Quote Originally Posted by Ron Swanson View Post
First, Muhammed Ali was hated by more people in his day than Broner.

As for Tyson, he was what people wanted in a heavyweight champion. He seemed like a caged animal that was only let loose on fight night. And he went in there to destroy. Then when he was allowed to be in the media he was a train wreck. Train wrecks are both horrifying and compelling. A wreck doesn't have to obstruct a road to cause a traffic jam because everyone wants to get a good look.

There will always be a bit of intrigue with Mike, how we can never know what might happen at the next moment.
Agreed.

Also @ Manju whot stated: Tyson's early fights were featured on (free) network TV. He built a following there, as these fights were really something to behold.

It's hard for kids today to know fighters who fight on cable or PPV if their parents can't afford it.

Back to Ron- Yeah caged animal defined him- black trunks -black shoes, no socks. No glitter trunks. He paced the ring. Shit was surreal to watch in reel time.
But for those who didn't grow up in that time- Tyson was a known fuckup of a kid to whom was moved from school to school by D'amato ..They made him fight often to keep him outta trouble.
Tyson quotes were a trip, too To Ruddock "I'm gonna make sure you kiss me good with thos big lips"

I forget who Tyson beat--post fight he said everytime he hit the guy he'd make little girl noises- and this high voiced Tyson doing the impression was hillarious...

I think I knew he was going to have a hard career when he had that street fight with Mitch Green and blackend & bruised that eye bad...

Watch a Tyson fight & it becomes easy to know why he was popular ...to me at least.