Reality Hit Home Regarding the GREAT MIKE TYSON Story

[Drago]

tysons speed was incredible

[The Promoter]

There is some truth to the original post:

Mike Tyson was handled very well, he had a great television contract that got him exposure from very early into professional career. His style was exciting, with freakish handspeed and a come forward style it turned even the casual observer into a fan. He was fed a steady diet of good fighters that would complement his style making him appear invincible. Tyson was a Cus D'Amato trained fighter always coming forward never taking a step back, as a matter of fact he can't punch moving backward...never could, so certain fighters were avoided.

Wonder why he never took a fight with George Foreman, Ray Mercer, or even Tommy Morrison? These would have been the largest grossing fights of his career, fact is these fighters would have pushed Mike backward and exposed his weaknesses (I believe George would have beaten him pretty easily). Lou Duva was calling out Tyson (with Holyfield) from the get go because Lou knew how to beat him with Evander.

While I won't go so far to say Tyson was smoke and mirrors I will admit that he was carefully handled to make his physical gifts appear more dominant than they actually were...imo.

[johnmaff36]

Tyson was and always will be nothing more than a well promoted HW that could hit hard with both hands. Don King should be in the HOF for the way he built up those stiffs thrown into the ring with tyson...

Ok thats fair enough apart from King never had Tyson when he was good. I would love to hear who you would suggest that tyson fought in the first 5 yrs of his career that he didnt actually fight. Now im not talking bout after jail because no doubt he fought bums, but the time that im referring to when he was a decent fighter and deserver of peoples respect

[ono]

I am a Tyson fan and you make some good points but why spoil it by saying Haye would beat Tyson. Please.

I like this post.

[ross]

Tyson was and always will be nothing more than a well promoted HW that could hit hard with both hands. Don King should be in the HOF for the way he built up those stiffs thrown into the ring with tyson...

Don King had the craap version of Tyson.

Its really hard for people to admit Mike was awesome, not just awesome but a force of nature, he had everything, speed, power, stamina, resiliance, balance, and some of the best defence and offence the sport has ever seen.

Like I said, name a heavy weight fighter post tyson that has beaten 5 defending champions?

Not even Holyfield.

name a HOF fighter Tyson beat that was a legit Heavy and prime?

Spinks, he flattened him.

Now do the same for Lennox and Evander

Both got beaten while in their supposed primes and neither beat a "HOF fighter that was a legit Heavy and prime" but when Mike was training and with Rooney he was as close as you can get to unbeatable.

[Master]

I think the heavyweight Spinks could probably beat Haye. Spinks beat an old Holmes twice on disputed decisions and stopped Cooney in 5.

[ross]

I found this yesterday on youtube, someone has put up a whole series of programmes surrounding the lead up to, the fight and after fight interviews about Tyson V Spinks.

Its very good, Larry Merchant presents it and keeps refering to Mikes "brute skill" He interviews among others, Kevin Rooney, Bill Cayton and Mike Katz. This gives younger boxing fans an idea of how massive Mike was and how highly regarded he was.

One thing that bugged me was when asked by Merchant who could have beaten Mike and how good he is, Mike Katz said, "id have to see him in a fight first".

This piisses me off because if he was being realistic and was asked, how well could Tony Tucker or Tony Tubbs done against Ali, or any heavy from history, they would have to reply with at least "they could have held there own and given a good acount of themselves". The thing is Mike beat them easily, so Mike would have to be given the same grace, that he would have at least given them problems but people dont like stepping on the toes of their heros. Mike Katz seems to have an axe to grind with Tyson even back then, before Mike was seen as trouble.

Mikes placings among the greats always comes down to the fact that people have rose tinted glasses on the past. Marciano for instance wouldnt have survived the first round against Mike and Marciano rates highly on everyones list.

Heres the link to the youtube users account, I have no idea how to find which order the videos go in?

YouTube - bigwills9thchnl's Channel

[El Kabong]

ross, it's easy for people to look at Rocky Marciano and see the flaws it's easy for them to take a step back and see his defense wasn't great, he wasn't a big guy, and all that stuff but the thing they fail to see are the intagibles. Rocky had a big heart, he had a solid chin, he had big time power, and he NEVER gave up. Mike Tyson had no heart how many fights where Tyson got dropped did he get back up to win? 0! How many times when Mike was in trouble did he dig deep and win? VERY FEW, against Bruno and Smith are the only ones I can think of and in the Smith fight he was only in trouble when Bonecrusher FINALLY threw and landed a punch.

Mike Tyson was a great fighter I believe that, but he's not in my top 10 because his being effective vs top teir opponents was 100% dependent on Tyson's ability to intimidate them. Marciano gutted out wins, Foreman was intimidating but he wasn't dependent on it especially when he was older.

