Lewis-Tyson, Prime For Prime, Who Wins?

[littlebif]

Alot of people will probaly disagree ,I think Lewis stood a good chance of koing a prime Tyson.Lewis had a great jab and followed it up with a right uppercut he could catch Tyson on the way in and hurt him.If Lewis survived the first 4 rounds i would favour Lewis to wear him down and fustrate the hell out of Mike.

[WelshDevilRob]

I've seen all of their fights with exception of the Sims fight for Tyson and the Garber fight for Lennox. Neither was televised I believe (If anyone has them then please Upload them)

I watched both fighters careers from the early stages, Lewis from the beginning. Tyson's once he started to make a name for himself before becoming champion.

I intruth never liked Mike when he was champion but over the years have realised and recognised what he brought to the sport and he was huge for us. The man was phenomenal as a fighter - he wasn't though unbeatable in his prime years.

Lennox is my favourite fighter of all time - I doubt I will support anyother fighter the same in my lifetime. The mans ability was remarkable - he adapted to his opponents and made relatively tough fights look comfortable.

Anyway - Who wins? Lennox and the difference is adaptability - Lennox had it and Tyson didn't. If Tyson can't bulldoze Lennox out of there he can't do anything else and would get outboxed. Lewis was a superb ring general and would have controlled the fight.

[Spicoli]

I think a huge advantage would be Lewis mentality,Lewis could get gritty when hurt,very confident.In that category,I think he blows Tyson out of the water.Lewis could be too relaxed in spots,and got blasted for it, but Tyson would have him on springs,and staying sharp with threat of KO.Tyson could be stung and for a second would fall into that tucked glove,stand straight,bob-bob and then come in....rinse repeat.Instinct, name association as well as the fact that Lewis looked like a bug on the windshield with McCall and Rahman...right away says that Lewis gets clipped and KO'd from an onrushing Tyson coming underneath his reach,killing body.....But I'm swaying towards Lewis to stay on point,keep a disciplined hard jab and get Tyson hurt midway/or late for a tko.

[ICB]

Tyson does it without even inhaling for breath. Lewis could not have dealt with him in the least. Might have taken a few rounds but once the chin is checked, it's chin check out time.

James Tillis had a suspect chin yet his size, movement, jab, gave an almost prime Mike Tyson fits

[Nameless]

I will be on the unpopular side, I think Lewis could win; Most of Tyson's opponents were shit scared of him and lost long before entering the Ring. Lewis isn't exactly that type plus, he has the worst style ever for Tyson; Long, powerful with an excellent jab to break the rhythm and ... clench when too close. I think he would have had a good chance to pull it with the bell around his waist.

[BoomBoom]

Tysons biggest flaw imo is that he couldnt deal with speed himself. most of the guys he beat easily were slow to bring there punches back, and Tyson had no problem getting underneath a slow jab, right hand, or a wide hook. Tillis showed that a fast, solid jab was the way to beat Tyson. Lewis had the right punch to beat Tyson, no doubt, but It would be a case of how he dealt with the pressure of Mike and if he could weather the storms.

[ICB]

Tysons biggest flaw imo is that he couldnt deal with speed himself. most of the guys he beat easily were slow to bring there punches back, and Tyson had no problem getting underneath a slow jab, right hand, or a wide hook. Tillis showed that a fast, solid jab was the way to beat Tyson. Lewis had the right punch to beat Tyson, no doubt, but It would be a case of how he dealt with the pressure of Mike and if he could weather the storms.

James Tillis was a poor mans version of Larry Holmes or Muhammad Ali, he had good movement and some good boxing skills. But he did have a suspect chin and even more suspect stamina.

He said he changed his routine for the Mike Tyson fight, regarding his diet and ETC. And that did seem to make a difference, because he was trading with Mike Tyson in the final seconds of the 10th round. And it seemed like he could of gone the full 12 rounds.

I actually think the fight was quite close and its a shame James Tillis, done his trademark wild swinging left hook and got caught with a counter shot while being off balance. Because the 4th round was one of his best rounds until that moment.

I think that fight proved Mike Tyson would of been beaten by the likes of Larry Holmes, Lennox Lewis, Muhammad Ali. Because Mike Tyson was almost in his prime then. Because he did win the title in the same year he fought James Tillis.

[BoomBoom]

Tysons biggest flaw imo is that he couldnt deal with speed himself. most of the guys he beat easily were slow to bring there punches back, and Tyson had no problem getting underneath a slow jab, right hand, or a wide hook. Tillis showed that a fast, solid jab was the way to beat Tyson. Lewis had the right punch to beat Tyson, no doubt, but It would be a case of how he dealt with the pressure of Mike and if he could weather the storms.

James Tillis was a poor mans version of Larry Holmes or Muhammad Ali, he had good movement and some good boxing skills. But he did have a suspect chin and even more suspect stamina.

He said he changed his routine for the Mike Tyson fight, regarding his diet and ETC. And that did seem to make a difference, because he was trading with Mike Tyson in the final seconds of the 10th round. And it seemed like he could of gone the full 12 rounds.

I actually think the fight was quite close and its a shame James Tillis, done his trademark wild swinging left hook and got caught with a counter shot while being off balance. Because the 4th round was one of his best rounds until that moment.

I think that fight proved Mike Tyson would of been beaten by the likes of Larry Holmes, Lennox Lewis, Muhammad Ali. Because Mike Tyson was almost in his prime then. Because he did win the title in the same year he fought James Tillis.

