Quote:
Originally Posted by Taeth
If Tyson would've lost to Lewis at their respective best just because of siza differential, then i think we'd be seeing a lot more L's on Tyson's record.
Tyson knocks out Lewis at his best, no problem!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Taeth
If Tyson would've lost to Lewis at their respective best just because of siza differential, then i think we'd be seeing a lot more L's on Tyson's record.
Tyson knocks out Lewis at his best, no problem!
Lewis wasn't even a pro when Tyson was at his best...Lewis started pro boxing in 89...just a tad late for the prime Tyson....I figure had Tyson ever thought about working the body vs Lewis he MAY have had more of the puncher's chance....I still have no idea why he just gave up like he did, and I don't mean about not getting up, he got his ass whipped but he just didn't bother to attack or cover up or anything....all this goes back to how he never changed his style to adapt to his age...he should have thrown more quick punches and less haymaker type bombs, he would have had a load more stamina and more than likely been able to win more rounds too
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lyle
Yes i know Lewis wasn't pro when Tyson was at his best, but in terms of both fighters at their peak, Tyson knocks out Lewis.
Tyson never changed his style because he didn't want to, he wasn't as committed as he had been in his earlier years, but much of what you say is right in theory, however, the fact remains that Tyson simply wanted to land a big shot to knock out Lewis and didn't have the motivation to change tact. Around the time Lewis and Tyson fought i'd say that this is when people generally feel that Lennox Lewis was at his best, or in his prime, whatever way you want to put it...
Now think of the prime Tyson facing that Lewis...
I think Lewis would have fought a Prime Tyson differently yet even more effectively....Tyson ate right uppercuts throughout his career and Lewis had that in his arsenal big time! I think Lewis would fight a Prime Tyson like he fought Tua, safe and methodically
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lyle
HaHa, Tyson ate ears too... he'd have been more than a match for anything Lewis had to bring. Still i like the way you think, the only problem is Tyson (in his prime) would've gave him far more to think about than Tua did, Tua looked for one big shot much as the ageing Tyson did against Lewis.
Very true Tyson used more handspeed and combinations than Tua but in his Prime Lennox was the bigger and smarter fighter and I think that really gives him a huge advantage.
I also think a Prime Riddick Bowe would have wrecked Tyson...bad style matchup for him.
A Prime George Foreman would get to Tyson as well.
Ali might have been easier to tag with hard shots but I still see Ali winning by UD.
Tyson-Jack Johnson would have been great as would Tyson-Dempsey.
I do think the highest rated guy Tyson would beat in their prime is Larry Holmes...The Easton Assasin could be outworked and often left himself open for the big shot
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lyle
As i i've mentioned, i feel a prime Tyson is capable of beating any Heavyweight in history, i agree with some of your opinions though CC.
That was one stunning arguement my friend. I also believe a prime tyson would have beaten all the champions in the history of the sport. COOLCLICK matey!Quote:
Originally Posted by CopeAli
I'm with you. :coolclick:Quote:
Originally Posted by cockey cockney
lacked the balls?! i reckon it would take a rather large set to step in the ring opposite any Heavyweight Champ at only 20 years old, let alone become the Undisputed Champion. How is the weather in lala land today?Quote:
Originally Posted by porkypara
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hairdoo
Ha Ha, Spot on, CC.
Lacked Balls??? Another comment that defies belief...
It takes Balls to even set foot in the ring to begin with!!!
The bottom line is, Mike Tyson continued to fight when he himself knew that he was no longer the force he once was, and he could no longer do what he once did, yet, he still 'HAD THE BALLS' to get into the ring with Lennox Lewis and show tremendous courage.
Lewis was only really interested in fighting Tyson for many years as he believed that fighting him would cement his legacy as a great heavyweight. The fact that Tyson was far past his prime didn't seem to matter...
Tyson is not over rated...
And Tyson is an all time great, and i'm leaving it at that!
I'm not sure about the balls thing but he sure didn't have any money to show for how great he once was. This might have percipitated the fight with Lewis.
Tyson was a great, just not in my top 10...but he's in the top 20. Matched vs any all-time greats is just a loaded question for any all time great fighter
Yeah, Top 20 at least. Maybe Top 15.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lyle
I was lucky enough to have watched most every Tyson fight live (telecast) when I was growing up. I remember having to sneak into the local pub (underage) a good 3 hours before the card started in order to get a decent seat. It was easy for a kid to escape the attention of the barkeep in what would eventually be a sea of people, all clammering for an unobstructed view of the TV. Those who arrived late would drive from pub to pub hoping to get lucky and secure a stool somewhere. If you missed a Tyson fight, you may as well have been invisible for the next three days. Everybody would be talking about it... you knew this. At school, at work, at home. I live in Australia, which is hardly a boxing heartland, but everybody knew when Mike was fighting... and everybody watched.
So I'm watching a Tyson doco on tele the other day. It's just like every other film made about the man. It chronicles his rise to greatness... self-destruction... fall from grace... blah, blah, blah...
Not sure why I bothered watching it. Maybe because I haven't sat down and watched some of his fights in a while. To be honest, i doubt i'd care if he was fighting tommorow. He is no longer a boxer I would go out of my way to watch.
Anyway, I asked myself if maybe he wasn't really all that I remembered. Maybe he just seemed that good because I was young and maybe I got caught up in Tyson-mania. So I kept watching.
I'm glad I did.
Pre-nineties Tyson was great. He fought every fighter worth fighting in the division and made them all look ordinary at best. He built a name for himself with little other than his ring prowess. His record spoke for itself. The fans saw it and more importantly, his opponents saw it. He stepped in to the ring against Trevor Berbick as a 21 year old contender for the heavywieght championship of the world. Even as I type that last sentence, it is still hard for me to comprehend how good one would need to be not only to get to that position, but also to come into the ring knowing that a bigger, more experienced, title holder is intimidated by you. Seasoned campaigners... scared. And why not? He was a formidable package... Strength, speed, balance, instinct. Wasted talent? - I say "no". He reached the pinnacle of the sport. His tenure wasn't as long as some of the other greats, but he made his mark earlier than most.
Sorry about the longwinded post, but my belief that Tyson is and always will be one of the greatest was reaffirmed recently, and it would take much argument to convince me otherwise.
Dayyum boy...ur a smooth talker...im wiping the tear away from my eye...that speech was even more beautiful than the one at the end of Jerry McGuire...anyway, u had me "I was lucky enough ...". I totally agree. People who question Tysons place in history tend to do it out of dislike for him as a person rather than recognising what he achieved and how he achieved it.Quote:
Originally Posted by eggplant