Why was Mike Tyson so popular?

[walrus]

He was the complete package. He enamoured the casual boxing fans and was able to interest even those who had no clue of boxing. For the true boxing fan his power, ring IQ and that Damon peekaboo style was just something to behold. Also his hard luck story from the streets to youngest HW champ was inspiring. His antics at press conferences used to give him evening news exposure. I'm so glad to see he got his shot together and is enjoying life. I hope we see good things from iron Mike productions

[Ron Swanson]

Don King never had any fighter worth a tinkers damn since he destroyed Tyson's life and shortened the impact of his career.

They simply couldn't trust him... name one fight of note post-Tyson that Don King had and that we can say was worth their salt? No one!

Mayweather= NO
Oscar DLH= NO
GGG= NO
Shane Mosely= NO
Manny = NO

etc, etc, etc...

He had Tito though.

[ykdadamaja]

Don King never had any fighter worth a tinkers damn since he destroyed Tyson's life and shortened the impact of his career.

They simply couldn't trust him... name one fight of note post-Tyson that Don King had and that we can say was worth their salt? No one!

Mayweather= NO
Oscar DLH= NO
GGG= NO
Shane Mosely= NO
Manny = NO

etc, etc, etc...

He had Tito though.

We sure had Tito...
Tito Trinidad reportedly broke after aide squandered $63 million - Ring TV

[Manju]

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

He knocked everyone out. Fast. And unlike a lot of other KO artists, like say George Foreman or Earnie Shavers, he wasn't slow, prodding, or awkward. He was fast and furious, and graceful like a boxer. I mean he had form, movement, and defense. He was like Roberto Duran with 1-punch KO power. One opponent (Mike Jameson?) literally went airborne. Marvis Frazier became a ragdoll in like 2 seconds. Another guy went flying across the ring on a jab.

And this lasted well into his Heavyweight reign, with only occasional blips. One of the 3 reigning champions he defeated, Berbick or Pinklon...I forget, just totally lost his ability to stand, though he seemed ok in every other way. These were spectacular KO's. Michael Spinks.

All this came tumbling down with Buster Douglas. But Tyson was able to regain much of his form until he met Evander Holyfield. And that was it. But until then what we saw was something awesome. Something unique. Something both boxing connoisseur and peripheral fan could enjoy.

[Dia bando]

Mike Tyson gave you action and excitement, which the HW had lacked for some time, lets face
it HW boxing can be SHIT to watch.!
I've seen that many bad HW fights, past and present Tyson was a different a fast hard punching
action HW, they don't come round that off-ton and he was GOOD, yep I like watching Iron Mike
he made the HW division at that time, when you got a good HW champ boxing is on the up.
One Tyson fight is worth 20 Wald fights,! the brothers grime were grime to watch, but
Iron Mike Tyson well that a different mater.!

[Bill Paxtom]

He was never popular.

He just had a very good publicity machine.

And, when he made some big money, the leeches latched on to him.

Was never popular? Just had a good publicity team?

I would say Tyson made his own publicity...

Give it up Paxtom! LOL

If Mike was so popular, and well liked.

Would you leave him alone with your teenage daughter.

Case Closed > Der Max Hitler.

[denilson200]

If Mike was so popular, and well liked.

Would you leave him alone with your teenage daughter.

Case Closed > Der Max Hitler.

Dude

Just because a man does good, that does not mean he is good.

To use your Hitler example. I'm sure Adolf did good in his life, helped people out etc, that does not meant he was good.

As for trusting Tyson with your teenage daughter ? (Well if I had a teenage daughter) I would not trust any man with her.

[beenKOed]

Awww he was misunderstood, a quiet spoken lad just looking for love in the gutter of life wading aimlessly through blood sweat and pain after serving out a few well deserved beatings on sum fuckers.
Very human qualities.

Yes yes, of course, we all agree the rascal was just misunderstood!

The thread is about what made him popular. Please sir, address the question, we all await your comments.😐

[Bill Paxtom]

Humphrey Bogart

"It's easy to become popular. All you have to do is become a 'Fucking Asshole'."

[SlimTrae]

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.

[Andre]

Awww he was misunderstood, a quiet spoken lad just looking for love in the gutter of life wading aimlessly through blood sweat and pain after serving out a few well deserved beatings on sum fuckers.
Very human qualities.

Yes yes, of course, we all agree the rascal was just misunderstood!

The thread is about what made him popular. Please sir, address the question, we all await your comments.😐

Fans of a misunderstood quiet spoken lad who was just looking for love in the gutter of life wading through blood and guts to give fuckers sum beatings made him popular alright?

"No he was a scarey fucking brute who refused to wear any socks actually,thanks for asking. Ohhh he was an animal I tell you a complete animal".

People love animals, its popular.

[Bill Paxtom]

Everybody that knew him up in Catskill, New York said he was a 'SCUM BAG'.

Bill O'Connell {Heavyweight Boxer}

"We all learned to never turn your back on that 'Scum Bag'. He was no F***ing good."

Yea, Popular.

[nuggetdotcom]

Everybody that knew him up in Catskill, New York said he was a 'SCUM BAG'.

Bill O'Connell {Heavyweight Boxer}

"We all learned to never turn your back on that 'Scum Bag'. He was no F***ing good."

Yea, Popular.

Hype Job, at a time when the division was weak, Sonny Liston was first, then we had a good squad of heavys to watch, then came Tyson and more mediocrity, then the Russians got involved and brought us even more mediocrity.
From Tyson onwards the heavyweights havent been worth a toss

[SugarBoxing]

Just because a man does good, that does not mean he is good.

That's a very deep thought

[SugarBoxing]

Everybody that knew him up in Catskill, New York said he was a 'SCUM BAG'.

Bill O'Connell {Heavyweight Boxer}

"We all learned to never turn your back on that 'Scum Bag'. He was no F***ing good."

Yea, Popular.

could you elaborate who are you taling about
and did you get this from?