How is Tyson not the greatest heavyweight puncher?

[powerpuncher]

i guess it depends on your definition of puncher then. i definitely think that he would be in the top 3. i dont think that he is a top 10 HW ever but as for a pure puncher, i agree that he should be among the top few.

[ross]

i guess it depends on your definition of puncher then. i definitely think that he would be in the top 3. i dont think that he is a top 10 HW ever but as for a pure puncher, i agree that he should be among the top few.

The way he flattened Holmes is proof of his power, technique, skill, whatever. When an older Holmes can extend, beat and give a hard fight to Holyfield, Mercer and McCall and take all their best comfortably, it just goes to show what Tyson had. Whether it be quicker punches or better skill to get inside or bigger power altogether.

[Fenster]

The mob that make me laugh more are the ones that say Tyson wasn't a big puncher it was the combinations.

The fuck can anyone seriously watch Tyson and think - nahh he's not a powerful puncher he just throws lots.

[Beanflicker]

The mob that make me laugh more are the ones that say Tyson wasn't a big puncher it was the combinations.

The fuck can anyone seriously watch Tyson and think - nahh he's not a powerful puncher he just throws lots.

LOL, Tyson not a big puncher.

Hurricane Katrina was just a little bit of wind and rain, too then

[Beanflicker]

Mike Tyson's one-punched so many dudes unconscious. I can't think of anyone who has so many KO's by one punch with either hand, except maybe Julian Jackson

[beenKOed]

The mob that make me laugh more are the ones that say Tyson wasn't a big puncher it was the combinations.

The fuck can anyone seriously watch Tyson and think - nahh he's not a powerful puncher he just throws lots.

His success did not just depend on his speed, combinations, huge punch with either hand, fierce competitive spirit or an innate ability to almost always be in position to deliver something big. His success depended on a combination of all these abilities, so I think you can say all the great punchers were combination punchers in that way.
Butterbean has a huge punch. Galento had a huge punch. Neither one of these guys are going to show up on an all time great punchers list, not anywhere near the top.
As to why Tyson comes before or after some other big puncher on a list, it's just an opinion and everyone has one.

We haven't even talked about the drugs and roids? Tyson took. Did those help or hurt him? What would they have done for Louis' or Marciano's careers?

[X]

I reckon that there were people who were a bit more heavy handed than Iron Mike, such as Big George Foreman and (arguably) people like Marciano and some fringe contenders like Gerry Cooney ....... But Tyson was one of the best FINISHERS I've ever seen.

Sure, he blew out lots of people early on with one punch, but by and large they were early career cannon fodder. Later on, if you notice, he didn't get that many one punch kayos. The ref either stopped it, of he was onto them and he closed the show.

Along with the Manassa Mauler, Iron Mike was an electrifying finisher and he stands comparison in that regard with any heavyweight that walked into a ring

[Beanflicker]

Sure, he blew out lots of people early on with one punch, but by and large they were early career cannon fodder. Later on, if you notice, he didn't get that many one punch kayos.

Ok well from when he fought the world champ on, I can think of...

Berbick, Tubbs, Spinks, Carl Williams, Tillman, Frans Botha, Etienne as one punch KO's. Those are world class guys (at the time anyway) going down from one punch.

[X]

Sure, he blew out lots of people early on with one punch, but by and large they were early career cannon fodder. Later on, if you notice, he didn't get that many one punch kayos.

Ok well from when he fought the world champ on, I can think of...

Berbick, Tubbs, Spinks, Carl Williams, Tillman, Frans Botha, Etienne as one punch KO's. Those are world class guys (at the time anyway) going down from one punch.

yeah, you could argue that. The point I was trying to make is that Berbick and Williams (at least) were actually stopped on their feet. They had got up but were in no fit state to continue. Spinks had already been knocked down, and Tyson then finished him off. I think Tyson was a fearsome puncher, but in his prime he didn't overly rely on that like he did later, he threw combinations and it was his skill at finishing off people that was his greatest strength rather than his pure punching power.

[vfurlani]

The mob that make me laugh more are the ones that say Tyson wasn't a big puncher it was the combinations.

