Lets end the Mike Tyson debate

[denilson200]

So since this is a debate just how would Tyson do against the champs of the past and their competition?


Starting around 1906: Left out the likes of Corbett, Fitzy, Jeffries and Sullivan.

Call it catharsis. Been seeing these threads since the internet was invented.

Tommy Burns. Tyson destroys him and anybody he beat legitimately.

Jack Johnson. With the exception of Jeanette, Langford and Mcvea who would pose problems for Mike I think he waxes everyone on Johnson’s ledger and beats Jack himself.

Dempsey and Willard. Tyson beats the piss out of both of them and anyone on both of their charts.

Tunney. He never defended once he won it but head to head I just don’t see him keeping Mike off him and with or without the neutral corner rule I think he leaves the ring on his back.

Schmeling. Tyson beats him anyone he did with the exception of Louis and if people are honest with themselves there is a chance he gets to Louis also.

Sharkey. Tyson slaughters him beats all he did.

Carnera. Ditto

Baer. Tyson v Max would have been fun to watch. Tyson beats everybody he ever fought.

Braddock. Tyson again.

Louis. I would tend to lean with Louis and I think a prime Walcott would be tough on Tyson. I think a prime Ezzard could beat Tyson. Tyson beats up everyone else on Joe’s hit list.

Charles. See above and I think guys like Johnson and Satterfield would have been good scraps with Mike. Can’t discount some of those Murderers Row guys with anyone really although they all may have been too small in their prime.

Jersey Joe. Essentially covered.

Marciano. The Rock deserves his respect but he would not last long with Tyson nor would anyone he fought when he fought them. He never fought any of the guys already mentioned in their prime or even close to it.

Floyd Patterson. He gets blasted out by Tyson and in Liston like fashion. Speaking of Sonny that is a hell of a fight. They could easily split a couple. Laugh if you will but I think Chuvalo’s durability troubles Mike but Tyson beats everyone else Floyd did.

Johansson. Tyson rubs him out along with everyone he fought.

Liston. Hell of a fight between the two but once again nobody he beat bothers Mike. Williams gives him a go but that’s about it

Terrell. Tyson beats him and anyone he beat except one that he lost to.

Ali. Here is where Tyson runs into some trouble. I’ll leave out those already mentioned.
Frazier was my favourite hev but I don’t think he hangs with Tyson. Mike was faster, had better feet and head movement and concussive power from both sides. Hell of a fight but I think Mike prevails. Norton's crab style may have given issues to the likes of Ali and Holmes but it simply does not work with Tyson. It’s a 50/50 fight

Foreman. Frazier's fight simply does not reflect how a Tyson fight pans out. Nobody really got to Foreman prior to Ron Lyle. Tyson gets to him and once he decks Foreman his finishing kick would finish the job. Speaking of Lyle imo he has a much better chance at Tyson then Foreman despite being beaten by him. That’s another 50/50 fight. I think Jimmy Young has the goods to beat Tyson. Not much hope for Earnie I’m afraid and Leon might lose his life. I think Mike at his best beats any version of Holmes. I believe a prime Ali beats Mike but it’s not a walk in the park.

Holmes. Anyone Holmes beat Mike beats with perhaps a few exceptions. I think a more experienced Witherspoon gives Tyson some issues and a prime Mercer. We all know that Holyfield beat Mike but I don’t think he beats the late eighties version or its certainly not clear that he would.

The 80’s and 90’s are pretty self explanatory since he was in them and the only two up to say 1999 that beat a prime Tyson are most likely Lennox and Vitali. It’s hard to know what happened for sure to Mike on that fateful night in Tokyo but to his credit Douglas fought a perfect fight and probably could not have done it twice given how he looked against Holyfield. Bowe probably would have given him a good scrap. Moorer would be in a coma.

From 2000 on I again do not see anyone other then Lewis or Vitali that beat a prime Mike including all the belt holders and anyone they fought. If Sanders was serious he may have had a chance but Mike cruises through.

