Honestly, who hit harder in boxing, Lennox Lewis or Mike Tyson ?

Question

Lewis KO's Golota, and Botha, quicker than Tyson did. As well as KO'ing Grant and having the overhand right with his weight and stepping in. Also, Lewis KO's Tyson. Ok, Tyson has the KO style and look, but Lewis hits hard too ! Objectively, what do you think ? Did Mike KO lesser foes and did Lewis outbox lesser foes rather than bully them ?

Answer 1

Simple answer is that Lewis was a ten times better boxer than Tyson was and the notion that he was over the hill when they fought is the common denominator whenever someone from England fights an American as soon as they lose they say they are over the hill. Tyson could not of beat Lewis in any time frame sad thing for some of you deluded Tyson fans who have replied is that your hero wasnt really that great a boxer he was spoon fed opponents who were always going to be KO's and as soon as he got in against real boxers aka Holyfield and Lewis he didnt have a clue what to do.

Answer 2

Tyson had a heavier general punch.

Lewis probably has a slightly more potentially powerful single knockout punch.

A general punch is what you can throw anytime. At a person covering up, at a punching bag at whatever.

This does not take into account the biggest punches in the ring are when the other guy is moving forward or inward in some way when the punch hits him, increasing or doubling the impact.

The best knockout artists are someone who is generally brilliant at timing this sort of thing deliberately.

A well timed punch hits twice as hard as a general punch.

Tyson rarely scored one punch knockouts on anyone. He is not considered a big puncher along the best knockout artists.

His knockouts were due to cumulative effect. The reason people feared his punches so much is they were difficult to predict and he hit very cleanly.This was because with all that all that lateral movement he had the other boxer usually had his hands down trying to score on tyson when tyson struck.


Lewis is not a real heavy puncher or even a real heavy knockout timed puncher either, but he probably had a slight edge over tyson for that one special super timed punch.

Answer 3

I think that I have to say that I am the biggest Lewis fan out there. Yes, the man had some flaws! He underestimated his opponents from time to time, tried to showboat when he should have been watching out for right hooks!
Just ask any boxer which punch hurts the most and they will tell you that it's the one you don't see coming...which are the ones Lewis got floored with! It's not always a question of who hits harder, but who is more prepared to take a punch!
Lewis vs. Tyson....10 years ago or ten years from now...Lewis wins! The way Lewis trained to fight Tyson...NO ONE COULD HAVE BEAT LENNOX THAT NIGHT!

Answer 4

Tyson was on a decline way before Buster Douglass came along but he had such a great punch that he didn't need to be at 100% or as disciplined as he was in early fights. There was Tyson and then the rest of the heavyweights. As was stated, Lewis was a better boxer but I think the harder punch definitely was Tyson's. Foreman had a harder punch than Hollyfield but that didn't mean he was necessarily going to win the fight -- (but he still hit harder). Tyson had a lot of ring rust when he fought Botha and against Golota was late in his career as was when he fought Lewis. I can't whole heartedly agree with Frank that Lewis would win no matter when they fought because early on Lewis had some flaws as exposed by Oliver McCall. Also later he fell prey to Hassim Rahman's big punch and Tyson I rank a bit higher than Rahman. No doubt Lewis would adjust and beat him if they fought again but I couldn't automatically assume that Lewis would win no matter what or when.

Answer 5

Between Frank D and jazbac, they pretty much covered the blogbaba's opinion of Tyson, and I don't have a lot to add. Oliver McCall and Hasim Rockmon both hit as hard as Mike. Lennox Lewis was superior to Tyson in every respect of the boxing game. Considering that Ali was superior to Lewis in every aspect of the game, you can see where I rank Tyson without me having to dishonor myself further by reiterating MIke's flaws. Mike was a bully, and Lennox was not the type to be intimidated by bullys so the end result was a given.

Answer 6

Tyson, in prime, has paralyzing power like Shavers or Foreman. Lewis was an outstanding boxer. He should have met Tyson five years earlier. The outcome would have been different.

Answer 7

tyson hit alot harder throughout his career. He was just stronger, quicker, more aggresive, etc. He had by far a better career than Lewis too.

that was probabally the last biggest greatest most hyped heavyweight boxing match we'll get

Answer 8

Man! I see even after he has been exposed on many occasions, there are STILL plenty of Tyson cultists out there. Tyson built his fierce reputation beating up the guy at the fruit stand and your sister's wimpy boyfriend. EVERY time he got in with a real fighter- he got his a*s kicked! When are you guys going to wake up and smell the coffee?

Answer 9

I would say Tyson.

Tyson left his boxing skills in '89 and got by on only a solid chin and two handed knockout power for the rest of his career.

Besides, the guys you mentioned fought the "slow Tyson." After he lost his speed he had trouble getting close enough to land big shots.

Sixtus is dead on, btw.

Answer 10

Lewis was lucky to fight Tyson when he did. I think Tyson was the harder puncher. Lewis' chin was as suspect as that of Rocky Graziano. If a younger Tyson would have nailed Lewis on the jaw it would be "lights-out".