The fuck can anyone seriously watch Tyson and think - nahh he's not a powerful puncher he just throws lots.

I would say Tyson has to be in the argument. I would agree in his heyday the best pure puncher ever. George Foreman is bigger but doesn't have the hand speed in his prime. His punches were heavy, but he didn't have the snap. Tyson had hand speed close to Floyd Patterson, and with Tyson's weight advantage he has the power edge. Frazier, Gerry Conney (hook alone), are the only other ones I can say have power. Current crop - forget about it. Just to qualify, I am rating 70's and later, I can't say Marciano, Johnson, Johannson because I just don't know. Great subject.

[johnsebastianmiran]

Mike naturally has a great punch but let us not forget that on certain days we don't always have that energy and power in full gear so the speed must be worked on and the combinations have to be thrown with good timing. My assessment of Mike is that he as a monster with the one punch knockout power but those combinations he hit you with made you wish you did a swan dive in round one because they looked crippling but mark my words the only reason someone would be standing a little longer was because he did not make himself available for destruction and after a while Mike's blows made guys argue with their legs to get them the hell out of there.. People like Foreman had strength but they didn't use angles like Mike who was a true student of boxing history but the partying conflicted with his receiving a PHD in pugilism. Gerry Cooney well what can I say, Larry Holmes didn't feel like giving up the title and he played a good psychological game even though at the time I wondered if he could even spell the word he had an excellent night and fought intelligently.

[vfurlani]

Mike naturally has a great punch but let us not forget that on certain days we don't always have that energy and power in full gear so the speed must be worked on and the combinations have to be thrown with good timing. My assessment of Mike is that he as a monster with the one punch knockout power but those combinations he hit you with made you wish you did a swan dive in round one because they looked crippling but mark my words the only reason someone would be standing a little longer was because he did not make himself available for destruction and after a while Mike's blows made guys argue with their legs to get them the hell out of there.. People like Foreman had strength but they didn't use angles like Mike who was a true student of boxing history but the partying conflicted with his receiving a PHD in pugilism. Gerry Cooney well what can I say, Larry Holmes didn't feel like giving up the title and he played a good psychological game even though at the time I wondered if he could even spell the word he had an excellent night and fought intelligently.

What many forget and you are right on the money was early in his career he got his PHD in pugilism as you properly say. He had great combos. He was viscous with his Hooks and Uppercuts. He max combo's where 3 or 4 punches. Unfortunately that PHD turned into Dr. Kovorkian and good went to bad. Then he lost his heart.

[Beanflicker]

I think the bottom line is if you take a young angry kid with FANTASTIC genetics and natural athleticism, power and speed, and you make him live with a legendary boxing trainer, where he does nothing but train, study old films of all of boxing's greatest fighters and dream about being a world champ... eventually he's going to be really good a knocking motherfuckers out.

[Beanflicker]

i guess it depends on your definition of puncher then. i definitely think that he would be in the top 3. i dont think that he is a top 10 HW ever but as for a pure puncher, i agree that he should be among the top few.

I define it as the combination of everything put together: speed, power, accuracy, combination ability, types of punches able to utilize, ect.

So many times when we mention big punchers we mention guys like Hearns, Frazier, Trinidad, ect, and fair enough, but they were more or less known for knocking guys out with one hand or even one particular punch. How many guys did Frazier KO with his right, or Hearns with his left? Tyson could take your jaw off your face with any punch in the book. He knocked guys out/down with everything, right hooks to the body, left uppercuts to the head. He was the perfect punching machine.

And then if you look at the guys who could knock guys out with either hand, did they have anywhere near the speed or technique that Tyson had? Hell no. I don't know who could possibly outrank Tyson? Marciano? Great puncher, two handed power, he was no Mike Tyson. Foreman was slow and wild.

[Spicoli]

Obviously he was devastating with one hand but ironically what would get any huge puncher in trouble was getting away from combination punching, loading up and leaving openings for guys who didn't shit themselves at the first incoming. Tyson's hand speed was top notch.