Roy Jones Jr thinks Lennox Lewis would beat Mike Tyson, even if both fighters were at their best. The multi-weight boxing champion shared his opinion in a recent chat with Mail Sport.
Jones Jr's view adds to the ongoing debate about how a fight between Lewis and Tyson might have gone if they'd met earlier in their careers. The two heavyweights actually fought in 2002, with Lewis winning by knockout in the eighth round.
The 2002 fight was set for Las Vegas but moved to Memphis after Tyson couldn't get a license in Nevada. He'd started a brawl at a press conference. Once in the ring, the first round was close. But Lewis took control as the fight went on. Tyson got tired and less effective. Lewis finished him with a big right hand in round eight.
After that loss, Tyson won his next fight but then lost twice more before retiring in 2005. Lewis fought once more, beating Vitali Klitschko, then retired in 2003.
Jones Jr knows both fighters well. He moved up from light-heavyweight to heavyweight in 2003 and beat John Ruiz for the WBA World Heavyweight title. He could have tried to become undisputed champion by fighting Lewis, but chose to go back to 175 pounds instead.
More recently, Jones Jr faced Tyson in an exhibition match. He called Tyson the hardest puncher he'd ever faced. But that experience didn't change his mind about a Lewis-Tyson matchup.
In his interview with Mail Sport, Jones Jr said:
"I think Lennox beats him regardless. I don't think it matters what point you get Lennox at, I think Lennox beats Mike."
Tyson's getting ready to step back in the ring this November. He'll face Jake Paul in a much-talked-about exhibition match.