I try to be realistic with my views on 'Iron' Mike, but it's hard because he had a very easy early road to the titles and only after the loss to Douglas did he eventually have the chance or take the chance to fight guys like Holyfield, Lewis, and to a far lesser extent Ruddock. Why no Riddick Bowe? Why no Ray Mercer? Why no George Foreman? Hell he could have at least fought Moorer, Morrison, and Briggs.

[Scrap]

I think what Beat Tyson, was the Goodhiding He took from Givens.

[ross]

ross, it's easy for people to look at Rocky Marciano and see the flaws it's easy for them to take a step back and see his defense wasn't great, he wasn't a big guy, and all that stuff but the thing they fail to see are the intagibles. Rocky had a big heart, he had a solid chin, he had big time power, and he NEVER gave up. Mike Tyson had no heart how many fights where Tyson got dropped did he get back up to win? 0! How many times when Mike was in trouble did he dig deep and win? VERY FEW, against Bruno and Smith are the only ones I can think of and in the Smith fight he was only in trouble when Bonecrusher FINALLY threw and landed a punch.

Mike Tyson was a great fighter I believe that, but he's not in my top 10 because his being effective vs top teir opponents was 100% dependent on Tyson's ability to intimidate them. Marciano gutted out wins, Foreman was intimidating but he wasn't dependent on it especially when he was older.

I try to be realistic with my views on 'Iron' Mike, but it's hard because he had a very easy early road to the titles and only after the loss to Douglas did he eventually have the chance or take the chance to fight guys like Holyfield, Lewis, and to a far lesser extent Ruddock. Why no Riddick Bowe? Why no Ray Mercer? Why no George Foreman? Hell he could have at least fought Moorer, Morrison, and Briggs.

Tell me how many fighters Marciano defended his title against, 5 I think? and Foreman, 3 I think?

Marciano is big time over rated. As for him having a solid chin, an old light heavyweight put him on his ass Mike would slaughter him!!

Tyson was going to fight Ray Mercer as a warm up before he fought Lewis but Lewis went to court and stopped it from happening, he didnt want Mike sharpening up!!

This is what gets me (as well as all the other kids that post on forums who dont know much about boxing), you didnt obviously know that Mike had a signed match with Mercer in 02, so you either havent been following boxing very long, or havent been paying attention, either way youv proved your opinion should be taken with a pinch of salt

[Majesty]

lets get this in to perspective....Tyson beat a very washed up Trevor Berbick to win the title at 20.....then he was fed one over the hill bum after another....then he fought Michael Spinks who was a blown up light heavy (lol) who hadn't fought for over 1 year......& then when he thought he was indestructable and believed all his own hype he stopped training and got beat by a motivated Buster Douglas who used his boxing skills and didn't get bullied to show everyone with half a brain on how to beat this overhyped short armed guy......after this first defeat the myth faded and never again was he a threat to any half decent heavyweight out there.....he beat Donavon Ruddock with many difficulties in 2 fights....then when he got his sorry arse outta jail he was fed more fodder and then he was handed walk over fights to regain portions of the heavyweight championship against Bruce (He Seldom Quits) and Frank (I'm walking to my death) Bruno......any way you get the message....MIKE TYSON was a well orchestrated publicity stunt and believe me I was caught up in the IRON Mike Tyson thing (but I eventually GREW UP and realised it was all RUBBISH.....and its pathetic to listen to the banter about if Mike was around today bollox......Mike would have struggled against both Kilts....I think Tyson would have rather have gone to Jail then face David Haye....just like he did when a Holyfield fight was scheduled....and we ALL know what hapened when they finally got it together DON'T WE........lol.....yes Tyson didn't like it did he, so he goes bites Holyfields ears off.....nice one Tyson really showed your class there didn't u..........So people if you look through all the bullshit you will have to admit TYSON came around at the right time and was managed brilliantly to never having to fight any one with a half decent change to bother the publicity wave which was Tyson's career.......lol!!


Sorry to break some people's hearts but some times the truth hurts....i'm a little upset how we were all taken for a ride and then let down real hard.....well there we go TOUGH LOVE baby....TOUGH frigging LUVVVV



Job Biscuit (It's wake up and smell the coffee people)!!!



eh eh!!!

And in other news

[Andrew73]

Tyson was and always will be nothing more than a well promoted HW that could hit hard with both hands. Don King should be in the HOF for the way he built up those stiffs thrown into the ring with tyson...

Tyson was a very hard hitting Heavyweight who came along at the right time opponents wise and HBO publicity wise.

