If Buster Douglas had been counted OUT in the 8th.....?

[Master]

Evander would have kayoed him maybe in 91.

This would have been in 1990 and Tyson still had enough to take on and beat a smaller 205lb Holyfield, who only bulked up after the second fight with Bowe.

[Mr140]

I don't think any version beats Holyfeild because he was to well rounded. I think Holyfield had his number and not to mention in prime Holyfield was pretty hard to beat.

[generalbulldog]

Evander would have kayoed him maybe in 91.

This would have been in 1990 and Tyson still had enough to take on and beat a smaller 205lb Holyfield, who only bulked up after the second fight with Bowe.

And a 235 pound Bowe still found it hard to beat a 205 pound Holyfield in their 1st fight. A 215-220 Tyson? I seriously doubt it makes a difference.

Even Cus D'amato boxers like Patterson and Torres said Holyfield just had his number and would whip Tyson at any point of their careers. But hey what would Cus D'amato champions know about boxing or Mike Tyson and his style?

[ross]

Even Cus D'amato boxers like Patterson and Torres said Holyfield just had his number and would whip Tyson at any point of their careers. But hey what would Cus D'amato champions know about boxing or Mike Tyson and his style?

Hmm, if they did say that, they were either being polite not to look biased or they are jealous Mike had more success than they did.

They is no denying Tyson fought alot differently after 4 years out. Whos to say Ali wouldnt have beaten Frazier had their first fight been in the 60's?

Their fight was 10 years after Mike had wan a world title. Then throw in the 4 year absence. The Tyson that fought Rudduck would have walked through Holyfield as lesser fighters almost did.

[TitoFan]

In any of this, doesn't anyone give Buster Douglas any credit at all? After all, it wasn't Tyson that punched himself in the face and knocked himself out.

[brocktonblockbust]

OP=original post, duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[tysonesque]

I don't think much would have changed.

The reason Tyson lost to Douglas in the first place was down to his attitude towards the sport and his very obvious lack of conditioning. By the time he fought Douglas he was already guaranteed all time great status, was the youngest champ of all time and had millions of dollars in the bank. In short, he couldn't be bothered anymore and enjoyed the celebrity status and money more than being a champion. He had done all he needed to do and fulfilled every ambition.

I remember him giving a typically bizarre interview after he became an ex champion and all he seemed interested in was telling the world that he earned more as an ex champ than he did at his undefeated peak. After the Douglas fight his entire career became a highly paid sideshow that was almost irrelevant to the rest of the heavyweight division. He kind of went in to exhibition mode. I certainly never sensed much desire on his part to win the belts back and he never again produced anything like the form he did in his prime.

Having said all that a 1990 Mike Tyson would still have had too much for Holyfield at that time. A close shave in the Douglas fight would probably have given him the kick in the arse he needed to see him get past Holyfield... just!

Once Tyson won all the titles, became a household name throughout the world and a multi millionaire it was obvious that his priorities had changed. The only occasion I really remember Tyson looking like he really meant business after losing to Douglas was when he fought Bruno for a second time to get the title back. I think he needed that following the rape conviction and time in jail just to prove something to himself and get his life back on track.

Tyson is and always will be emotionally damaged and mentally unbalanced. During his early career when he practically lived in the gym it kept him disciplined, but when he severed all ties with those who had been with him from the pre-title days it all began to fall apart. Once Mike began calling the shots, his notorious bad judgement and attitude problems were his own undoing.

It was always going to end that way.