My own two cents on this:

First, I think Tyson gets a bum rap about being mentally weak. Where does that come from? Maybe later in his career, after he was going downhill. But was he mentally weak before? I think not. He was getting pummeled by Douglas and didn't quit. He got pummeled by Holyfield and didn't quit. (Well... he DID bite the guy's ear off, which was sort of quitting, by getting disqualified, but oh well).

Second, as objectively as I can... I think Tyson may not have gotten past Vitali. The size difference, Vitali's granite chin... those factors would've been key. But Wladimir? I think Tyson takes his head off. The argument that the Klitschkos don't get hit with uppercuts? Who have they EVER faced that throws the same murderous uppers that Tyson used to throw? No one. Take my word for it. Prime Tyson would've bobbed and weaved his way into Wladimir's guard, thrown some of those bombs, and gotten Wlad out of there in a hurry. Brewster and Sanders put him down.... and they were nowhere near Tyson's quality.