2002 Lennox Lewis vs 1988 Mike Tyson

[Britkid]

I think Tyson might be too intimidated. He always struggled when top class fighters fought him with confidence. He really only beat Ruddock when faced with that type of challenge. I would take Lewis by fairly comfortable decision.

[X]

Lewis was a magnificent athlete and by 2002 Manny Stewart had made him into the best possible Lennox. He has a great post career reputation, mainly based on his being the undisputed champ .... And well deserved for that fact alone.

He was a big guy, used his weight well, good psyche, excellent skills and a heavy right hand, though he always needed room to use it. Chin was not excellent, but certainly not made of china.

BUT, the 1988 Tyson was a force of nature, the like of which boxing hasn't really seen before or since. He hadn't yet fallen into his bad habits inside the ring - forgetting his underrated boxing skills, looking for the on big punch, not firing combinations, no head movement. I don't believe he has trouble with big tall guys, he beat Smith, Tucker and Biggs very convincingly and they were as big as Lennox. Tony Tucker was a very very similar type of fighter to Lewis.

I like Lennox, but at the time he was always being criticised for being 'gun shy' and reluctant to engage. People see him through rose tinted glasses now (just like I probably do with him and Iron Mike lol). I always felt Lewis was a supreme athlete who happened to be boxing, whereas Tyson was all fighter right down to his marrow. At the time anyway.

I agree with people who think that if this fight went past 8, Lewis would probably be favoured. That's because of his great boxing skills rather than Tyson fading down the stretch. 1988 Tyson didn't get discouraged or fade down the stretch.

However, on the balance of probabilities, I don't think Lewis could keep 1988 Tyson off him for eight rounds. Lennox could be tentative, and that was one think Iron Mike wasn't. He would catch him solidly at some point early on ..... and that Tyson always finished guys off

[Britkid]

BUT, the 1988 Tyson was a force of nature, the like of which boxing hasn't really seen before or since.

I would beg to differ. Joe Louis was all this and would, unlike Tyson, be able to be to continue his peak run for a lot longer than Tyson. Also he managed victories in his declining years that sometimes compare to a lot of peak Tyson in name value.

Tyson was very good, but probably falls short of great; Louis is not 'just' great, but in the argument for being one of the ten finest fighters this sport has thus far seen.

[Primo Carnera]

I think Tyson might be too intimidated. He always struggled when top class fighters fought him with confidence. He really only beat Ruddock when faced with that type of challenge. I would take Lewis by fairly comfortable decision.

again, the thread clearly says the "1988 Tyson". I really don't recall Tyson being intimidated by anybody at that time, infact Completely the opposite. He intimidated every guy he fought up to then. Top class fighters that fought him with confidence? were there any? Berbick tried to be confident and copied Tyson Black boots, no socks to try to wind him up, and look what happened to him , and he was World Champion!!!!!!!
88 Tyson beats 2002 Lewis and The Best Tyson beats The Best Lewis!!!

[El Kabong]

again, the thread clearly says the "1988 Tyson". I really don't recall Tyson being intimidated by anybody at that time

Who had he fought to be intimidated by at that point? An older and out of shape Larry HolmesBonecrusher Smith Tyrell Biggs? At that time the division was far from flush with intimidating power punchers, it was the holdovers from the Holmes era and a bunch of young fighters who developed a little later than Tyson.


Mike Tyson was a force of nature, but don't forget there have been other boxers that have had that aura about them and vs better competition IMO....George Foreman was far and away more intimidating than Tyson. Sure Tyson beats Michael Spinks who went toe to toe with Holmes quickly...but Foreman just man handled Joe Frazier who beat Ali....Frazier being a TRUE heavyweight as well, one that took everything Ali threw at him and then some. Joe Louis made up for the lack of competition his era had with quantity and had he not given 3 of his prime years to be in the Army he could have had 30 or 40 consecutive successful title defenses!!! Joe Louis would KO you in 1 or he'd KO you in 12 or even later if needed, his power stayed around and his timing, accuracy, and delivery of that power were just things of beauty.

Mike Tyson gets overrated quite a bit, I like him but come on a Prime Lennox Lewis had all the tools to beat a Prime Tyson...height, reach, a good jab, good defense, strength, and power. I'd say Prime v Prime Lennox wins 8 out of 10 times vs Tyson.

[TitoFan]

again, the thread clearly says the "1988 Tyson". I really don't recall Tyson being intimidated by anybody at that time

Who had he fought to be intimidated by at that point? An older and out of shape Larry HolmesBonecrusher Smith Tyrell Biggs? At that time the division was far from flush with intimidating power punchers, it was the holdovers from the Holmes era and a bunch of young fighters who developed a little later than Tyson.


Mike Tyson was a force of nature, but don't forget there have been other boxers that have had that aura about them and vs better competition IMO....George Foreman was far and away more intimidating than Tyson. Sure Tyson beats Michael Spinks who went toe to toe with Holmes quickly...but Foreman just man handled Joe Frazier who beat Ali....Frazier being a TRUE heavyweight as well, one that took everything Ali threw at him and then some. Joe Louis made up for the lack of competition his era had with quantity and had he not given 3 of his prime years to be in the Army he could have had 30 or 40 consecutive successful title defenses!!! Joe Louis would KO you in 1 or he'd KO you in 12 or even later if needed, his power stayed around and his timing, accuracy, and delivery of that power were just things of beauty.

