, 2010
    I agree to an extent. Rooney had him working on that as Tyson was improving with each fight. Watch Tyson-Tubbs to see what Tyson can do on the inside. He was getting better until after Spinks.
     
    Sangria, Sep 18, 2014
    Sangria, Sep 18, 2014
    #8
  9. Berlenbach

    Berlenbach Boxing Addict Full Member

    3,191
    1,252
    Sep 27, 2011
    Tyson by KO.
     
    Berlenbach, Sep 18, 2014
    Berlenbach, Sep 18, 2014
    #9
  10. Entaowed

    Entaowed Boxing Addict banned Full Member

    6,837
    4,174
    Dec 16, 2012
    yes Tyson had the speed, power & defense to be the favorite, & his endurance was not bad when prime.

    Guys got psyched & it hurt them, but it is rediculous to use his height as any ins\dication of his threat. A natural talent highly trained & focued with tremendous speed & excellent power, might as well just pick any tall or overweight/fat guy & say he could match up well. Nah, only very few men in the world could beat Tyson until this century.

    I think Tua's ideal weight was 220-225, heavily muscled & at most 5' 10". Thus he was about 20, not 30-35 lbs. overweight vs. Lewis, unless he had lost muscle, but I think he did not.
     
    Entaowed, Sep 19, 2014
    Entaowed, Sep 19, 2014
    #10
  11. frank

    frank Active Member Full Member

    688
    3
    Jul 12, 2012
    actually 5' 10"!
     
    frank, Sep 19, 2014
    frank, Sep 19, 2014
    #11
  12. Entaowed

    Entaowed Boxing Addict banned Full Member

    6,837
    4,174
    Dec 16, 2012
    Met Tyson, he does not seem less than 5' 11" min. Bulky, fights in a crouch & against btaller men, which makes him look smaller.
     
    Entaowed, Sep 19, 2014
    Entaowed, Sep 19, 2014
    #12
  13. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    25,131
    8,585
    Jul 17, 2009
    Hard one to call. I lean slightly towards Tyson. His superior speed could be the decider. I could easily change on this one,though.
     
    Stevie G, Sep 20, 2014
    Stevie G, Sep 20, 2014
    #13
  14. David Hanssen

    David Hanssen Guest

    Lewis in his prime beats Mike in his prime. The question here is who did Mike beat in his prime...he never fought any one that was close to a Prime Lewis....all I remember Tyson fighting was against over the hill bums and a blown up Light Heavyweight (WOW).....the first time Tyson fought any one resembling a pure boxer was Buster Douglas and we all know what happened in that fight. Lets face it Mike was well matched in a pretty dire time for good quality heavyweights. Lewis fought everyone in a time where there were more challenges than that of when Tyson fought in his prime.

    Tyson would always find it difficult against a tall strong boxer type because Tyson was basically a small mediocre heavyweight with short arms.

    Job Biscuit (Lewis wins every time)!!!
     
    David Hanssen, Sep 22, 2014
    David Hanssen, Sep 22, 2014
    #14
  15. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

    51,113
    25,279
    Jan 3, 2007
    Both men were past their best in their actual meeting in 2002. But I think Tyson was thoroughly shot while Lennox still had some gas in the tank. Its a winnable fight for both men but I'd have to favor the late 80's Tyson over any rendition of Lewis narrowly. Lots of tools for dealing with bigger men and in this case, one that had a shaky chin at times.
     
    mr. magoo, Sep 22, 2014
    mr. magoo, Sep 22, 2014
    #15
Page 1 of 2