Prime Mike Tyson in this era

[Beanflicker]

I think a lot of you guys are really underestimating the Klitschkos. Yeah, Tyson was probably the greatest puncher in HW history (his combination of power + speed + punching variety is unmatched imo), but like any puncher, he needed to plant his feet.

You guys forget that he often had a lot of problems getting off and landing on big, tall guys who tied him up when he got close. Even 6'4'' bum Mike Jameson effectively tied Mike up and stifled his offense for the first few rounds. 6'4'' James Smith stifled his big punch largely, as did 6'5'' Tony Tucker.

Would Tyson beat the Klitschkos? Like I said, for me it's a toss up. But for all you who think Tyson would just walk in there and bomb them out because they caught punches from Corrie Sanders is just rediculous. The Klitschkos didn't dominate a division just by being big - they have the skill and the knowledge to back it up. They've been great at keep guys out of range and not allowed guys to get set.

[Fenster]

I think a lot of you guys are really underestimating the Klitschkos. Yeah, Tyson was probably the greatest puncher in HW history (his combination of power + speed + punching variety is unmatched imo), but like any puncher, he needed to plant his feet.

You guys forget that he often had a lot of problems getting off and landing on big, tall guys who tied him up when he got close. Even 6'4'' bum Mike Jameson effectively tied Mike up and stifled his offense for the first few rounds. 6'4'' James Smith stifled his big punch largely, as did 6'5'' Tony Tucker.

Would Tyson beat the Klitschkos? Like I said, for me it's a toss up. But for all you who think Tyson would just walk in there and bomb them out because they caught punches from Corrie Sanders is just rediculous. The Klitschkos didn't dominate a division just by being big - they have the skill and the knowledge to back it up. They've been great at keep guys out of range and not allowed guys to get set.

They're not the same person, they have completely different strengths and weaknesses. It's impossible to know whether either could have beaten the same opposition (well it's proven they couldn't).

Prime Tyson was fast and slick enough to crack thunderous punches onto both of their heads.

I'm not sure he'd beat Vitali, if Vitali took the early bombs there's a good chance his own output wears Tyson down, but I'm pretty certain Wlad would have crumbled. Anyone that unleashes an attack against Wlad has him under pressure, and there's not many in history that match Tyson for aggressive spurts.

[Beanflicker]

Prime Tyson was fast and slick enough to crack thunderous punches onto both of their heads.

Could be. I do know that neither Klitschko would just blow over like a card house along the lines of a David Jaco, like some posters seem to think.

It's a tough fight for Mike and it's a tough fight for either Klitschko. Tyson had a lot of power and speed but hey, so does David Haye. Not saying David Haye = Tyson, but Haye found out quickly that it's easier said than done to just go in there and bomb out a Klitschko. We're talking about two guys with serious size, punching power, speed, educated jabs and superior HW foot movement and range. It's a tough fight for Mike.

[Fenster]

Prime Tyson was fast and slick enough to crack thunderous punches onto both of their heads.

Could be. I do know that neither Klitschko would just blow over like a card house along the lines of a David Jaco, like some posters seem to think.

It's a tough fight for Mike and it's a tough fight for either Klitschko. Tyson had a lot of power and speed but hey, so does David Haye. Not saying David Haye = Tyson, but Haye found out quickly that it's easier said than done to just go in there and bomb out a Klitschko. We're talking about two guys with serious size, punching power, speed, educated jabs and superior HW foot movement and range. It's a tough fight for Mike.

The Terminator Klitschko model you're describing, which I agree is borderline unbeatable, is actually two seperate entities. The Klitschko's have different styles. Chins. Power. Speed. Movement. Stamina. Toughness. Bottle. Heart.

If Corrie Sanders had never ironed out Wlad no-one would currently believe it. If Vitali hadn't taken those bombs from Lewis most fans would not currently believe he could have competed with him.

[Beanflicker]

I'm just saying pressuring Wlad is a hell of a lot easier said than done, and if it was that easy it would have been done a hell of a lot more often. Wlad looked like absolute garbage against Corrie but that was 10 years ago. When talking about hypothetical matchups you have to take each guy at their best. I'm looking at the savage Tyson who wiped the floor with Michael Spinks like he was a journeyman, not the guy who looked average and got his shit pushed in by Buster Douglas.

Wlad isn't an easy guy to hit, especially when you have the reach of a middleweight.

