BBC SPORT | Boxing | Specials | Lewis v Tyson fight



Sanjeev Shetty BBC Sport Online

Unsurprisingly for two men who have spent so many years at the top of heavyweight boxing, Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson have common opponents.

BBC Sport Online examines how the pair fared against these men and offer their a rating on their performance.

Tony Tucker

Tyson unified the title with a points win over Tucker in 1987, but was rocked badly by a left uppercut in the first round. He never put his opponent in the kind of trouble which could have forced a stoppage.

Lewis floored Tucker twice when they met in 1993. But he also exhibited stamina problems against a man now past his prime and whose body had been ravaged by drug abuse.

Verdict: Tyson - 7/10, Lewis 6/10

Tyrell Biggs

After fighting Tucker, Tyson took on Biggs, an undefeated fighter who had scooped the gold medal at the 1984 Olympics. He systematically battered Biggs on the way to a seventh round knockout.

Lewis - who was beaten by Biggs at the 1984 Olympics - faced the lanky American in 1991. Little more than a journeyman now, Biggs was despatched in three rounds.

Verdict: Tyson 8/10, Lewis 7/10

Frank Bruno

Andrew Golota, the Pole who has fought both Lewis and Tyson
Golota - the sturdy Pole was hammered by both Lewis and Tyson

Tyson met and beat Bruno twice - in 1989 and 1996. In their first meeting, a sluggish Tyson made hard work of the British fighter, but the second meeting was very one-sided.

Lewis was mostly outboxed by Bruno when they met in 1993 - a lucky left hook rescued him in the seventh round.

Verdict: Tyson 8/10, Lewis 5/10

Donovan 'Razor' Ruddock

Tyson struggled twice against Ruddock - he stopped him the first time in 1991 but was forced the distance the second time a few months later.

His performances led many to believe that Tyson was a fading fighter.

Lewis came to international prominence in 1992 when he knocked out Ruddock in two rounds. It is perhaps his greatest ever performance.

Verdict: Tyson 6/10, Lewis 9/10

Evander Holyfield

Tyson was brutally outboxed and outfought when he first fought Holyfield in 1996. He was heading for the same fate in the second fight, until he found a fondness for the taste of ears.

Lewis outboxed a much older Holyfield in their first fight and should have been rewarded with a win, instead of a draw.

Although he was given the decision in the second fight, many felt the British fighter was lucky to get the nod.

Verdict: Tyson 5/10, Lewis 7/10

Francois Botha

Botha confounded Tyson for the best part of five rounds in 1999 - until the South African ran into an awesome right hand and never got up.

Lewis despatched the Botha challenge a year later with much greater ease - a four-punch combination nearly put Botha out of the ring.

Verdict: Tyson 6/10, Lewis 8/10

Andrew Golota

Mike Tyson batters Frank Bruno against the ropes in 1996
Tyson had few problems with Bruno second time round

Tyson seemed on course for a stoppage win in 2000 until his erratic opponent quit at the end of the third round.

Lewis destroyed Golota in 1997 - the Pole never got past the first round.

Verdict: Tyson 8/10, Lewis 9/10.

Overall verdict Tyson - 48/70, Lewis 51/70

Generally, Lewis has performed more impressively against these opponents, although it must be noted that fighters such as Biggs, Tucker and Holyfield were past their prime when they fought the Englishman.

The present remains the best way of analysing the results here - Lewis flattened Botha without trouble - Tyson huffed and puffed before finding the equaliser.

That result indicates that Lewis may well be closer to his prime.