Trent Reinsmith
- Date & Location: September, TBA
- Odds: Mike Tyson (-160) vs. Lennox Lewis (+120) via Bovada
- Prediction: Lewis via decision
In late April, Mike Tyson announced his next trip to the boxing ring will come in September and that he will face a familiar foe.
“I’m gonna fight Lennox Lewis,” Tyson told TMZ. He then added the fight will take place in September.
The two met in 2002 when Tyson challenged Lewis for the WBC, IBF, IBO, The Ring and lineal heavyweight titles in Memphis. Lewis won the fight via an eighth-round knockout. In June 2003, Lewis defeated Vitali Klitschko via sixth-round TKO. The 55-year-old has not fought since that win. He ended his career with a 41-2-1 record.
Tyson, who is 54, came out of retirement in 2020 to face Roy Jones Jr. The eight-round exhibition bout, Tyson’s first since he lost to Kevin McBride in 2005, was scored as a draw.
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TYSON vs. LEWIS PREDICTION & PICK
It’s interesting to look back at the odds from the first fight between these two. In that matchup, Tyson, who had gone 4-0 with two no contests after two losses to Evander Holyfield, was the underdog to Lewis. Lewis opened his career at 38-1-1 before losing to Hasim Rahman in 2001. Later that year he got that one back by defeating Rahman. He faced Tyson after that split with Rahman.
I believe Tyson is the favorite here for one reason, and that is how he looked against Jones. For his age and time outside the ring, Tyson looked remarkably good. With Lewis not fighting since 2003, we have no way of gauging him.
Despite not seeing Lewis compete in 18 years I don’t think he would take this fight on a whim considering how he retired and what he meant to boxing in the U.K. I believe Lewis will be prepared for Tyson and that his size will allow him to prevail.
Prediction: Lewis at +120 via BetUS.
BETTING VALUE WITH LEWIS
The rules and regulations of the fight have not been announced at this time. So, I will treat this as a regulation boxing match. I think the biggest thing that comes into play in this fight is the size difference. Lewis is even inches taller than Tyson and he has a 13-inch reach advantage. Lewis was able to use those tools when the two first met, and with age I think those advantages will be even bigger for Lewis. I don’t see Tyson, at 54, being able to use his speed or power to overcome the physical disadvantages he has in this bout.
Pick: Lewis via decision at +120 at BetOnline.
WHO HAS THE EDGE?
I think the fact that Tyson recently fought Jones and look decent doing do will go a long way toward keeping him the betting favorite, but I don’t think the power he had in his prime will be there, nor will the intimidation factor a young Mike Tyson carried with him. With that in mind, I think the skill of Lewis as a boxer, along with his height and reach advantages will help Lewis to win the fight. If Tyson can get in close and hit Lewis, that could change things in a second, but I just don’t see that happening.
TYSON vs. LEWIS FIGHT STATS
| Mike Tyson | Category | Lennox Lewis |
| 54 | Age | 55 |
| 50-6-0-2(NC) | Record | 41-2-1 |
| 44 | Knockout Wins | 32 |
| 5 | Decision Wins | 7 |
| 1 | Disqualification Wins | 2 |
| 5’10” | Height | 6’5″ |
| 71″ | Reach | 84″ |
| Orthodox | Stance | Orthodox |
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
The Tyson vs. Jones fight was a big success. If Tyson and Lewis want to continue along this path and put on more fights between stars from the past, they need to at least live up to the quality of that fight.
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