[IamInuit]

One thing I have noticed over the years is that boxing fans have the shortest memories in sport. Not only short memories but also selective. Many tend to remember what a guy looked like on his worst day or the months of decline before he left.

I never liked Tyson at the time but that's not relevant. That guy was a machine even leading into his prime years. He started fighting in 1985 and by the end of 1986 he was already at the top of the food chain having fought 15 times in 85 and 13 times in 86 ending in a title. That's unprecedented now and in the mid eighties when it happened.

Tyson was unstoppable for a time. The mere sight of him coming to the ring with no socks, black no frill boots and shorts with a head hole cut through a terry cloth would have most of the guys mentioned asking for a fresh pair of Depends. Its at that very moment that many of Tysons opponents folded. The highlight reels of the man they watched replaying in their minds. I think Wlad falls into that category. Tyson simply gets underneath that jab and it does not end well for Wlad.Tyson probably had the best head movement in boxing history for a heavyweight and could bob and weave as good as any other.He also was extremely fast for a heavyweight.

Vitali could prove more difficult but damn he stands straight up and moves straight back with that kind of posture. He also carries his lead hand at his waist in the process. He gets away with that with slower and less aggressive fighters but its unclear whether he could cope with the Tyson continuous on-slot. Its probably a toss up as others have mentioned. Personally I don't see it going to the cards and I don't see Vitali making it out of the fight off his back in a slug fest.

[Beanflicker]

One thing I have noticed over the years is that boxing fans have the shortest memories in sport. Not only short memories but also selective. Many tend to remember what a guy looked like on his worst day or the months of decline before he left.

I hope that's not aimed at me, I give Tyson full credit as being THE GREATEST puncher in HW history. And I acknowledge that he wasn't just a puncher, he has superior technique, head movement and defenstive skills to go along with the two nuclear bombs on the ends of his arms.

But the Klitschkos have never gotten the proper respect they deserve for the talent they have. And people are still stuck on Wladimir getting run over by Corrie Sanders 10 years back. Under the guidance of Manny Steward, Wladimir improved leaps and bounds since then. While his chin is still a question mark, I don't see any evidence that would suggest he would cower from Tyson or "beat himself" like Michael Spinks did.

When it comes to Tyson, people only remember the KO clips. They forget that just like every other boxer, he had his faults, flaws, and he was given trouble by a more than one opponent. And like I pointed out, his best performances WERE NOT against tall guys with big reach and boxing skill.

Remember that for 10 years, guys have seen the Corrie/Wlad fight as well as the first Brewster fight. If he had an awful chin, people know about it. Yet no one has been able to do it since. And it's not like the guys he fought weren't capable. David Haye is as powerful and explosive a puncher as we've seen in the HW divison for a long time. Wlad has very few holes in his game and leaves very little oppotunity for opponents. To believe that Tyson would just go in there and bomb him out, no sweat, is just unrealistic to me.

[IamInuit]

One thing I have noticed over the years is that boxing fans have the shortest memories in sport. Not only short memories but also selective. Many tend to remember what a guy looked like on his worst day or the months of decline before he left.

I hope that's not aimed at me,

No it was not. Simply a general statement of fact.

[Mr140]

Well Tyson was great but he did fight a lot of cans some of which is did not crush right away. I mean when your best win is Spinks who did not fight any one worth a shit after winning the title. Then Holmes who was out of prime and had not fought for 2 years was coming off some loses as well. Tyson was great but when he stepped up the completion he was facing he lost bad and one of them who was Holyfeild was older and had hart problems. People make excuse more for Tyson then any other fighter more then Ali even i just dont get it.

[Beanflicker]

No it was not. Simply a general statement of fact.

Okie doke. I agree.

[THE PHILOSOPHER]

If u want a legend using leg shots try Andy Hug not Pele Reid:

[ninjaspy3]

One thing I have noticed over the years is that boxing fans have the shortest memories in sport. Not only short memories but also selective. Many tend to remember what a guy looked like on his worst day or the months of decline before he left.

I hope that's not aimed at me, I give Tyson full credit as being THE GREATEST puncher in HW history. And I acknowledge that he wasn't just a puncher, he has superior technique, head movement and defenstive skills to go along with the two nuclear bombs on the ends of his arms.

