Mike Tyson’s pulverizing power was no match for the technical prowess of Lennox Lewis when they collided for the undisputed heavyweight crown back in 2002.
The pair went toe-to-toe in a compelling dustup that culminated in Lewis retaining his belts with an emphatic eighth-round knockout to further cement his greatness.
Mike Tyson, meanwhile, was forced to abandon his title aspirations, eventually coming to terms with the fact that he was no longer an unstoppable force.
But now, that realization has seemingly evaded him, as the 58-year-old finalizes his training camp ahead of tomorrow’s blockbuster showdown against YouTube star Jake Paul.
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Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis name Evander Holyfield as their toughest opponent
‘Iron Mike’ was undoubtedly the world’s most formidable athlete during the 1980s, back when he became the youngest heavyweight champion of all time after halting Trevor Berbick in the second round.
Soon after, though, he found himself on the receiving end of a stunning tenth-round stoppage defeat to James ‘Buster’ Douglas in perhaps the greatest upset of sporting history.
Then, just under six years later, Tyson was able to reclaim his WBC trinket after dismantling British boxing legend Frank Bruno.
And yet, when he faced one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, Evander Holyfield, later that year, the Brooklyn-born bruiser was outgunned in nearly every department.
Holyfield, in fact, put on a comprehensive display before stopping his opponent in the 11th round, a result which, once again, was considered to be a sizable upset.
But then, in their immediate rematch the following year, Tyson orchestrated a shocking exit from the fight when he infamously bit out a chunk of the American’s ear.
And so, after getting disqualified in their second encounter, it was apparent that Tyson knew he had come up against a vastly skilled and dynamic operator.
This is, after all, why he named Holyfield the best fighter he ever faced in a 2014 interview with The Ring.
“[Holyfield was a] great champion: chin, heart, determination, work ethic, demeanor,” Tyson explained.
- Read More [Mike Tyson hails the boxing IQ of former heavyweight champion who he brutally knocked out]
Lennox Lewis explains why Evander Holyfield was his best ever opponent
Lewis, too, believes that Holyfield was the best fighter he ever fought.
The pair shared 24 rounds in two highly controversial contests, with their first encounter ending in a draw, before Lewis produced a stellar performance to emerge victorious in the rematch.
“People seem to be genuinely surprised when I tell them [Holyfield] was my toughest opponent – not to be confused with my toughest fight, which was [Ray] Mercer – but when you really dive into why that is, it actually makes a lot of sense,” Lewis said on Instagram.
“Holyfield, like me, has an extensive amateur pedigree that has served him well throughout his professional career.
“He started boxing at eight years old and was an Olympic bronze medallist in 1984. Before he moved up to the heavyweight division, he’s a man that cleared out the cruiserweight division to become the undisputed champion, and arguably the best ever, in that weight class.”