Prime Lennox vs Prime Tyson

[Streeter]

I know they fought but Tyson was a shell of himself and Lennox still in great form. Seems Tyson Prime was late 80s to early 90s when he was young and Lennox looked to me his best in late 90s early 00s when he was older. So late 80s Tyson v late 90s Lennox. I know I'm supposed to say Lennox here and he was better longer but Prime vs Prime for me its tough seeing it ... late 80s Tyson was just a machine of bad intentions. Been arguing with a buddy who is litterslly pissed lol I'm saying Tyson would win ....... maybe he's right but I just can't see it

 

[Kowboy On Sherdog]

Tyson beats Spinks , Holmes and Lewis in one night

 

[HereticBD]

I'm of the opinion that a prime non-partying Tyson, could destroy anybody on Earth in a boxing match.

 

[mozfonky]

Hard to say, peak Lennox was big, rangy, powerful and smart. Mike never really became as great as he could so if he'd have a chance to beat Lennox, it would have to be the guy right about the time he fought Biggs, Holmes, Tubbs. Maybe he could do it, but Lennox was better than those guys were when Mike fought them.

 

[Kovalev's "Man Bag"]

I wouldn't pick either in their prime to win them all if they fought a few times. That much I can tell you.

 

[KAZSoliloquy]

i think lennox wins more often than not, largely because tyson was a bit inconsistent even at his absolute best. lennox also just matches up well with tyson, great legs, great timing, huge punch repertoire. make no mistake though, if rahman & mccall can catch lewis making a big mistake as far as footwork, tyson can too.

lennox was also almost surely in his prime in the early 90's not the late 90's. post-KO losses lewis was a lot smarter, but the athleticism and talent of younger lennox was scary.

 

[SuwoopBangin]

Lennox Lewis could've beaten any heavyweight in history, including Tyson
He wins 9 times out of 10

 

[mozfonky]

Lennox Lewis could've beaten any heavyweight in history, including Tyson
He wins 9 times out of 10

nah, he wouldn't beat Ali or Holmes and maybe not Foreman or Louis either. Might have a time with Joe Frazier too unless he could do a foreman to him.

 

[SuwoopBangin]

nah, he wouldn't beat Ali or Holmes and maybe not Foreman or Louis either. Might have a time with Joe Frazier too unless he could do a foreman to him.

Nope he would beat them all
He would destroy Frazier, you kidding me

 

[mozfonky]

Nope he would beat them all
He would destroy Frazier, you kidding me

not kidding you, Joe was a bad man, Lennox might be too bulky for him but Joe's fought guys that tall before, the question is whether he could absorb the blows well enough to put some in of his own. Joe's not easy for too many fighters on his best night.

Lennox doesn't beat all of them though, for what it's worth. Ali'd take a decision, Holmes would likely take a decision, and lets not forget guys like Liston who would spell trouble for maybe most of the heavyweight champs in history.

 

[KAZSoliloquy]

nah, he wouldn't beat Ali or Holmes and maybe not Foreman or Louis either. Might have a time with Joe Frazier too unless he could do a foreman to him.

he and holmes is a toss up. frazier would probably get batted around. lennox's struggles never really came against shorter guys. if anything, he actually struggled with guys who jabbed often and jabbed with him, something holmes and ali would do.

 

[ferrisjso]

Tyson is literally younger than Lennox.

Absurd conversation.

 

[mozfonky]

he and holmes is a toss up. frazier would probably get batted around. lennox's struggles never really came against shorter guys. if anything, he actually struggled with guys who jabbed often and jabbed with him, something holmes and ali would do.

Joe might just be too small, that's true but I'm not sure if Lennox beats him like Foreman did, just different fighters. Foreman (and the rest of the era) threw a shit ton of punches in both Frazier fights, Lennox wouldn't do that, he'd jab and use distance and try to land the big right hand, he wouldn't blitz Joe.

 

[Kovalev's "Man Bag"]

not kidding you, Joe was a bad man, Lennox might be too bulky for him but Joe's fought guys that tall before, the question is whether he could absorb the blows well enough to put some in of his own. Joe's not easy for too many fighters on his best night.

Lennox doesn't beat all of them though, for what it's worth. Ali'd take a decision, Holmes would likely take a decision, and lets not forget guys like Liston who would spell trouble for maybe most of the heavyweight champs in history.

Frazier was certainly a bad man but he even looked undersized back then and that was 50+ years ago. I think Lewis would stop him. Too big and too strong. Not only would Lewis be looking to line up the big right hand but he'd also look for the uppercut and he has a nasty one. That's always the go to shot when your opponent is significantly shorter and Lewis would have like 6 inches in height on him.

If Frazier was somehow able to take Lewis' best shots then I could see Lewis just making him carry his weight. He knows how to impose his size and drain opponents by leaning on them. It wouldn't take long for Frazier's legs to weaken and then he'd be a sitting duck.

 

[StopDucking]

Tyson is literally younger than Lennox.

Absurd conversation.

RJJ is 4 years younger than Hopkins yet was out of his prime 5 years before Hopkins.

It's almost as if different people don't enter and exit their primes at the same age.

 

[Takes Two To Tango]

Lennox had amazing fundamentals and a great reach with that jab. It's hard to beat Lewis in his peak. You got to catch him off guard or just not paying attention. Lennox Lewis could very be the best HW boxer ever in terms of who can beat who in boxing match.

Ali would have had a hard time fighting Lennox. The only difference is that Ali mental game and heart is levels ahead of Lennox Lewis.

 

[Streeter]

Still cannot see any version of Lennox beating late 80s Tyson best of 7. Maybe Lennox takes 2 imo . Mike was juat an wrecking machine small or not his power was insane , all planet chin, good movement etc.

 

[defjaam]

Not doing any prediction, but from 1995-2000 Lennox did essentially the same that Tyson did from 85-90.
Lennox had a rough day at the office vs. Mercer, but so did Tyson vs. James Tillis.
Tyson smashing Marvis Frazier in no time sent shockwaves through the division, just like Lennox vs. Ruddock in '92.

Tyson got knocked out after he separated from Kevin Rooney, Lennox got knocked out before he teamed up with Steward.

 

[mozfonky]

Frazier was certainly a bad man but he even looked undersized back then and that was 50+ years ago. I think Lewis would stop him. Too big and too strong. Not only would Lewis be looking to line up the big right hand but he'd also look for the uppercut and he has a nasty one. That's always the go to shot when your opponent is significantly shorter and Lewis would have like 6 inches in height on him.

If Frazier was somehow able to take Lewis' best shots then I could see Lewis just making him carry his weight. He knows how to impose his size and drain opponents by leaning on them. It wouldn't take long for Frazier's legs to weaken and then he'd be a sitting duck.

ya, Joe probably just too small but I still think he gets shorted because of the highlight reel losses he had. The man who fought Ali the first time was supernatural and he'd never fight like that again. People underestimate just how much that took out of him. Foreman did not fight that guy.

 

[ferrisjso]

RJJ is 4 years younger than Hopkins yet was out of his prime 5 years before Hopkins.

It's almost as if different people don't enter and exit their primes at the same age.

If they are the same age fighting for world title you shouldn't be using ones age as an excuse. The logic you're using is a blank check for excuses.

Hopkins is an extreme case because he was good till like 50. Tyson and Lennox Lewis were 36 and 37 fighting for a world title. Hopkins v RJJ was not for a title and RJJ was 41. Also Hopkins literally won the first RJJ fight in their 20s which was a fight for a world title.