Mike Tyson's career is a reflection of the chooses HE made though, he is an adult, not a child. Its as though people think Mike has never made a bad decision himself, or manipulated the fact people like to make excuse for his shortcomings, as though to make more bad choices, when if the truth be told, that is probably why his career panned out the way it did, no accountability. Ali beat great fighters, Mike Tyson didn't. Being critical of how you live your life out of the ring, is only applicable if its apparently effected your performances, and is being used as an excuse to why you came up short.
Amazing, Tyson blast out a far superior fighter in Spinks and gets no credit, Wlad paws his way to a UD against Haye, and you fanatics go crazy.
An ATG HW whose career got derailed early and never lived up to his true potential. GOAT HW KO artist. A true legend of the sport.
He had great longevity. Most world champions hold the title for one or two fights. Sugar Ray Leonard held it for three years before retiring. Tyson for three and a half years, then he came back and beat Ruddock twice, who was knocking out everyone.
If you believe that, go and re-watch his fights with Evander (No fear/ear) Holyfield. (Although Evander was a little tooth shy in the second fight after the first bite.) Evander was not afraid of Mike.
He always won when he was in shape. When he didn't train, he lost (Douglas and Holyfield). Lennox doesn't count, because he was 35 pounds over his prime weight, and he was an old cocaine addict. In short, he was not overrated. The version that beat Spinks would steamroll any HW in history, except for Marciano.
Evander was crapping himself, petrified before (and during) the Tyson ring entrance of the first fight. He was also very scared after the ring crowded following the ear bite and Tyson was loose. He beat Tyson because Tyson's legs had gone and he wasn't moving his head.
It's all subjected depending upon where you have him on your ATG list. If he's in your top 5 your over rating him, if he's outside your top 15 you under rate him. Personally I am him usually just inside my top 10.
Based on what I've read from this post, you're a relatively new boxing fan. Welcome to the sport. If you've been following the sport for more than a decade then please disregard. My question to is where do you rank Mike Tyson? And where do you feel Tyson is being ranked to suggest he's even overrated? As for the "anyone who stood up to him" comment Please see: Tyson-Berbick Tyson-Thomas Tyson-Ruddock I & II Tyson-Botha Tyson-Bruno I These fights are both entertaining and they dispel the myth that you are perpetuating. He's a top 10 ATG Heavyweight. He's a Hall of Fame Heavyweight Champion and frankly most people rank him accordingly. As for Tyson vs Wlad? If your support for Wlad is currently being threatened by people's adulation for the fighter that Tyson was in his day don't worry- Wlad is a great fighter too.
He beat Tyson cause he was a better fighter. Evander Holyfield was 34 when he beat Tyson, had been previously knocked out by Bowe, and outboxed by Moorer, and looked to everyone, like he was a shot fighter, he's also been in wars with Cooper, Qawi, Stewart, Bowe, Dokes, if anyone wasn't the same fighter, it was Evander Holyfield. Tyson fought guys who were either full of nervous tension, and so went straight at him to get it out of their system, as they couldn't fight with! that fear, or guys who went too defensive when they felt his power. Holyfield and Douglas did two things, they Boxed when they had to, and fought when they had to, to get his respect, but not languish in there and allow his power to become a significant factor.
Evander was juiced up to the eyeballs against Mike, and had never had a problem opening up on any opponent. Unless Tyson moved his head like he used to and found his legs against instead of setting himself flat-footed, he was never going to stand much chance against Holyfield, let alone a juiced up head-butting Holyfield.
He didn't train? He was about 1lb over his best weight against Douglas. Don't be a ****ing fanboy. That was a past prime Holy who nobody gave a chance in hell... Tyson was exceptional but guys with certain attributes could contain him and beat him. Everyone has their weaknesses. He definately gets overrated by casuals.
