Originally Posted by J_Undisputed
I think all the people that are saying tyson would have only been able to keep his foot on the pedal for 2 rounds but its all he would have needed to beat jones having been basing too much on highlights of the early tyson.
After tyson got out of prison, he didnt even move his head anymore. He moved his hands a lot instead. He didnt have his footwork and he'd gas himself out early loading up with telegraphed punches. Its no coincidence that many of the guys he eventually caught up with after early difficulties were guys like Botha, nielson and mathis. They werent in shape and mike simply had less dead weight to drag around with him so he outlasted them. Lewis cut tyson to ribbons because he was prepared, in shape and not scared. A smaller holyfield also bested tyson without taking horrible abuse by using the land and clinch method.
A fighter like jones jr (prepared, in shape, with super fast hands and unorthodox style who has barely been touched by lighter faster fighters) carried up enough power to rock Ruiz at one point. Tyson would have fits with this kind of fighter. Lets not forget that Jones also held a fighter (albeit smaller) with the same style and trainer as the young tyson to a "0 Landed" punch stat already.
The younger tyson would be a completely different story as he had the style and discipline to make use of his power. He had excellent head movement and threw combinations not just, hail mary one shot bombs.