Lewis-Tyson, Prime For Prime, Who Wins?

[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.

[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.

[eleven]

a prime tyson murders lewis in the 1st few rounds imo

[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.