Tyson of 1988 versus Lewis of 1999

[Spicoli]

Tyson had been in jail for 3 plus years when he faced Holyfield, he had been out of boxing for various reasons for 5 plus against Lewis. Those wins don't mean all that much as Tyson was done. Tyson had years of skills erosion, whilst those other two were refining their craft. They never met at equal junctures in their careers. Tyson beats both of them prime on prime.

Revisionanist history much Hindsight is a wonderful thing but ya just can't have it both ways. After a "shot" Holyfield who was being called a walking dead man going in, then yes, Tysons skills had hastily eroded.

I'd have loved a prime for prime Holyfield vs Tyson...if only Mike had not backed out years earlier.

[generalbulldog]

Tyson had been in jail for 3 plus years when he faced Holyfield, he had been out of boxing for various reasons for 5 plus against Lewis. Those wins don't mean all that much as Tyson was done. Tyson had years of skills erosion, whilst those other two were refining their craft. They never met at equal junctures in their careers. Tyson beats both of them prime on prime.

Revisionanist history much Hindsight is a wonderful thing but ya just can't have it both ways. After a "shot" Holyfield who was being called a walking dead man going in, then yes, Tysons skills had hastily eroded.

I'd have loved a prime for prime Holyfield vs Tyson...if only Mike had not backed out years earlier.

Yeah, many people were worried for Holyfield's life because he didn't look that good in the Bobby Cyz fight. Holyfield was considered to be a shot fighter with stamina and heart problems going into that 1st Tyson fight. Also Tyson was quickly regaining his aura of invincibility after knocking out 2 hw title holders in Bruno and Seldon in spectacular fashion and had 2 of the 3 hw titles.

Here's a fun fact. Jose Torres and Floyd Patterson gave the opinion that Mike Tyson would always lose to a Evander Holyfield no matter when they would have fought because Holyfield had the right style and tools to beat Tyson. 2 Cus Damato fighters said that.

[ross]

Tyson had been in jail for 3 plus years when he faced Holyfield, he had been out of boxing for various reasons for 5 plus against Lewis. Those wins don't mean all that much as Tyson was done. Tyson had years of skills erosion, whilst those other two were refining their craft. They never met at equal junctures in their careers. Tyson beats both of them prime on prime.

Revisionanist history much Hindsight is a wonderful thing but ya just can't have it both ways. After a "shot" Holyfield who was being called a walking dead man going in, then yes, Tysons skills had hastily eroded.

I'd have loved a prime for prime Holyfield vs Tyson...if only Mike had not backed out years earlier.

Yeah, many people were worried for Holyfield's life because he didn't look that good in the Bobby Cyz fight. Holyfield was considered to be a shot fighter with stamina and heart problems going into that 1st Tyson fight. Also Tyson was quickly regaining his aura of invincibility after knocking out 2 hw title holders in Bruno and Seldon in spectacular fashion and had 2 of the 3 hw titles.

Here's a fun fact. Jose Torres and Floyd Patterson gave the opinion that Mike Tyson would always lose to a Evander Holyfield no matter when they would have fought because Holyfield had the right style and tools to beat Tyson. 2 Cus Damato fighters said that.

The fight was proposed years after Mikes skills were declining but even then, much lesser fighters were dropping Holyfield, like Bert Cooper. Mike had very fast hands, even after he stopped moving his head and if you could be hit like Holyfield, then you were in trouble.

In the first fight after a 4 year lay off, there are really only a couple of points in that fight where Mike throws combinations. In the 5th and in the 9th, I think. He lands a couple of nice combinations and Holyfield looks as much confused as he does hurt. The version from 88 would have done that the entire fight, for as long as it lasted and he certainly wouldnt have been there to be hit back.

Holufields heart problem was to to his steroid use

Since the Evan Fields thing cropped up, where drugs were being sent to his address and he answered the number that had been given, he hasgiven the shit excuse that the growth hormone was for his dad!!!!

What a twat!

[Mark TKO]

55-45 overall in Lewis' favour I feel.

But once the first three rounds over with and Lewis was still around then that increases to 80-20 at least.

Tyson wasn't used to being in a tough fight back then. Lewis would have given him it

[ross]

55-45 overall in Lewis' favour I feel.

But once the first three rounds over with and Lewis was still around then that increases to 80-20 at least.

Tyson wasn't used to being in a tough fight back then. Lewis would have given him it

This is something else that gets me, look at the fights Mike had that went 12 rounds back then. He didnt tire or get gift decisions. He made fighters fight scared.

[Mark TKO]

no he didn't but Lewis wouldn't have got scared.

I only remember the Tucker and Smith fights that went distance from back then. Both pretty comfortable if I remember correctly. Then there was that Green bloke who he also punched in a nightclub or something a couple of years before. Not sure how that one went but I'm guessing it was again pretty comfortable.

