What if Tyson and Douglas had a rematch?

[generalbulldog]

Pressure fighters do burn out quickly because of the punishment they take, but here's the thing, Tyson barely got hit when he was with the Catskill gang.

It's not so much the punishment as it's just a hard style to keep up. All the bobbing and weaving and combination punching that requires a youthful exuberance to keep it up and be effective.

ross, I am a child of the 1980's you don't have to tell me how popular he was back then. All I know is that Cus D'Mato's system doesn't make for invincible fighters it has it's strengths and weaknesses just like any other training has. No one is saying Tyson isn't great, no one is saying Tyson wasn't a wonderful talent...I'm just being real about the guy and that style of fighting. Tyson's style was a bully style watch him in any clinch, his head is always down in close and his forearm is usually in the throat of the other fighter....and heavyweights back in the 1980's weren't near as big as they are now 218-230 was about the average weight no matter how tall they were

And that's because most of the heavyweights today are fatasses if youre talking about averages. Let's take a look at the guys he fought from the Berbick fight to Ruddock, until he got sent off to prison.

Berbick- 218
Smith- 233
Tucker-221
Thomas-217
Biggs-228
Holmes-225
Tubbs-238
Spinks-212
Bruno-228
Williams-218
Douglass-231
Tillman-215
Stewart-218
Ruddock I- 228
Ruddock II -238

It seems to me the guys Tyson fought starting with Berbick were in the averages of 220+. You make it sound like he was fighting guys under 200 pounds. And why are you comparing the HW's in the 80s to today? IS it because the Klit brothers are in this era and you're trying to make it sound like the Klit brothers are doing something impressive when trying to bring up the average weight of HW's today?

I'll say it here the 21 year old Tyson under Rooney blasts out Wladimir within 3 and stops Vitali on cuts within 6.

[El Kabong]

I'll say it here the 21 year old Tyson under Rooney blasts out Wladimir within 3 and stops Vitali on cuts within 6.

Do we have to even go there? This is about if there was a Tyson-Douglas II. Why bring up the Klitschko's? It's not Wlad or Vitali's fault that their opponents don't come to fight...a lot of the guys Mike Tyson fought didn't come to fight either. They may have been in shape physically but mentally they were already prepared to lose.

Tony Thompson isn't all that bad, he doesn't have much power but he's got good defense a solid jab and I'm not surprised that a lot of trainers/promoters don't want their guy in with him.

As for the heavyweights being more...well "heavy" these days. The Klitschko's weigh in circa 240-250 and are in great shape meanwhile guys who were the same height as the Klitschko's in the 1980's weighed in at 220 or something, like Tony Tucker or Tyrell Briggs or hell Shannon Briggs when he fought Lennox Lewis was 228. The problems with the heavyweight division these days are CRIS ARREOLA, SAM PETER, and ODLAINER SOLIS. All well skilled but all over weight

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

Lyle, that's because they're aspiring to fight Super Heavyweights

Where's the motivation to fight real Heavyweights?
Off topic, I know... but still food for thought.

[ross]

Yep the heavies in the 80,s might have been lighter but look how much more mobile they were an they could put combinations together and they had skill.

The Klitschkos might look in shape but both slow as the fight progress and both look clumsy, its the lack of quality around that has allowed their size to rule.

[Hulk]

Yep the heavies in the 80,s might have been lighter but look how much more mobile they were an they could put combinations together and they had skill.

The Klitschkos might look in shape but both slow as the fight progress and both look clumsy, its the lack of quality around that has allowed their size to rule.

Don't let Lyle hear you say that

[rjj tszyu]

Yep the heavies in the 80,s might have been lighter but look how much more mobile they were an they could put combinations together and they had skill.

The Klitschkos might look in shape but both slow as the fight progress and both look clumsy, its the lack of quality around that has allowed their size to rule.

I agree with this post, there have always been big men in boxing but the guys who kept themselves in top shape always dominated. If it was just a case of big guys being the dominant forces then Butterbean would have been the G.O.A.T.

[eagleskins]

The HW division in the mid 80's was worse than it was today. Don't fool yourselves. If the Klits were fighting back then, they both would be undefeated, and Tyson wouldn't be overrated anymore. He would be just a contender. I like men.

[ross]

The HW division in the mid 80's was worse than it was today. Don't fool yourselves. If the Klits were fighting back then, they both would be undefeated, and Tyson wouldn't be overrated anymore. He would be just a contender.

Are you serious!!?

Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson would kill todays heavies, then you have the contenders like Tim Witherspoon, Tony Tubbs, Tony Tucker, Pinklon Thomas and Greg Page, any of those boys could box rings round dopey Wlad!!

Even Trevor Berbick would do well

You forget, both Klitschkos have losses to such stellar names as Lamon Brewster, Corrie Sanders, Ross Purity, Lennox Lewis and Chris Byrd, they are glorified journeymen, its only because todays heavies are shite, no skill and fat! The Klitschkos are in shape and big strong blokes but both fall over their own feet and you only have to say "punch" for Wladamir to fall over

[InTheNeutralCorner]

Yep the heavies in the 80,s might have been lighter but look how much more mobile they were an they could put combinations together and they had skill.

The Klitschkos might look in shape but both slow as the fight progress and both look clumsy, its the lack of quality around that has allowed their size to rule.

I agree with this post, there have always been big men in boxing but the guys who kept themselves in top shape always dominated. If it was just a case of big guys being the dominant forces then Butterbean would have been the G.O.A.T.

Butterbean isn't the G.O.A.T.

I would still go with Buster provided it's an immediate rematch and not several years down the road. He already gained more confidence to do it again and Mike's aura of invincibility is not there anymore.