Would you consider 95-97 Tyson a con job

I blame the media. Con job? I don't think his comeback was meant to be that way. King rushed things and the media is known for exaggerating things.

 

Although King had the titles lined up for Mike to take, Mike still had to put the work in.

 

Yeah kind of. Seldon took a dive. McNeeley was a joke.
He beat Mathis cleanly and Bruno too.
Tyson was still fine physically.
But mentally he was weaker and not in condition anymore.

Also everyone underestimated holyfield. They thought he was shot when it was just a "temporary stamina problem"(or whatever you want to call it)
He was really the best HW in the world in 1996.
Bowe looked really bad vs Golota
And Holyfield gave Lewis a close enough fight in 99 that I would bet on evander in 96.

 

Why a a con job? Mathis jr was a good second tune-up and Bruno and Seldon were very legit opponents. Not Tyson's fault that Seldon shat his pants.

In the case of Holy, that was seen as an easy pay-day at the time, though.

 

Lewis beats holyfield every time styles just like evander beats tyson always

 

Don't think so. Evander was just too old in 1999 and didn't throw enough punches.
His big advantage over Lewis is footspeed and punch volume. Both of which were diminished by 99

Lewis advantages of power and size don't diminish with age but evanders biggest weapons age much worse.

Lewis in 99 was pretty much at his best. Evander had slipped and slowed down.

I don't see why a 93-96 evander who had the size and strength of 99 Holyfield but threw faster and more punches wouldn't do better?


But anyway my point is that evander was the best HW I. The world in1996 and that
Still stands. Lewis had just badly struggled with Mercer who Holyfield Beat with less trouble the year before.
Lewis had not fully peaked yet.

 

What about the second time they fought? Evander was arguably earned himself a share of the spoils that night.

 

no he beat the guys who were there. Not good guys really. He still had power and tested a guys chin early.

 

I was surprised Evander could go 24 rounds with Lennox. Evander was more elusive than anyone ever gave him credit for.

 

I think that 96 lewis was better than 96 holyfield

 

I think he was an EX-con by 1995

 

Yup and had he been 3 years younger he would have won it. Lewis can not keep up with a younger holyfields workrate. He would gass out, hes not riddick bowe.

But he's entitled to his opinion.

 

He was much easier to frustrate and and tired earlier but yeah he was still incredibly dangerous in the first few rounds.

Physically he hadn't lost much,
technically he looked good in the bite fight, jabbing, moving his head and in phenomenal shape
But his mind and his willpower was just not there after prison and as the saying goes boxing is 80% mental.

 

No. But he was n't as good as he was in late 80s.