The McNeeley PPV as shameful as it was, generated huge numbers. King knew it, and thats why he picked McNeeley. Fool the general public into thinking Tyson was fighting a worthy challenger but make an easy shitload of money in the process. McNeeley at least played the part. Can you imagine what the public would think if the Seldon fight was his comeback fight? They would think it was a complete fix even though the McNeeley fight was in fact one.
I wish Don King had done that, if a angry public reaction prompted Tyson to leave the puppet-master of greed. Unfortunately, Tyson was the brainwashed thuggish servant of King, so he'd stay with the Devil anyway. :-(
Here's what Lewis had to say about his hardest opponent: Lewis says: ‘Tony Tucker? That was my hardest fight against the strongest opponent and hardest puncher I ever faced." "The way Tucker came back from the drug problems was phenomenal. At 35, he still had tremendous drive, determination and ambition. ‘Tucker was the best out there. Better than Bowe and Ruddock, definitely. The most awkward to hit. Punches the hardest. Uses his size and reach to great advantage. Knows how to keep you off balance. Wins pretty well every round in every fight ... Tucker doesn’t get all the credit it deserves.’
Other than McCall & Norris, his competition was dreadful. Besides, both those wins were close split decisions which could've went either way. McCall actually lost to a 45 year old Holmes in '95, & was lucky to get the decision. Anyway i admit Tucker looked good in the Lewis fight in '93. Lewis-Tucker was in '93, a whole 2 years before Seldon-Tucker. It was not the same Tucker. I think Lewis beat a noticeably superior version of Tucker. It wouldn't be unreasonable to say that the devastating-puncher Lewis did permanent damage to Tucker with the monstrous leveraged nukes he landed on him, & the 2 knockdowns.
At this timie Tucker was faded.. Still a dangerous fighter with a punch and chin but even lazier than he was in his prime.. More of a gatekeeper than legit contender when he fought Seldon.... Think A slightly better Ray Austin but with a tough chin.
Thanks to out of the ring distractions and injuries, Tucker was even shot going into the Tyson fight. Even Iron Mike admits that. Here's what he had to say: "It was great to have the name on my record. But it wasn't Tony Tucker, the legendary fighter. If he was at his best, I wouldn't stand a chance. He's a great fighter. I admire him, very much. I was scared, he was knocking everyone around. I was scared, man." Did you here what McCall said. "Hit hard man, real hard, harder than Bert Cooper." I don't think we can argue anymore, Tucker deserves his place in history . TONY TUCKER 52-3 AS A SHADOW OF HIS FORMER SELF. ONLY LOST TO THE GOATS, TYSON, LEWIS, AND SELDON. This content is protected
Seldon whupped Tucker all the way, and then in the post fight interviews Tucker showed what a pathetic sore loser he was. Tucker sucked in the 90's. I don't know why he's respected. Never in a good fight and boring as hell, yet he was irritatingly always at the top of the abc rankings, lingering like a really bad smell. Herbie Hide absolutely thrashing Tucker was fantastic :happy. Even Ruiz took a piece of him :rofl.
Tucker had this to say about Seldon. "Bruce Seldon was the second coming of Ali. He whupped me worse than Tyson and Lewis did, and for the Seldon fight I was the best I could ever be. Even though I was coming off drugs, bad management, my skills had declined, and I hadnt had a meaningful fight in years, I was still the best I could be. Make no mistake about it, Bruce Seldon had one of the greatest jabs in boxing, and my record was not padded with bums and journeymen. I was 52-2 going into the Seldon fight and earned my top ranking to face Bruce Seldon under the promotional banner of Don King, the most ethical promoter in heavyweight boxing." :deal
Clearly he was being sarcastic in claiming the one man who hit him in bunches and never seriously hurt him, was his hardest punching opponent. If Bernard Hopkins told you Joe Calzaghe hit him the hardest, would you take him seriously?
Sounds familiar... [yt]1ptSn8W_uQo[/yt] "It's great to have the name on my record. But everyone knows Larry Holmes was a legendary fighter, & if he was at his best i couldn't stand a chance. He's a great fighter..."
Just because Tyson said that about Holmes, doesn't mean he didn't also say it about Tucker. And where is the second part from, smart guy?
