why prime mike beats lewis

I think Lewis' ability to keep the distance between them to his liking is something even prime Mike could not have overcome.

 

I can't find the link but I do recall Lewis saying that the only reason he took as long as he did to get rid of Tyson was because he hurt his right hand during the fight and it took a round or two to get used to the pain involved in throwing it with full force.

The fight itself was a text book demonstration of how Lewis would have beaten Tyson at anytime they fought. Lewis would have done virtually the same thing, because that was the strategy. Lewis used his size, he used the upper cut and he bullyed the bully.

It was Tyson would was hurt after the first round, not Lewis.

It was Lewis who was bullying and intimidating Tyson, not the other way around.

And it was Tyson who said he could never beat Lewis in his prime, although in all fairness I tend to discount those type of comments coming right after a loss.

But my thoughts aside, I give Tyson full props for never giving up in a fight and going out on his shield rather than quit. And Tyson certainly was more dangerous in his prime than he was during that fight, but then again, neither fighter was in their primes.

 

Look I don't know how old you are but I'm in my mid 40's and I grew up watching Tyson in his prime. He was truly awesome. I also grew up watching Lewis, as I'm actually a few years older than both. Lewis in his youth was far faster than he was near the end of his career. In fact he was unusual in that when he got older his skills improved such that it appeared that his prime was 10-12 years. It really wasn't, but that was the perception.

As to Tyson, I don't recall not seeing any of his fights, he certainly commanded attention. As to whether or not Lewis could do to Tyson what he did when they actually fought, it depends. Tyson wasn't overly comfortable when fighters weren't intimidated and even less so when they fought back in the manner that Lewis would have. I don't discount that Tyson would win, he certainly would if he could get inside and load up, but it's really a close call. If I had to put money on it, I would probably pick Lewis because I think the strategy he fought during their fight was the perfect blue print for a victory. But truthfully, I wouldn't bet a lot of money on either fighter.

The big different is the size. Lewis probably used his size better than any fighter I've ever seen, and he also had tons of power to go with this. As you seen when they fought, it's tough for someone even as skilled as Tyson to continuing get inside and load up with Lewis has both an excellent jab, and excellent upper cut and is willing to manhandle and tie him up. Baring Lewis getting hit with something he doesn't see coming, which is certainly possible, I think he wins.

As to the fight itself, you're doing a great dis-service to compare Smith's fighting ability to Lewis'. Smith's jabs were slow and ponderous and he never used his size at all and never threw any punches with anywhere near the authority Lewis throws them. In fact I don't see anything in this fight that would lead me to change my analysis. Have you even seen the fight between Lewis and Tyson? The quality of punches in term of power that Lewis throws is in a whole different league than Smiths.

 

I pick Tyson by KO over Lewis because I think Tysons offensive ability is too much, but it would be a tough fight.

Lewis was the most skilled big man EVER.

 

A far sillier argument is, "Tyson managed to last 8 one-sided rounds before being brutally KO'd, that means he would've won easily back in his prime." :think

 

The fight did show that Tyson would have to take a substantial beating from Lewis before falling, though...

 

So, when exactly did there exist this "prime Tyson"?

Methinks the indoctinated believe it was when he was launching d-level stubblebums, old former greats, blownup light heavies and drug addicts into the stratosphere.

I don't buy that hype. Ruddock gave Tyson a variety of problems that would have been legion were he to face Lewis. A b-rater in Douglas, who would be lucky to carry Lewis' lunchpail, beat Tyson to a pulp with much of the strategy Lewis had made into an art.

I would favor a motivated Lewis over any version of Tyson.

 

Well I can certainly see a Lewis KO victory happening. I also saw a Douglas KO victory as well. I honestly don't see a decision. It seems to me if they fought in their primes it likely wouldn't go the distance, if it did, I would actually pick Lewis to win because it would have meant that Tyson couldn't have gotten inside and Lewis' jab and upper cut would have frustrated him.

 

Not really, it's still damn silly.

Anyway, the argument you posted needs some sprucing up too:

"An older, slow, faded lewis beat a shot, over-weight, lumbering mike tyson, thus he does the same thing to a peak Tyson."

 

Tyson in his prime would had very little trouble finding lewis suspect chin because of his tremendous handspeed. This, combined with awesome punching power and excellent defensive skills, spell an early tyson victory, probably within 5.

 

I agree 100%

Tyson floors him