The worst possible matchups

[marbleheadmaui]

Your mission, should you choose to accept it is to name a fighter, or fighters, and the most disadvantageous style matchup you can imagine and why. If you are going to compare across time, PLEASE adjust for same day weigh-ins. I mean let's face it, Brandon Rios isn't a lightweight in any useful sense.

For Mike Tyson? Old George Foreman. Tyson just never had a plan B and if a guy could handle three rounds of fury? Tyson became ordinary. Old George had a granite chin, a calm, relentless demeanor and a heavy jab.

Marvin Hagler? Ray Robinson. Marvin occasionally flinched mentally in the face of a great reputation. Robinson never, ever did that. It would have taken him 6-7 rounds to get into the fight and by then? Ray would be uncatchable.

Ruben Olivares? The guy who would give him the biggest problem would be long, with a great jab, sound technique and an Iron jaw. Sounds like Panama Al Brown.

Roy Jones? Michael Spinks. Long, tall, technically sound and a big punch.


I'm gonna close with an odd one. Two 130 pounders who stylistically would be the worst matchup I can think of for the other. One guy struggled with fast, technically proficient boxers and the other, the few times he struggled, it was with long, tall punchers. Alexis Arguello and Floyd Mayweather.

Where am I wrong and waddya got?

[Spicoli]

Your mission, should you choose to accept it is to name a fighter, or fighters, and the most disadvantageous style matchup you can imagine and why. If you are going to compare across time, PLEASE adjust for same day weigh-ins. I mean let's face it, Brandon Rios isn't a lightweight in any useful sense.

For Mike Tyson? Old George Foreman. Tyson just never had a plan B and if a guy could handle three rounds of fury? Tyson became ordinary. Old George had a granite chin, a calm, relentless demeanor and a heavy jab.
Marvin Hagler? Ray Robinson. Marvin occasionally flinched mentally in the face of a great reputation. Robinson never, ever did that. It would have taken him 6-7 rounds to get into the fight and by then? Ray would be uncatchable.

Ruben Olivares? The guy who would give him the biggest problem would be long, with a great jab, sound technique and an Iron jaw. Sounds like Panama Al Brown.

Roy Jones? Michael Spinks. Long, tall, technically sound and a big punch.


I'm gonna close with an odd one. Two 130 pounders who stylistically would be the worst matchup I can think of for the other. One guy struggled with fast, technically proficient boxers and the other, the few times he struggled, it was with long, tall punchers. Alexis Arguello and Floyd Mayweather.

Where am I wrong and waddya got?

100 %. Styles and more styles. Not to mention on mental game Foreman would have had him in his back pocket!

[marbleheadmaui]

Your mission, should you choose to accept it is to name a fighter, or fighters, and the most disadvantageous style matchup you can imagine and why. If you are going to compare across time, PLEASE adjust for same day weigh-ins. I mean let's face it, Brandon Rios isn't a lightweight in any useful sense.

For Mike Tyson? Old George Foreman. Tyson just never had a plan B and if a guy could handle three rounds of fury? Tyson became ordinary. Old George had a granite chin, a calm, relentless demeanor and a heavy jab.
Marvin Hagler? Ray Robinson. Marvin occasionally flinched mentally in the face of a great reputation. Robinson never, ever did that. It would have taken him 6-7 rounds to get into the fight and by then? Ray would be uncatchable.

Ruben Olivares? The guy who would give him the biggest problem would be long, with a great jab, sound technique and an Iron jaw. Sounds like Panama Al Brown.

Roy Jones? Michael Spinks. Long, tall, technically sound and a big punch.


I'm gonna close with an odd one. Two 130 pounders who stylistically would be the worst matchup I can think of for the other. One guy struggled with fast, technically proficient boxers and the other, the few times he struggled, it was with long, tall punchers. Alexis Arguello and Floyd Mayweather.

Where am I wrong and waddya got?

100 %. Styles and more styles. Not to mention on mental game Foreman would have had him in his back pocket!

Yeah Old George was one self posessed guy wasn't he? Knew what he was about and didn't sweat the small stuff. I can see a press conference where Tyson goes on one of his rants while George has a stone face. Finally after about five minutes George stands up and softly says "Why don't you sit down son." I think Tyson would have,

[p4pking]

I thought the thread was after worst matchups for a potential viewer. Was going to say Derrick Gainer vs Zahir Raheem or something like that hehe. All good calls on the original post for sure. I could see old Foreman having beaten Tyson after prison but probably not when he was truly at his peak imo. When the fight was actually discussed Foreman was still shaking off tons of rust to fighting low threats and Tyson rapidly declined thereafter. I think old George get's a tad overrated by some people. Aside from landing a great shot on Michael Moorer he didn't exactly beat anyone special in his comeback, and was outboxed over 12 rounds by Tommy Morrison. Certainly Tyson COULD have won a decision. I thought Alex Stewart beat Foreman clearly as well, have heard Shulcz easily could have gotten the nod. Holyfield just outworked him over 12 rounds and Foreman only had a few real moments in the fight, Bert Cooper( a poor mans Tyson at best) had Holyfield in so much more trouble his next fight etc. It's nice to think Foreman would have beaten Tyson mentally and I'm sure he would have had moments late in the fight, but realistically I doubt he would have actually stopped Tyson or won more than a couple rounds.