Quote Originally Posted by Greenbeanz View Post
People are judged on their career. Just because Tyson had a period after what people consider his prime where he underachieved, that does not mean he should be given credit for what could theoretically have happened. He was not an old man when he finished fighting, he was not wracked and ruined by serious injuries. At his height he was a fighting machine who lit up boxing but he could be beaten and people who on the one hand will acknowledge that Klitschko opponents are often already beaten men before entering the ring, frozen by fear like rabbits in headlights, refuse to see the same tell tale symptoms in many of Iron Mike's victims.
No, just give him credit for what he did acheive up to and including Spinks which is more impressive than what Marciano achieved. Tyson fought and beat the top ten heavies of his era, there was no ther challengers for him. If he hadnt declined so rapidly Kevin Rooney said his management team were actually thinking of retiring Mike early and bringing him back after a few years when some credible challenggers had come through. If Mike had been more disciplined and not been so easily swayed by King, he may have become the greatest ever at heavy, coming back to ruin Holyfield, Bowe, Lewis, all who were getting beat, dropped or hurt every other fight.