Lennox Lewis was quick to name the winner of a fantasy fight between Tyson Fury and Mike Tyson.
Heavyweight legend ‘Iron Mike’ reigned as an undisputed champion during his heyday in the late 80’s, but famously lost to Lewis in their monster 2002 clash by brutal KO.
Fury and Tyson would have been a remarkable showdown in their primesInstagram – Tyson Fury
Despite the defeat he is considered one of the greatest fighters to have ever laced up the gloves in the blue-riband division.
Meanwhile Fury has become one of the most notorious names in the current era, with the ‘Gypsy King’ losing just once so far in his career in an undisputed title clash with Oleksandr Usyk in May.
Fury has always spoken of his idolising of heavyweight great Tyson, and naturally the pair have always been pit against each other in a fantasy fight.
And when asked to predict how his former rival would fare against Fury, Lewis quickly told Mail Sport Boxing: “Mike Tyson [wins].”
It would have been an incredible match-up if the pair were at their prime during the same era.
Tyson has been favoured by Lewis, despite the ‘Gypsy King’s remarkable size standing at 6ft 9ins tall.
Lewis’ former foe stands at 5ft 11ins, a size disparity of nearly a foot, but his ferocious punching power and aggression in his prime would have been a challenge for Fury.
‘The Lion’ himself beaten everyone he ever faced, avenging his two defeats to Hasim Rahman and Oliver McCall.
He retired in 2003, one year after ousting Tyson who suffered a significant decline in the back end of his career.
But Tyson is considered one of the most popular and entertaining fighters to have ever practiced the sweet science.
Lewis has stuck with ex-rival Tyson in a fantasy fight predictionGetty
He was feared and formidable beating the likes of Frank Bruno and Larry Holmes during his prime.
Many back him to have achieved immortality in the current era, having completed a list of remarkable feats before retiring in 2005.
Similarly Fury has had a sensational journey reigning as unified champion in his prime, with huge wins over Deontay Wilder Wladimir Klitschko during his stellar career.
There is still time for the Briton to reach a new level of history, if he is to avenge his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in their sequel on December 21.
The popular fighters have regularly spoken fondly of each other throughout their time in the limelight, despite being from different eras.
Fury has spoken of how he was inspired to take to the ring by Tyson, his namesake, and even wished he could have shared the ring with him.
Tyson has surprisingly returned since hanging up his gloves in 2005, and will make a remarkable professional comeback against Jake Paul this year.
In the past the heavyweight pair have even discussed the possibility of an exhibition bout, despite being in vastly different levels of physical shape.
Fury even revealed he received a phone call regarding a fight in 2020, the year Tyson returned in an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr.
“I did get a phone call with a chance to fight Mike Tyson. I was like ‘what?’,” he said four years ago.
Tyson had a sensational career despite losing to LewisGetty
Fury still has a chance to improve his boxing legacy furtherGetty
“Yeah, I had a phone call saying ‘would you like to fight Mike Tyson in an exhibition fight?’ I was like ‘hell yeah!’
“So yeah I think he’s [Mike Tyson] definitely serious about doing some fights or whatever, but he’s fought Holyfield twice so they’re both old now, so I think they’re a bit long in the teeth.
“But who am I to say anything, what anybody’s capable of? I wouldn’t try and kill anybody’s dreams.
“If they’re both fit to fight, medically fit, then let them do what they want to do. It’s their life not mine.”
Fury later doubled down on those intentions to make the fight, but it never did materialise.
He has even claimed his hero and boxing icon Tyson would knock him out in 30 seconds if the pair fought in their prime.
Boxing fans will never know what would happen if a ‘Tyson vs Tyson’ exhibition was made, but it certainly would have been an intriguing match-up.