Once he fought guys who could handle themselves and fought back, he wasn't nearly as good.

I don't question at all that he was a spectacular fighter from 1985-1988. One hell of a phenom. But this over romantized notion that he could have been 100-0 if he had just kept Kevin Rooney is just plain goofy.

[ross]

Tyson was and always will be nothing more than a well promoted HW that could hit hard with both hands. Don King should be in the HOF for the way he built up those stiffs thrown into the ring with tyson...

Tyson was a very hard hitting Heavyweight who came along at the right time opponents wise and HBO publicity wise.

Once he fought guys who could handle themselves and fought back, he wasn't nearly as good.

I don't question at all that he was a spectacular fighter from 1985-1988. One hell of a phenom. But this over romantized notion that he could have been 100-0 if he had just kept Kevin Rooney is just plain goofy.

Looking at how he cut through the fighters he had to deal with with such ease how can you be sure he wouldnt have? At only 22 he had years ahead of him to reach his potential, maybe only another 5 but at the rate he was fighting he could have had another 30 fights at least undefeated.

[ross]

lets get this in to perspective....Tyson beat a very washed up Trevor Berbick to win the title at 20.....then he was fed one over the hill bum after another....then he fought Michael Spinks who was a blown up light heavy (lol) who hadn't fought for over 1 year......& then when he thought he was indestructable and believed all his own hype he stopped training and got beat by a motivated Buster Douglas who used his boxing skills and didn't get bullied to show everyone with half a brain on how to beat this overhyped short armed guy......after this first defeat the myth faded and never again was he a threat to any half decent heavyweight out there.....he beat Donavon Ruddock with many difficulties in 2 fights....then when he got his sorry arse outta jail he was fed more fodder and then he was handed walk over fights to regain portions of the heavyweight championship against Bruce (He Seldom Quits) and Frank (I'm walking to my death) Bruno......any way you get the message....MIKE TYSON was a well orchestrated publicity stunt and believe me I was caught up in the IRON Mike Tyson thing (but I eventually GREW UP and realised it was all RUBBISH.....and its pathetic to listen to the banter about if Mike was around today bollox......Mike would have struggled against both Kilts....I think Tyson would have rather have gone to Jail then face David Haye....just like he did when a Holyfield fight was scheduled....and we ALL know what hapened when they finally got it together DON'T WE........lol.....yes Tyson didn't like it did he, so he goes bites Holyfields ears off.....nice one Tyson really showed your class there didn't u..........So people if you look through all the bullshit you will have to admit TYSON came around at the right time and was managed brilliantly to never having to fight any one with a half decent change to bother the publicity wave which was Tyson's career.......lol!!


Sorry to break some people's hearts but some times the truth hurts....i'm a little upset how we were all taken for a ride and then let down real hard.....well there we go TOUGH LOVE baby....TOUGH frigging LUVVVV



Job Biscuit (It's wake up and smell the coffee people)!!!



eh eh!!!

And in other news

Ha ha ha!!! Awesome!!

[El Kabong]

Tell me how many fighters Marciano defended his title against, 5 I think? and Foreman, 3 I think?

Marciano is big time over rated. As for him having a solid chin, an old light heavyweight put him on his ass Mike would slaughter him!!

Tyson was going to fight Ray Mercer as a warm up before he fought Lewis but Lewis went to court and stopped it from happening, he didnt want Mike sharpening up!!

This is what gets me (as well as all the other kids that post on forums who dont know much about boxing), you didnt obviously know that Mike had a signed match with Mercer in 02, so you either havent been following boxing very long, or havent been paying attention, either way youv proved your opinion should be taken with a pinch of salt

Allow me to explain this to you.....

#1 If title defenses mean anything (and obviously they do) then JOE LOUIS is KING! And because of that I have Joe Louis as my #1 All-Time Greatest Heavyweight with Marciano and Ali following respectively.

#2 Marciano = UNDEFEATED.....FACT

#3 Marciano wasn't far from being a light heavyweight himself, the most he ever weighed for a fight was 192 vs Keene Simmons in 1951 but he mainly stayed at or around 186-188....FACT

#4 It wouldn't matter if Tyson had a fucking time machine he would NEVER have beaten Lennox Lewis ditto re: Evander Holyfield

#5 So Mike Tyson wanted to fight Ray Mercer in 2002....Wlad fought Ray in 2002, demolished him and he gets no credit for it so why would Tyson have gotten credit for it? I'm talking Mercer in the mid-late 1990's specifically right around when he beat Morrison and when he barely lost to Lewis.

#6...so you're a rabid Tyson fan, I have nothing against the guy I just like to reasonably and rationally look at the guy's career that's the difference between us