Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis have got George Foreman thinking. The legendary heavyweight champion has weighed in on who would win if the two icons fought in their prime.
Foreman picked Lewis as the winner. His reason? "So much height and reach," he said.
Lewis and Tyson did face each other in 2002. Lewis took control early and stopped Tyson in the eighth round. But that fight didn't show us both men at their best. Tyson was past his prime and had been out of the ring for three years. Lewis, on the other hand, was still at the top of his game and would retire after just one more fight.
When we talk about their prime years, we're looking at different time periods. For Tyson, his best days were around 1989, a whole decade before the actual fight. Lewis hit his stride around 1999.
Tyson's career took some hard turns with a prison stint and changes in his training team. Lewis had a smoother ride, staying consistent throughout his career without major troubles outside the ring.
Foreman's not just picking Lewis for this hypothetical match-up. He's previously called the British boxer "the best heavyweight of all time, maybe," saying, "He's better than anybody."
While we're talking about Tyson fights that'll never happen, there's one that actually will. The Brooklyn native is set to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on November 15 at AT&T; Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This match-up has drawn criticism due to the 30-year age gap between the two.
"I'd [say] Lewis. So much height and reach."
Foreman's words remind us of the physical advantages Lewis brought to the ring. Even against a prime 'Iron' Mike, those factors would've been hard to overcome.
