Remember that time Mike Tyson said he would eat Lennox Lewis’ kids?

Remember that time Mike Tyson said he would eat Lennox Lewis' kids?

As a passionate boxing enthusiast who’s witnessed countless fights spanning decades, I can confidently say that the Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson showdown was a spectacle like no other. The hype, the history, and the high stakes made it an unforgettable event in the annals of boxing.

Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson was one of the biggest boxing matches of the 21st century. It occurred in June 2022 at the Pyramid Arena in Memphis, Tennessee. At the time, Lewis was the unified heavyweight champion who held titles for the WBC, IBF, IBO, and the Ring. Tyson once had all those titles until he lost by knockout in a shocking upset to Buster Douglas in February 1990. Over the years, as he won and lost some, Tyson eventually worked his way to a major fight where he could win back all his old titles.

Following the defeat against Douglas, Tyson embarked on a remarkable eight-bout victory series, which included six knockouts against various heavyweight contenders. This streak ignited a legendary feud with Evander Holyfield. In an unexpected turn of events, Holyfield stopped Tyson in the 11th round in a fierce battle in November 1996, claiming the WBA heavyweight title from Tyson. A rematch took place in June 1997, resulting in one of the most bizarre incidents in combat sports. As Holyfield was leading the rematch, Tyson bit Holyfield’s ear twice, leading to severe penalties. Tyson was disqualified, had his boxing license revoked, and faced millions of dollars in fines as a consequence.

15 months after having his boxing license reinstated, Tyson scored a fifth-round knockout against Francois Botha in January 1999. This comeback win was followed by a No Contest match with Orlin Norris due to a foul and a second-round knockout of Julius Francis. In June 2000, Tyson defeated Lou Savarese just 38 seconds into the first round, but created another stir. Following his respectful post-fight interview, he made headlines by challenging Lewis, boasting about his abilities, and expressing a desire to eat Lewis’ children. This was an alarming comment given that Lewis did not have any children at the time. However, it fueled anticipation for a potential fight between these two heavyweight legends.

Flashback to an iconic Mike Tyson interview

imo nothing has beaten Mike Tyson threatening to cannibalize Lennox Lewis’s children on live TV
— ACD MMA (@acdmma_) March 19, 2024

To gain an uncontested opportunity to fight Lewis, Tyson needed additional victories because of a drug-related issue from an earlier match. In October 2000, he had a third-round stoppage win against Andrew Golota, but it was later declared No Contest due to a positive drug test. He made his comeback in October 2001 with a sixth-round victory over Brian Nielsen, which ultimately secured him the chance for an undisputed title fight against Lewis. The match attracted more attention since Lewis and Tyson had a physical altercation at a press conference, causing the original scheduled date of April 2002 to be postponed due to Tyson’s boxing license being revoked there. Various states declined to allow Tyson to box in their jurisdictions until Memphis, Tennessee eventually agreed.

2022’s June marked the conclusion of much anticipation, with the highly-publicized Lewis vs. Tyson event taking place, co-hosted by HBO and Showtime. Notable attendees included Donald Trump, Tom Cruise, Halle Berry, Britney Spears, and Clint Eastwood, to name a few. The initial round was closely contested, but Tyson managed to take the lead in the end. However, Lewis regained control for the remainder of the bout by winning more subsequent rounds. As the fight progressed, Lewis dominated, outlanding Tyson while also sustaining some blows himself. In the eighth round, Lewis delivered a knockout blow to Tyson, thus retaining all his titles.

Following my humbling loss to Lewis, I took a break before stepping back into the ring in February 2003, where I swiftly knocked out Clifford Etienne just 49 seconds into the opening round. As time started catching up, I found myself facing Danny Williams in July 2004. Unfortunately, he managed to knock me out in the fourth round. A year later, I was almost 39 when I faced Kevin McBride in June 2005. His height and reach initially caused me trouble, but eventually, I managed to close the gap. However, towards the end of the sixth round, I began to tire due to McBride’s effective use of the clinch, leading to a stoppage. After this fight, I felt my heart was no longer in the sport, and I decided to retire.

Since retiring professionally in 2005, Mike Tyson has participated in exhibitions with Corey Sanders in October 2006 and Roy Jones Jr. in November 2020. Now at the age of 58, he remains in excellent physical condition and can still throw punches with speed. On November 15, Tyson will compete against Jake Paul, a well-known YouTuber who also boxes, at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This fight will be a professional bout, contributing to both fighters’ records. From his infamous verbal attacks on opponents during his prime to his determination to stay in fighting shape in his mid-50s, Tyson continues to demonstrate why he remains popular in the world of combat sports. The highlights of his peak fighting years remain memorable and significant.

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