Quote Originally Posted by miles
Tyson did not fail....He did reach greatness
Agreed. Tyson did reach greatness and it gets on my nerves when people don't recognise that. As i've said before, he lit up a division seemingly in decline following the retirement of Muhammad Ali, and then steamrolled through the best fighters that the heavyweight division had to offer at the time. However, Tyson was his own worst enemy and after Cus D'Amato and Jim Jacobs died he went in the wrong direction. Parting with Kevin Rooney was a major mistake IMO but no-one really knows the reasoning behind that. There's plenty of rumours though, and Rooney himself has gave his verdict. Tyson simply weren't educated for fame and didn't really know what to do with it and this aided his downfall. Though the hangers-on, ill advice, and people generally trying to steal or make money from him never helped, still Tyson didn't do himself any favours.
My question to people who don't recognise Tyson's greatness is this... Would you label Lennox Lewis a great? Indeed the answer should be 'Yes!' IMO.
In which case Tyson should be labelled as such. The heavyweight division wasn't the best when Tyson was at his best but it was no worse than the heavyweight division when Lewis what at his best, however, Lewis -Tyson never got the opportunity to fight each other when they were both at their best. Simply put Tyson beat many fighters who sometimes don't get the credit they deserve i.e. Tony Tucker, Mitch Green, James Tillis, James Smith etc, and he put paid to opinions about fighters labelled capable of beating the then unbeaten Tyson i.e. Tyrell Biggs, Michael Spinks.
Being the youngest man to win the heavyweight title against Trevor Berbick was obviously a great achievement in itself and there were also good victories over the legendary Larry Holmes (although past his best), Carl Williams, Frank Bruno, and Tony Tubbs.
For arguments sake... When comparing that record with Lewis's i think it compares well, and both Lewis and Tyson achieved greatness IMO.