Quote Originally Posted by mikeeod View Post
Tyson was a great heavyweight, but he is a level below Evander, Lennox, Klitschkos...etc. He feasted in one of the sorriest bunch if heavyweights ever. It was great that he forced guys to start training for fear of fighting him out of shape, but he never beat a great fighter who was still in his prime. Holmes was well past his best when they fought, and Spinks was a light heavy who was intimidated and showed up for his paycheck. Any elite fighter he faced that had the mentality to beat him didn't just beat him, they knocked him out. I like Mike Tyson. I think he was a hard worker and exciting fighter to watch. I feel bad for the way he was taken advantage if throughout his life and I feel like he took being sentenced to prison for a crime he didn't commit like a man. The myth of prime Tyson, however, has reached ridiculous levels. He is above guys like Berbick, Page, Tubbs, Tucker, Bruno... Etc., but not on the level of Holmes, Holyfield, Lewis and certainly not anywhere near Ali and Louis.
Same old crap spouted by anyone wanting to diminish Tysons acheivments.

Mike fought and beat 3 separate, defending belt holders, the lineal champ and anihalated an all time great who went on to give Mercer his first loss and push Holyfield hard for 12 rounds 6 years after he retired!! In between that he beat the rest of the division and held the three titles together in 6 successful title defences. No other fighter in any other division has made 6 successive defences of all three titles!

Who did "Evander, Lennox and Klitschko" beat that proved to be any better than any fighter Tyson beat?

Holmes beats any of their opponents. In fact the Holmes that Tyson beat probably had enough left to beat Holyfield. He pushed him close 4 years after being flattened by Tyson.

Spinks would probably beat Holyfield also.