I cant argue with that. Tillis did come closer than anyone else to a winnable fight vs Mike or at least a draw. I think I had it 6-4 for Tyson.

[Master]

You are reading way too much from the Tillis fight, he did have an ear infection and it was a bad night. Lewis had trouble with Mercer and Holyfield the second time. It happens.

[ono]

Prime Tyson would scare the life out of the prime Lewis.

During his prime, pre-Buster Douglas, Tyson preyed on them big guys. He had difficulty versus scrappers and crafty/slick big heavyweights. I do not see Lewis as such, and if Lewis was knocked out by a "Rahman" just like that, imagine what Tyson with his "imagined" aura of invincibilty, would have done to him.

Tyson, easy KO.

So his prime lasted til he was 23? Then because he lost it was decided he was past his prime?

This is what makes me laugh about people going over the top for Tyson. It's not like even burnt himself out as an amateur.

You not think it's the fact that as he aged he fought tougher opposition and that resulted in him not looking so formidable?

If Oliver McCall having a breakdown right infront of him didn't scare him, Iron Mike aint got no hope in hell.

[ICB]

Tysons biggest flaw imo is that he couldnt deal with speed himself. most of the guys he beat easily were slow to bring there punches back, and Tyson had no problem getting underneath a slow jab, right hand, or a wide hook. Tillis showed that a fast, solid jab was the way to beat Tyson. Lewis had the right punch to beat Tyson, no doubt, but It would be a case of how he dealt with the pressure of Mike and if he could weather the storms.

James Tillis was a poor mans version of Larry Holmes or Muhammad Ali, he had good movement and some good boxing skills. But he did have a suspect chin and even more suspect stamina.

He said he changed his routine for the Mike Tyson fight, regarding his diet and ETC. And that did seem to make a difference, because he was trading with Mike Tyson in the final seconds of the 10th round. And it seemed like he could of gone the full 12 rounds.

I actually think the fight was quite close and its a shame James Tillis, done his trademark wild swinging left hook and got caught with a counter shot while being off balance. Because the 4th round was one of his best rounds until that moment.

I think that fight proved Mike Tyson would of been beaten by the likes of Larry Holmes, Lennox Lewis, Muhammad Ali. Because Mike Tyson was almost in his prime then. Because he did win the title in the same year he fought James Tillis.

I cant argue with that. Tillis did come closer than anyone else to a winnable fight vs Mike or at least a draw. I think I had it 6-4 for Tyson.

Yea i had the same score aswell its the 4th round that hurt James Tillis, regarding the scoring because he was winning that round easily. And that was probably his best round and he hurt Mike Tyson with some body shots if i remember rightly.

But he got dropped because he threw an amateurish wild left hook, and payed the price rightly but if he wouldn't of thrown that sloppy left hook. I think it may of been a draw i think people forget about this fight, it was actually quite close regarding the scoring.

And Tony Tucker himself was beating Mike Tyson, until he broke his right hand and went into a defensive shell. If i remember rightly i thought he won 3 out of the first 5 rounds, and i had him winning the last round which made my scoring 116-112.

But imagine if Tony Tucker hadn't broke his right hand could he have beaten Mike Tyson ? and he's one of the only few men who managed to rock a prime Mike Tyson aswell. But credit to Mike Tyson he took that uppercut very well. It was a hell of shot and he actually got lifted off his feet aswell, so that shows you Mike Tyson had a pretty good chin it was just his heart. Which was his downfall.

[El Kabong]

You are reading way too much from the Tillis fight, he did have an ear infection and it was a bad night. Lewis had trouble with Mercer and Holyfield the second time. It happens.

Lewis also had a slow start vs Frank Bruno. But vs Mercer and Holyfield, those guys were very good BOXERS not that Mike wasn't but Holyfield is cagey as hell even then and Mercer #1 was a top amateur boxer and #2 had a hell of a chin and #3 Had a very good jab that gave Lewis fits.

I just think looking at the STYLE of let's say Tony Tucker and seeing how he fought Tyson it compares better than how Lewis fought vs Holyfield and Mercer.

[KananKrus]

"So his prime lasted til he was 23? Then because he lost it was decided he was past his prime?"

The loss to Buster Douglas was an abyss for Mike Tyson that he was never able to crawl out of. He lost his shield of invincibilty.

After the Douglas affair, every heavyweight in the boxing world had their sights on Mike for the money. The "scare", the "loss inevitabilty", and the fear for life and limb is no longer! They knew that there is a chink in Mike's armor, he was brought down, he will again be with the right game plan. While prior to, everyone was scared "sheetless", bar none!

Going over the top if you will, but to live in that era a fan as I was, is to understand this phenomena without trepidation, without hesitation.

In reality even before the Douglas fight, when Tyson unwittingly shed all the boxing people in his contingent, and hob-knobbed with SOB's,
was the beginning of his fall in boxing. Even before his loss to Buster Douglas in Tokyo!

Yes, in answer to the above... Mike lost his prime at 23. If at all was his age in that fight.

[THE THIRD MAN]

The Tyson of 1987 KOs Lewis inside 5 rounds, never really understood the praise Lewis gets heaped upon him, he was as slow as a sloth in a South American rain forest. Tyson would have smashed him before 'slowcoach' could get out of the way. If McCall and Rahman could KO Lewis then i see no problem for a prime Tyson!

[bikersk]

Lewis schooled Tyson in his prime in sparring. Lewis schooled Tyson and KO'd him out of his prime. Question answered.