I just think Lewis could have done what Douglas did a couple of years earlier thats all.

But a Tyson KO inside of 30 seconds wouldnt surprise me in the slightest.

[Memphis]

I just think Lewis could have done what Douglas did a couple of years earlier thats all.

But a Tyson KO inside of 30 seconds wouldnt surprise me in the slightest.

Me too, although Lewis would have controlled him rather than battered him like a man possesed.

[generalbulldog]

Tyson had been in jail for 3 plus years when he faced Holyfield, he had been out of boxing for various reasons for 5 plus against Lewis. Those wins don't mean all that much as Tyson was done. Tyson had years of skills erosion, whilst those other two were refining their craft. They never met at equal junctures in their careers. Tyson beats both of them prime on prime.

Revisionanist history much Hindsight is a wonderful thing but ya just can't have it both ways. After a "shot" Holyfield who was being called a walking dead man going in, then yes, Tysons skills had hastily eroded.

I'd have loved a prime for prime Holyfield vs Tyson...if only Mike had not backed out years earlier.

Yeah, many people were worried for Holyfield's life because he didn't look that good in the Bobby Cyz fight. Holyfield was considered to be a shot fighter with stamina and heart problems going into that 1st Tyson fight. Also Tyson was quickly regaining his aura of invincibility after knocking out 2 hw title holders in Bruno and Seldon in spectacular fashion and had 2 of the 3 hw titles.

Here's a fun fact. Jose Torres and Floyd Patterson gave the opinion that Mike Tyson would always lose to a Evander Holyfield no matter when they would have fought because Holyfield had the right style and tools to beat Tyson. 2 Cus Damato fighters said that.

The fight was proposed years after Mikes skills were declining but even then, much lesser fighters were dropping Holyfield, like Bert Cooper. Mike had very fast hands, even after he stopped moving his head and if you could be hit like Holyfield, then you were in trouble.

In the first fight after a 4 year lay off, there are really only a couple of points in that fight where Mike throws combinations. In the 5th and in the 9th, I think. He lands a couple of nice combinations and Holyfield looks as much confused as he does hurt. The version from 88 would have done that the entire fight, for as long as it lasted and he certainly wouldnt have been there to be hit back.

Holufields heart problem was to to his steroid use

Since the Evan Fields thing cropped up, where drugs were being sent to his address and he answered the number that had been given, he hasgiven the shit excuse that the growth hormone was for his dad!!!!

What a twat!

The fight was 1st proposed in 1990 not years later when Tyson's skill was declining, let's not make stuff up.

In 1990 for a warmup fight against Douglass, Tyson got his ass whooped where Don King and Tyson fans till this day were trying to discredit Douglass as some bullshit long count. Holyfield and Tyson was suppose to fight in the fall of 1990 but Tyson got his ass ko.

And in 1991 after the 2nd RUddock fight Tyson was suppose to fight Holyfield in the fall but got a rib injury then caught a rape case.

And Styles make fights, who cares if Cooper dropped Holyfield? Holyfield was even backed by Cus D'amato fighters like Torres and Patterson that he just has Tyson's number and would kick his ass at any point in time. Even Teddy Atlas agreed with them. Tyson didn't have it to ever beat Holyfield.

[Master]

Tyson had been in jail for 3 plus years when he faced Holyfield, he had been out of boxing for various reasons for 5 plus against Lewis. Those wins don't mean all that much as Tyson was done. Tyson had years of skills erosion, whilst those other two were refining their craft. They never met at equal junctures in their careers. Tyson beats both of them prime on prime.

Revisionanist history much Hindsight is a wonderful thing but ya just can't have it both ways. After a "shot" Holyfield who was being called a walking dead man going in, then yes, Tysons skills had hastily eroded.

I'd have loved a prime for prime Holyfield vs Tyson...if only Mike had not backed out years earlier.

Yeah, many people were worried for Holyfield's life because he didn't look that good in the Bobby Cyz fight. Holyfield was considered to be a shot fighter with stamina and heart problems going into that 1st Tyson fight. Also Tyson was quickly regaining his aura of invincibility after knocking out 2 hw title holders in Bruno and Seldon in spectacular fashion and had 2 of the 3 hw titles.

Here's a fun fact. Jose Torres and Floyd Patterson gave the opinion that Mike Tyson would always lose to a Evander Holyfield no matter when they would have fought because Holyfield had the right style and tools to beat Tyson. 2 Cus Damato fighters said that.

You are forgetting that Tyson was avoiding fighting Lewis and relinquished the WBC title so he could fight Holyfield because he thought Holyfield was an easier option and it also implied that Tyson felt he was not able to beat Lewis. Tyson was not the same fighter when he came out of jail, he had manoeuvred his way to get a title but he had nothing left.

