When it comes to boxing legends, few names shine as brightly as Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson. Recently, the retired heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis found himself in the spotlight again when asked a loaded question that had boxing fans buzzing: Could Oleksandr Usyk beat a peak Mike Tyson? Without a moment of hesitation, Lewis delivered his verdict—and it left no room for ambiguity.

The question came during an interview where Lewis, known for his analytical approach to the sport, was pressed for his opinion on how Usyk would fare against Tyson at his prime. “There’s no way Usyk could handle a peak Mike Tyson,” Lewis stated bluntly. “Tyson in his prime was a force of nature. His speed, power, and relentless style would be too much for someone like Usyk, who relies more on technique and movement.”

Lewis, who himself defeated Tyson back in 2002, knows firsthand the kind of threat Tyson posed during his heyday. But for him, the peak version of “Iron Mike”—the ferocious fighter who took the world by storm in the late 80s—was on a different level entirely. It’s not just about skill, Lewis emphasized, but the sheer physicality and intimidation that a younger Tyson brought to the ring.

That’s not to say that Lewis doesn’t respect Usyk’s abilities. As the current WBO, WBA, and IBF heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk has proven himself to be a masterful boxer with impeccable footwork and ring IQ. His victories over Anthony Joshua showed that he could outmaneuver and outthink even the bigger, more powerful heavyweights.

“Usyk is a great boxer, no doubt,” Lewis remarked. “He’s shown that he can adapt, that he’s got the skills to beat some of the best heavyweights of this generation. But Tyson at his peak was different. He wouldn’t give you the space to breathe, let alone think. And if you didn’t have power to keep him off, it was only a matter of time.”

The question of how Tyson’s aggressive, power-punching style would match up against Usyk’s more strategic approach is a classic “what if” in the world of boxing—a fantasy matchup that fans love to dissect. While some argue that Usyk’s agility could give him an edge, others, like Lewis, believe that Tyson’s ferocity would be too much to handle.

And Lewis isn’t alone in his assessment. Many boxing analysts agree that a peak Mike Tyson, with his explosive speed and ability to close the distance, would have been a nightmare for a boxer like Usyk. Tyson’s ability to cut off the ring, combined with his devastating hooks and uppercuts, made him one of the most dangerous fighters of his era.

Lennox Lewis’s comments also underscore a broader sentiment in the boxing community—a respect for today’s champions but a certain nostalgia for the warriors of the past. For fans who witnessed Tyson’s meteoric rise, it’s hard to imagine any modern fighter being able to withstand his prime form. And while Usyk has shown that he can adapt to different styles, Tyson’s physicality in the late 80s was a different beast altogether.

It’s a debate that won’t be settled, but Lewis’s opinion certainly adds weight to the discussion. As a fighter who faced—and beat—Tyson, his perspective is one that fans can’t ignore. And even though Usyk continues to dominate the heavyweight division today, the thought of him standing toe-to-toe with a prime Mike Tyson remains a tantalizing “what if.”

At the end of the day, Lennox Lewis’s thoughts on the matter remind us of the greatness that defines both eras. Tyson, with his unmatched intensity, and Usyk, with his technical mastery, represent two very different styles of heavyweight boxing. The question of who would win is ultimately unanswerable, but it’s one that keeps the sport’s history alive, sparking passionate debates among fans.

As Lewis concluded in his interview, “Every generation has its greats. Usyk is making his mark now, but Tyson in his prime was something else entirely. That’s why we still talk about him today.” Whether you agree or not, one thing is certain: the legacy of Mike Tyson, and the intrigue of fighters like Usyk, will keep the boxing world talking for years to come.