Is mike Tyson that great ?

[Gandalf]

There is no doubt that the MIke Tyson from 1986-89 was an awesome sight to behold, like big George in 1973-74 he was almost indestructible, lifestyle, the pressures of immediate fame and fortune simply got the better of him. You cannot deny his complete domination of the division in this time, his loss to Douglas was the beginning of the end. You can only beat who they put in front of you and Tyson did that in spectacular fashion, is he a top 10 ATG Heavyweight? That remains open for debate.

I think he came back relatively well after Douglas, I think the real nail in the coffin was 3 years in prison. Tyson was a high action pressure fighter, you don't come out of jail doing exactly what you were doing a third of a decade earlier and Tyson though still immensely strong and relatively quick, was clearly never the same. I don't believe Holyfield would have had much of a chance against prime Tyson, jail brought Tyson down to the level of most of the other top fighters. Before that when fully prepared he was a level above. The only person that beat him prior to jail was himself. If you don't prepare for a fight, then you don't win and by all accounts Tyson did not prepare for Douglas. Douglas was in the right place at the right time and of course lightning did not strike twice for Buster Douglas. It was a one off. Tyson came back and beat up Ruddock and showed that he was still a force.

[generalbulldog]

The myth of Mike Tyson was that he could beat up any HW great at their best from Ali, Lewis, Holyfield, Holmes, Foreman came from spectacularly knocking out guys like Trevor Berbick, Pinklon Thomas, 39 year old Holmes, and blownup LHW Spinks that caught Holmes at the right time.

Prime for prime and even with Rooney and D'amato in his corner I don't give him that much of a shot of beating them. Knocking out mediocre opposition is 1 thing, trying to do it against all time greats is another. Tyson wasn't prime in his fights with Holyfield and Lewis, but neither were those 2. Holyfield was considered to be a shot fighter in '96 and Lewis was 37 years old and a year from retirement when he fought Tyson.

[Mr140]

Tyson was not on Holyfield level and would never beat him ever. Tyson had nothing to really throw Holyfeild off and i am sick od this of Tyson was not prime. Holyfeild was older then him had hart problems and i also believe hep b but he could still win fights you know why because he is a atg.

[Gandalf]

The myth of Mike Tyson was that he could beat up any HW great at their best from Ali, Lewis, Holyfield, Holmes, Foreman came from spectacularly knocking out guys like Trevor Berbick, Pinklon Thomas, 39 year old Holmes, and blownup LHW Spinks that caught Holmes at the right time.

Prime for prime and even with Rooney and D'amato in his corner I don't give him that much of a shot of beating them. Knocking out mediocre opposition is 1 thing, trying to do it against all time greats is another. Tyson wasn't prime in his fights with Holyfield and Lewis, but neither were those 2. Holyfield was considered to be a shot fighter in '96 and Lewis was 37 years old and a year from retirement when he fought Tyson.

The Lewis win over Tyson was pretty meaningless. The Holyfield fights were more meaningful, but considering he was facing a man who had spent 3 years in prison, it really wasn't the same Tyson by a long shot. I don't think the Holyfield or the Lewis wins mean all that much in the great scheme of things. Tyson in his own way had aged quicker than any of them and 3 years in prison would erode the skills of most people.

That's the thing with Tyson's career. There were just so many holes in it because of mentalism or jail. All you really have to go on is a period of time when his skills were on fire and he was hungry and for that time he was truly astonishing to watch. It's anyones guess how he would have fared against other greats. I think he would have hurt most of them and been too much and you probably disagree, but that's all we have on stuff like this. Personal perceptions and opinions based on how we see things.

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

The myth of Mike Tyson was that he could beat up any HW great at their best from Ali, Lewis, Holyfield, Holmes, Foreman came from spectacularly knocking out guys like Trevor Berbick, Pinklon Thomas, 39 year old Holmes, and blownup LHW Spinks that caught Holmes at the right time.

Prime for prime and even with Rooney and D'amato in his corner I don't give him that much of a shot of beating them. Knocking out mediocre opposition is 1 thing, trying to do it against all time greats is another. Tyson wasn't prime in his fights with Holyfield and Lewis, but neither were those 2. Holyfield was considered to be a shot fighter in '96 and Lewis was 37 years old and a year from retirement when he fought Tyson.

It's petty much fact that you can rip any boxers resume to pieces so including the 'great' names you have mentioned.

[Master]

I still think the Tyson that was going to fight Holyfield before he went in prison would have just about beat Holyfield in early 1990's before he went to prison. He still had enough from what we saw of him against Rudduck.