Regarding Mike Tyson's place in history

[che]

Che, you're a boxing guy.  What's your opinion?

Without discipline, no matter how good you are, you are nothing.


                                                                                                             PS:   I think you would beat the shit out of Pacquiao inside 4 rounds .

[Hulkotron]

Mike Tyson is lower top 10. He mainly fought tomato cans. He refused to fight Riddick Bowe (threw one of his belts in the trash can) He only fought  Lennox Lewis when he was broke and needed the payday. Holyfield Would beat him 10 out of 10 times if they ever fought. I'm not sure top 10 guys can lose to Buster Douglas either. Most people that say  Mike Tyson was the best aren't boxing fans, they are just Mike Tyson fans. Same can be said about Mayweather.

 

[THE ARS]

Tyson in his prime was unbeatable but his prime only lasted a few years and he was already on the slide before his first fight with Frank Bruno in 1989. When he was poor and under the guidance of Cus D'amato boxing was all he focused on and his genetic gifts plus 100% dedication resulted in perhaps the greatest fighter of all time. Unfortunately once he made his money, conquered the world of boxing he got lazy and distracted and his training suffered and naturally his skills started to wane. If he had managed to stay motivated and continued to train properly I honestly believe he would have been too much for Holyfield and also Lennox Lewis.

LOL.

Sonny Liston would have punched a hole in him.

Greatest fighter of all time? 

[Ron Harrigan]

It's hard to believe no one has mentioned Max Schmeling. The Kaiser.

[THE ARS]

It's hard to believe no one has mentioned Max Schmeling. The Kaiser.

Interesting.

If you can do this....

[THE ARS]

I'd thought this for years, but it ain't a popular opinion. I've seen lots of old footage, all the legends, and I really can only see Holyfield, Lewis, and the Russian giving a prime Tyson grief. He was so much more powerful than Frazier, or even Foreman. Fast as a viper, too. I'd bet my life no one on earth ever hit as hard.

The Ali crowd needs a little perspective, perhaps.

 

If you think Mike Tyson could get past six rounds with Ali you need help.

His best win is 53 yo Larry Holmes.

Tyson was a very small limited guy.

That pic I posted is my old neighbor beating him up.

[THE ARS]

[THE ARS]

[Super Natural]

Tyson wouldn't stand a chance against this guy.....

[nzmusclemonster]

A prime Tyson could beat any of the greats.

Dude was ferocious.

[gracie bjj]

hes number #1 in my opinion,i agree,if tyson woulda faced holyfeild or lewis in 86 mike woulda destroyed them,tyson started losing alittle of his mojo when all that shit started going on with his trainers,don king,robin givins ect. if mike woulda stayed with his original crew and no one fucked with his head he woulda been practiclly unbeatable imo

[BigCyp]

I would still put my money on Lewis vs Tyson in his prime for one main reason. Fighters with a significant height/reach advantage, would only nullify that advantage if fear came into play. Lewis wasn't easily scared.

[Alucard]

I would still put my money on Lewis vs Tyson in his prime for one main reason. Fighters with a significant height/reach advantage, would only nullify that advantage if fear came into play. Lewis wasn't easily scared.

Agreed... Although Lewis was not exactly a lionheart, he had a monster reach, and he did hit very hard... Too tall, rangy and powerful for any version of Tyson... Tyson unbeatable, lol, as someone else said his best win is against an old, out of shape, ring rusty Larry Holmes (who was also overrated and dominated a weak era)... In his "unbeatable" prime Tillis and Green, two journeymen, took him the distance, at 23yo got dominated left and right by Douglas... As i said, Tyson's flashy style and all the propaganda are still owning minds... He was exciting and top 15 of all time though, imo...

[SuperTed]

Haha

I actually was thinking about putting Jeffries higher.

Today, the legacy of Jeffries is widely forgotten. However, he was once considered one of, if not the, greatest Heavyweight Champions of all time by many fellow boxers and boxing experts:

Sam Langford, the great fighter who fought from lightweight to heavyweight, advertised to fight any man in the world, except Jim Jeffries.