But the Klitschkos have never gotten the proper respect they deserve for the talent they have. And people are still stuck on Wladimir getting run over by Corrie Sanders 10 years back. Under the guidance of Manny Steward, Wladimir improved leaps and bounds since then. While his chin is still a question mark, I don't see any evidence that would suggest he would cower from Tyson or "beat himself" like Michael Spinks did.

When it comes to Tyson, people only remember the KO clips. They forget that just like every other boxer, he had his faults, flaws, and he was given trouble by a more than one opponent. And like I pointed out, his best performances WERE NOT against tall guys with big reach and boxing skill.

Remember that for 10 years, guys have seen the Corrie/Wlad fight as well as the first Brewster fight. If he had an awful chin, people know about it. Yet no one has been able to do it since. And it's not like the guys he fought weren't capable. David Haye is as powerful and explosive a puncher as we've seen in the HW divison for a long time. Wlad has very few holes in his game and leaves very little oppotunity for opponents. To believe that Tyson would just go in there and bomb him out, no sweat, is just unrealistic to me.

Granted David Haye doesnt have the chin or the cojohnes to pull off that tactic. At least tyson would give it an honest go.

[TitoFan]

I think a lot of you guys are really underestimating the Klitschkos. Yeah, Tyson was probably the greatest puncher in HW history (his combination of power + speed + punching variety is unmatched imo), but like any puncher, he needed to plant his feet.

Well..........

Not really. Remember Tyson's flying left hooks, where he practically lifted himself off the ground with the power they were thrown. Sure... he planted his feet. But the delivery of these shots was so-o-o quick, the opponent had little time to react with defense. Tyson's short arms and natural quickness gave him so much hand speed... and with power... that it basically neutralized a lot of bigger men's defenses.

But I think it's a mistake to lump in Vitali with Wladimir. Some say they would both lose to Tyson... some say both would beat Tyson. I'm with the group that says Tyson would annilihate Wlad, but would have a much harder time against Vitali. Tyson might still win... but it's by no means a foregone conclusion.

Vitali's chin was in fact a lot more resistant than Wlad's. That is an undisputable truth. Yeah he was slow and ponderous... but he's never been in trouble and much less knocked down or KO'ed.

[TysonBomb]

Notice that in those isolated gifs of Tillis doing reasonably well against Tyson (that you probably jacked from a user named "Tezel" of another boxing forum) that he was using UPPERCUTS

A punch that NEITHER Klit throws, especially Wlad.

Neither Klit would survive ... because nethier of them can fight inside ... Wladimir was KTFO by Sanders while attempting to clinch ... if he can't handle Sanders speed then what about Tyson who had speed that was off the charts ?Vitali and Wladimir are both bothered by speed ... as show in the Sanders fights.

Tyson was scoring KOs in the middle of someone trying to clinch him. Remember the second Bruno fight? Tyson KOed Bruno while he tried to clinch him.

Vitalis chin will only last for so long ... Tyson was KOing guys who had iron chins and had never been KOed before. Either that or his face would fall apart from the dynamite in Tyson's gloves. Tyson wouldn't allow him to control the distance and then Vitali would be an open target for Tyson to explode on.

Vitali could see Lewis's punches, which is why he could take them but he wouldn't see Tyson's, who would be throwing from every angle and in bunches with lightning hand speed.

[Beanflicker]

Neither Klit would survive ... because nethier of them can fight inside ... Wladimir was KTFO by Sanders while attempting to clinch ... if he can't handle Sanders speed then what about Tyson who had speed that was off the charts ?Vitali and Wladimir are both bothered by speed ... as show in the Sanders fights.

1. Who cares if they can't fight on the inside, I doubt either of them would attempt to fight on the inside against 5'10'', 70" reach Mike Tyson.

2. Bringing up the Sanders fight is rediculous because, as anyone can plainly see, that was 10 years ago and Wlad has improved 10-fold since then. You have to compare best at best. If you want to bring up their worst fights, why not look at how Tyson ate Buster Douglas' jab for the entire fight before getting sparked out.

3. Explain why you don't think Vitali or Wlad could survive Tyson when guys like Mitch Green, Bonecrusher Smith and Tony Tucker were able to? We're those guys superior to the Klitschko's in ANY concievable way?

4. Bothered by speed... both guys have fought guys with quick hands to great success. Corrie managed to land a couple of good blows against Vitali, but ended up taking a monumental beating.