Lennox Lewis doesn't buy Deontay Wilder's claim that he'd beat Mike Tyson in his prime. The former heavyweight champ says Wilder hasn't faced anyone as fierce as Tyson.
Wilder, known as "The Bronze Bomber" from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, made a bold statement about facing a young Tyson. He said, "Me versus Tyson in '86, I'd kick the hell outta that guy. Listen, I've got to keep it real. I know people always go back to the old school or look at the new school and there's no school where I'm not No. 1 on earth."
Tyson, who became world champion at just 20 years old, was one of the most feared heavyweights in boxing history. He won his first 19 fights by stoppage and was known for his speed, power, and unique angles.
While Tyson praised Wilder's confidence, saying top heavyweights should back themselves against anyone, Lewis had a different take. The man who knocked out Tyson in 2002 shared his thoughts:
"I just heard Deontay Wilder said he would destroy a young Mike Tyson. My thoughts are that it's easy to talk until you actually get in the ring. I like Wilder but he's never been in there with someone that ferocious who truly wants to break his ribs with every punch. I don't see it."
Wilder took up the mantle of the division's biggest knockout artist in his prime. But his recent performances have been less than stellar. He lost to Joseph Parker by a wide unanimous decision and suffered a TKO loss to Zhilei Zhang.
The Alabama native will try to bounce back in his next fight against journeyman Curtis Harper in Saudi Arabia. A win could help Wilder regain his confidence and possibly set up a big fight against Anthony Joshua.
While it's impossible to know how a prime Tyson vs. Wilder fight would go, Lewis's perspective as a former champion who faced both eras of heavyweights adds weight to the debate. The discussion shows how boxing fans and experts continue to compare fighters across different eras, keeping the sport's rich history alive.