Mike Tyson gets overrated quite a bit, I like him but come on a Prime Lennox Lewis had all the tools to beat a Prime Tyson...height, reach, a good jab, good defense, strength, and power. I'd say Prime v Prime Lennox wins 8 out of 10 times vs Tyson.

I agree, but there's one missing factor...... mentality.

Tyson at his peak was unwavering. He fought some huge punchers (ie: Razor Ruddock), and still found the way and the will to win. With Lennox, you didn't know what you were going to get on fight night. Laser-focused and angry..... or lazy and lackadaisical. If you add the adjectives on 2002 Lewis, namely focused and determined..... THEN I would agree with Lewis winning 7 or 8 times out of 10. Otherwise forget it.

[El Kabong]

I agree, but there's one missing factor...... mentality.

Tyson at his peak was unwavering. He fought some huge punchers (ie: Razor Ruddock), and still found the way and the will to win. With Lennox, you didn't know what you were going to get on fight night. Laser-focused and angry..... or lazy and lackadaisical. If you add the adjectives on 2002 Lewis, namely focused and determined..... THEN I would agree with Lewis winning 7 or 8 times out of 10. Otherwise forget it.

Alright then, let's account for that then




All of that was bubbling under the surface, just 1 or 2 good shots away

[TitoFan]

Yeah, we all know Tyson was a head case.
Still, he never went into the ring unfocused or lackadaisical.

[ross]

I agree, but there's one missing factor...... mentality.

Tyson at his peak was unwavering. He fought some huge punchers (ie: Razor Ruddock), and still found the way and the will to win. With Lennox, you didn't know what you were going to get on fight night. Laser-focused and angry..... or lazy and lackadaisical. If you add the adjectives on 2002 Lewis, namely focused and determined..... THEN I would agree with Lewis winning 7 or 8 times out of 10. Otherwise forget it.

Alright then, let's account for that then




All of that was bubbling under the surface, just 1 or 2 good shots away

This is a 15 year old child.....

[mikeeod]

Back to the main point, Tyson would always have a punchers chance vs Lennox, so a Tyson win isn't out of the question. That being said, Lewis was much larger and would've come in against Tyson with a laser focus due to Mike being so dangerous. With both versions fighting their best fights, Lennox comes out ahead. Too many weapons, too smart, and too big for any version of Mike Tyson.

[El Kabong]

This is a 15 year old child.....

Yes and he was the youngest heavyweight champion of all time....just pointing out that a Tyson who wept before fights wasn't all that far in the past. But please feel free to elaborate on how Tyson grew emotionally and psychologically in the 7 years between this and 1988.

[Britkid]

I think Tyson might be too intimidated. He always struggled when top class fighters fought him with confidence. He really only beat Ruddock when faced with that type of challenge. I would take Lewis by fairly comfortable decision.

again, the thread clearly says the "1988 Tyson". I really don't recall Tyson being intimidated by anybody at that time, infact Completely the opposite. He intimidated every guy he fought up to then. Top class fighters that fought him with confidence? were there any? Berbick tried to be confident and copied Tyson Black boots, no socks to try to wind him up, and look what happened to him , and he was World Champion!!!!!!!
88 Tyson beats 2002 Lewis and The Best Tyson beats The Best Lewis!!!

Watch the old home footage of Tyson then, he was often terrified as he stood there waiting for the bell. D'Amato et al had a hard time just getting him in the ring (El Kabong posted an example of this, in the post below).

Although they did an excellent job boosting his self confidence I cannot believe Tyson was not constantly fighting with self doubt. Look at the way he behaved, you do not need to be a psychologist to see it was a bravado to hide his true feelings.

That said Tyson was indeed a phenomenon; with the fastest hands and feet seen this side of Ali, and them tools did get him out of any of the minor troubles he had in 85 through to 89 in the ring. But from Douglas on he could not control his demons enough not to affect his performances in the ring.

I would say that 'breakdown' would have occurred earlier if it had been mid 90s Holyfield, or a Steward version of Lewis, or indeed a 'Tokyo' Buster Douglas the other side of the ring in 85, 86, 87, 88 or 89.

[Vendettos]

1988 Tyson is the best HW of all time. Its like men vs machine.

[nmc231295]

Tyson.
always

[Fenster]

I said prime Tyson would start favourite over any boxer in history because in his pomp I believe he was the most spectacular, intimidating heavyweight ever.

However, that doesn't mean I think he would beat everyone. Not even close.

In 1988 Tyson beat an ancient (for those times) 225lbs Larry Holmes, a 240 fat Tony Tubbs and a 210 Spinks.

2002 Lennox Lewis is a 250lb athlete, unflappable, has superb skills, intelligent, a massive puncher and recognised as the best heavyweight on the planet, due to having beat everyone he'd ever faced.

I think it's fair to say in Tyson's pomp he never faced anyone close to Lewis.