[Spicoli]

I'm still scratching my head on when this great erosion of skill happened in Tyson within the devistating ko of Spinks till the Douglas 1st bell a yr and few months later? Was it the 6,7 rounds in between vs chinny Williams or a deer in the headlights Bruno? I think it had more to do with finally running into a fluid mobile combination puncher who didn't shit himself when Mike yelled "boo" and had superior mental make up. All things Holyfield owned. That Cooper shot gets greatly blown out of proportion and it doesn't translate to Mike whacking him that easily if he had not pulled out. What, if it was Evander instead of Douglas vs a 'slipping' Tyson that Feb night the result would have same as well? Holyfield recovered btw and almost ripped Berts head off his shoulders, Mike, ehh, not so much.

[Master]

Tyson should have fought Holyfield earlier with hindsight, and fought him instead of Williams, Holyfield beat a Brazilian fighter in good fashion. Tyson would have won then but as Tyson's life unraveled, so did his discipline, skills and conditioning. It took years to get to that stage and months for it to fall apart.

[ross]

I'm still scratching my head on when this great erosion of skill happened in Tyson within the devistating ko of Spinks till the Douglas 1st bell a yr and few months later? Was it the 6,7 rounds in between vs chinny Williams or a deer in the headlights Bruno? I think it had more to do with finally running into a fluid mobile combination puncher who didn't shit himself when Mike yelled "boo" and had superior mental make up. All things Holyfield owned. That Cooper shot gets greatly blown out of proportion and it doesn't translate to Mike whacking him that easily if he had not pulled out. What, if it was Evander instead of Douglas vs a 'slipping' Tyson that Feb night the result would have same as well? Holyfield recovered btw and almost ripped Berts head off his shoulders, Mike, ehh, not so much.

Kevin Rooney said Mike wasnt training fully for the Spikns fight and just bulldozed in during the fight. He noticed as soon as King was in his head that Mike wasnt fully focused any more. Look at the Bruno fight, all those better fighters he fought but the laughing stock of the heavyweight division is the first to have a punch have any effect on him, as well as even land a decent shot.

Anyone that cant acknowledge that Mikes skills were not the same are just trying too hard to discredit his achievments and why I dont know. The Tyson that fought Douglas was nothing like the fighter that fought and beat Tucker, Tubbs and Holmes. Big difference in the skills on show.

[johnsebastianmiran]

The question should really be whether a Mike Tyson full of himself walked in the ring or A Lewis with his mind somewhere strolled in. Mike was a body in perpetual motion in his younger day with a cast iron chin and perpetual motion. the loser would be the guy that was full of himself that evening. Mike whenever he listened to Rooney was a well oiled machine when he came into the ring and Lewis was fantastic when he remembered to not stay still so toss a coin based opn their weaknesses and someone will have to give because there's no draw in this fantasy battle. One thing is for sure If Lewis day dreams, it would be a short fight and if Tyson didn't prepare mentally and physically, the restaurant where he eats will be serving jabs Ala Lewis all night.

[Mr140]

Reason i can not back Tyson is that he never beat a elite in his life. Maybe Holmes and Spinks i well give him but one was Lhw great the other coming off a long layoff and kinda old but still good win. Tyson just didn't have balls or heart or what ever it was he was missing to be greatest. Say what want about Holyfield and Lewis but they won there big fights and also kicked the shit out of Tyson. I mean Tyson was a fucking mental midget compared to Holyfeild and Lewis was a to skilled a fighter at his best.

[Spicoli]

I'm still scratching my head on when this great erosion of skill happened in Tyson within the devistating ko of Spinks till the Douglas 1st bell a yr and few months later? Was it the 6,7 rounds in between vs chinny Williams or a deer in the headlights Bruno? I think it had more to do with finally running into a fluid mobile combination puncher who didn't shit himself when Mike yelled "boo" and had superior mental make up. All things Holyfield owned. That Cooper shot gets greatly blown out of proportion and it doesn't translate to Mike whacking him that easily if he had not pulled out. What, if it was Evander instead of Douglas vs a 'slipping' Tyson that Feb night the result would have same as well? Holyfield recovered btw and almost ripped Berts head off his shoulders, Mike, ehh, not so much.

Kevin Rooney said Mike wasnt training fully for the Spikns fight and just bulldozed in during the fight. He noticed as soon as King was in his head that Mike wasnt fully focused any more. Look at the Bruno fight, all those better fighters he fought but the laughing stock of the heavyweight division is the first to have a punch have any effect on him, as well as even land a decent shot.

Anyone that cant acknowledge that Mikes skills were not the same are just trying too hard to discredit his achievments and why I dont know. The Tyson that fought Douglas was nothing like the fighter that fought and beat Tucker, Tubbs and Holmes. Big difference in the skills on show.

Sounds like your saying his skills were still there really but he just didnt give a shate to stay focused and trained then? Thats on him.