Tom Sharkey, heavyweight top contender, thought that Jeffries would have beat Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis on the same night. He said Jeffries was strong like a bull and quick on his feet like a cat. Sharkey called Jeffries the greatest fighter of all time.

Jack Root, Willie Ritchie and Tommy Burns, former Light Heavyweight, Lightweight and Heavyweight Champions, respectively, rated Jeffries as the greatest heavyweight.

Jack Johnson, the only man to beat Jeffries, stated in an interview with Ring Magazine that he thought Jeffries was the greatest. In another interview, Johnson said Jeffries would beat both Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis.

James J. Corbett said of Jeffries, "The thing the always impressed me was the speed the youngster had, and he weighed two-hundred-twenty-five pounds. I hold that Jeffries was the greatest Heavyweight Champion of them all."

Jack Dempsey, the great Heavyweight Champion, once said: "Jim Jeffries was a tough gun. If we could have gotten in the ring together, each at our best... I probably would have had my chin knocked off."

[El Diablo Blanco]

A Prime Tyson fought against big slow boxers who couldn't move for shit.  They were sitting ducks for a big right hook and early knockout.  Wasn't until he fought someone strong and can move that he was finally revealed as a one trick pony.  Guys like holyfield and Ali can move but also have that ferocious knock out punch.  Tyson wouldn't last past 3 rounds without being gassed

[nzmusclemonster]

I would still put my money on Lewis vs Tyson in his prime for one main reason. Fighters with a significant height/reach advantage, would only nullify that advantage if fear came into play. Lewis wasn't easily scared.

What did you think about the hw fight on the weekend?

probably the worst fight I've ever seen.

[fredrollon]

1986-1988 was his prime. Developed a great jab and very hard guy to hit clean with a punch.



Stylistically he's the closest heavyweight to Jack Dempsey from the 1920's:


You can compare their boxing styles head movement,in the following clips:


Dempsey sparring:

From 3:45:

[polychronopolous]

I actually was thinking about putting Jeffries higher.

The Boston Strong Boy John L. Sullivan

Retired 40-0-2 before coming back 3 years after retirement and out of shape to sustain his only loss versus James J. Corbett

[illuminati]

Fighting styles make it very difficult to accurately guess
Who would of beat who.

Take Ali v Frazier or norton both gave him a lot of problems
In his fights with them.

Foreman v Frazier & norton, he had no problems defeating them.

Foreman v Ali. We all know the result of that one.
Not many were predicting or expecting That.

We all have our favourites
And we all have our opinions.

[Rascal full]

LOL.

Sonny Liston would have punched a hole in him.

Greatest fighter of all time? 

Opinions are like arseholes.....everyone has one.

[vascsurgeon]

Ali before 1968 was unbeatable, the Ali all are talking about against Frazier, Norton etc was way past his prime and he still beat them more than lost to them
Tyson was great but not great enough to beat a prime Ali, the others are open for debate
To mention the Klitchkos is to expose oneself as being clueless.

[AbrahamG]

Ali before 1968 was unbeatable, the Ali all are talking about against Frazier, Norton etc was way past his prime and he still beat them more than lost to them
Tyson was great but not great enough to beat a prime Ali, the others are open for debate
To mention the Klitchkos is to expose oneself as being clueless.

Tyson would have a punchers chance against Wladmir.  He would be shitting his pants if
he was across the ring staring at Vitali.  You are the one whose clueless.

[polychronopolous]

Tyson would have a punchers chance against Wladmir.  He would be shitting his pants if
he was across the ring staring at Vitali.  You are the one whose clueless.

Could you imagine ANY of those 80's Heavyweights that Mike faced going up against Vitali?

[Darren Avey]

|WHat the same Vitali who couldn't KO Derek Chisora and who looked scared everytime Pro golfer Corrie Sanders threw a punch! Yeh im sure he d terrify Mike!

[fredrollon]

Could you imagine ANY of those 80's Heavyweights that Mike faced going up against Vitali?

Tony Tucker,Michael Spinks,Larry Holmes,James Tillis.....I think would last the distance.