Wlad. The Wlad of today might have a shot but nobody on his list does.


My conclusion: This is just my opinion based on the whole picture. I never even liked Tyson and kept going out of my way to see his fights hoping he would lose. As much as Leonard stopping Hearns in the 14th was one of my worst nights, seeing Tyson on all fours reaching for his mouth piece was a highlight. My personal feelings are simply not relevant.

Tyson is an ATG and 1st ballot hall of famer.
Tyson is a Top 10 ATG heavyweight.
Tyson is arguably a Top 5 ATG heavyweight.

Good post.

I agree that the only person I see being able to beat a prime Tyson was Ali in his prime.

The prime Ali for me, was his 1966 Cleveland Williams fight. The prime Tyson was when he first won his title aganist Berbick

Who would win ?

As I say for me, Ali.

Not so much because Ali would have outboxed and outdanced him. More that Ali would have took all the punishment Tyson could dish out. Some past great heavyweaights may have been able to hang on for lopsided UD for Tyson but I just see Ali being able to keep popping and slashing and sticking and coming back for more and more and taking Tysons shots and either stopping him late or winning a UD.

Now Ali would have to had take an INCREDIBLE amount punishment and we would probably want a Steve Smoger referee who did'nt stop fights easily because I see Ali taken shots here maybe even worse than even in the Thriller in Manila and Rumble In Jungle but I see Ali prevailing in the end.

Ali had a great chin, heart and courage not to mention a fantastic boxer too, he had in built radar to escape from punches and could tie his opponent up. All in all.

Tyson is ATG. No question. That is judging him in his prime. A persons prime does not mean age wise as Tyson was still only 24 when he lost to Douglas. Prime means when he was at most focused to boxing physically and mentally when he did not have any distractions outside the ring. When he was hungry and wanted it. By Douglas Tyson got married, played around with women, spent money, Don King, Hangers on, Cars, Mansion.

He lived the lifestyle

As Mickey says in the Rocky films "The worst thing a fighter can do is get civilised"

[Master]

Even if Tyson could beat Louis, Ali or Holmes I still do not have him above them as they has longevity and consistency to be classed as true greats.

[Beanflicker]

I love how the "let's end the debate" thread ended up being 10 pages of debating.

[Mr140]

Well bean if we are going to have to end a debate we might as well have a long one before it ends. I mean if we were going to do a Tyson Ali thing again would of already been 30 pages. I seen some good points we even talk about steroid use as well just get it in one big thread lol.

[Beanflicker]

Well bean if we are going to have to end a debate we might as well have a long one before it ends. I mean if we were going to do a Tyson Ali thing again would of already been 30 pages. I seen some good points we even talk about steroid use as well just get it in one big thread lol.

Oh I wasn't being sarcastic, I enjoy the thread lol

[Beanflicker]

I still can't believe people think guys like Ken Norton, Joe Frazier or Rocky Marciano would have a shot against a prime Tyson

[ray corso]

Not sure why you think Mike walks over Marciano ! Kennys style wouldn't lend very well against Mike plus Kenny was notoriously a slow started who like to get a feel for the opponent and that alone doesn't set to good against high volumn guys like Mike! Same with Joe, his one handed attack is a liability against Mike!

Marciano was a tremendous competitor first! He could hurt ANYONE with either hand and was a terrific body puncher who judged distance as well as anyone who fought! He could counter with either hand and did work in combination too! He slipped inside and outside and could get underneath the taller guys also!!
Size; Tysons best was 5'9" 215lbs
Size; Rockys best was 5'11" 191lbs.............to me theres no advantages with size comparisons from height to reach. I like Marcianos work rate over Mike once they get passed 4 rounds! Both could get in trouble early but I think Rocky has an edge as the rounds go bye!

This could sell any venue out and the gate would be insane along with the PPV, if these men fought each other 3 times they'd never have to fight again!! Then again one or both wouldn't be the same again probably either!

Ray.