The ESB British Forum Encyclopedia

I'll suppose I'll have a pop at Archie Moore. After all I did do Charles. It's only fair

 

Seeing as Calderon's best days are behind him :deal

 

Castillo's a good one mate, do him :good

:good Coolio, first half is on it's way.

 

:happy

 

Name: Mike Tyson
Nickname: Iron/Kid Dynamite/The Baddest Man on the Planet
Born: 1966-06-30, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 5′ 10″ / 178cm
Reach: 71’’

Record: 50 (44) – 6 (5) – 0

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An enigma, one of the most fearsome fighters of all time, and arguably the most recognisable character in the history of boxing, Mike Tyson is a name synonymous with the sport, and one furthermore known almost universally throughout the world. From his ruthless tear through the Heavyweight division in the late 1980's, to his criminal conviction and subsequent comeback attempts, Mike Tyson constantly remained one of the faces of the sport. A born fighter - from the first day he stepped foot in the gym - he was taken under the wing of mentor and highly esteemed boxing trainer Cus D'Amato, the man who had guided Floyd Patterson and Jose Torres to world title glory. This relationship would eventually blossom into the cultivation of one of the most dynamic and compelling fighters in the history of the Heavyweight division.

After amassing a 23-1 amateur record under the guidance of D’Amato, Tyson’s most significant amateur fight came in 1984 against the wily and able Henry Tillman. A close contest ensued, in which despite a first round KD, Tillman came back to triumph over Tyson by controversial unanimous decision. Just 2 weeks later, the two engaged again at the Olympic box-offs to determine who would represent the USA in the Heavyweight division at the 1984 Atlanta Olympics. Despite being more closely contested than their first encounter, Tyson yet again came up short on the judges scorecards as the Unanimous Decision was awarded to the future Gold Medallist Tillman. The understandably dissapointed Tyson turned his eye to the professional ranks the very same year.....

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udia3npfFwg[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh8OoHdf4x0&feature=related[/ame]



After 19 straight knockout victories for Tyson (A DQ win over Jesse Ferguson was later overturned) he participated in what would be his sternest test in his short professional career, against former world title challenger James ‘Quick’ Tillis. The experienced Tillis lived up to his name, using his legs to stay out of harms way from the increasingly frustrated Tyson, who in turn tried to chase down his agile opponent, but outside of a 4th round left-hook knockdown, enjoyed minimal success. Still, Tyson landed more than enough punches – compared to the few that the tentative Tillis actually managed – to incontestably win the Unanimous verdict.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsfcZCFIs1I[/ame]


Another Unanimous decision followed for Tyson, this time against the rugged Mitch ‘Blood’ Green. Similarly to Tillis, Green fought timidly, contending in a defensive and apprehensive manner for much of the fight. Tyson battered the overmatched Green over the course of the fight, knocking his mouth guard out several times and winning almost every round in a dominant victory in which only Green's rock-solid chin kept him in for the duration. 6 straight KO wins followed for ‘Iron Mike’, most notably a 10th round win over the resilient Jose Ribalta, where Tyson demonstrated his fantastic right uppercut/right hook to the body combination which would serve him well throughout his career.

At 27-0 (25KO’s) and at just 20 years of age, Tyson challenged for the WBC Heavyweight title against champion Trevor Berbick in 1986. In spectacular fashion, Tyson decimated the champion in just 2 rounds, wobbling him in the first before brutally stopping him a round later. In smashing Berbick, Tyson had fulfilled the prophecy Cus D’Amato had laid out before him: He had become the Heavyweight champion of the world. Now it was time for Tyson to unify the belts....

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kblp3kYuKRU[/ame]


Tyson immediately sought a unification fight with WBA Champ James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith. In 1987, they met in Las Vegas. Tyson defeated Smith by wide unanimous decision, in an uncharacteristically dull fight for Mike, where his fellow champion held and spoiled like a number of Tyson opponents had attempted before. Smith managed to finish on his feet, but in the process lost almost every round, and subsequently his WBA title. Tyson had added another belt to his collection, and only IBF champion Tony Tucker stood in his way of becoming the undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fka_m4nyOLQ[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewHs5oh8qjI&feature=related[/ame]


After dusting off the tough Pinklon Thomas in 6 rounds, Tyson stepped up to challenge the IBF champion. He and Tucker met in 1987, with Tyson winning a wide Unanimous decision in a somewhat gruelling bout. After being staggered by a huge uppercut in the first round courtesy of the bigger Tucker, Tyson stormed back furiously to dominate the remainder of the fight, smashing Tucker with big lead hooks, whilst displaying a hard, piston-like jab throughout. There was no doubt who the victor would be when the final bell sounded, and at just 21 years of age Tyson had become the unified, undisputed Heavyweight champion of the world.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZK_PrdNADA[/ame]


In the first defence of his championship, Tyson decimated skilled Olympic Gold medallist Tyrell Biggs via 7th round TKO. He preceeded to take on former reigning Heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, beating the past-prime legend to a pulp before stopping him viciously in 4 rounds, thus becoming the only fighter ever to stop the 'Easton Assasin'. After dusting off Tony Tubbs in 2, it was time for Tyson to fight another former champion, the undefeated future hall of famer, Michael Spinks.

In shocking and devastating fashion, Tyson wiped out his highly regarded foe in 1 quick round, knocking the challenger down twice (the second time for the count), despite the fact that Spinks had never even touched the canvas before in a long and illustrious 31 fight career. The brutal demolition of the superbly skilled Spinks sent a devastating message to the other Heavyweight contenders vying for a shot at the champion.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aASFYQOUCEU[/ame]


Things began to fall apart for Mike Tyson shortly afterwards. His marriage to Robin Givens began to fall apart. Then, the huge pressure exerted by the US media onto him, led to Tyson crashing his car into a tree, knocking himself out in the process. Shortly afterwards, his long-time manager Jim Jacobs passed away, leaving Tyson to the mercy of the greedy Don King, who 'ambushed' Tyson on an LA flight, convinving him to sign promotional contracts. King also goaded Tyson into firing his long-time trainer Kevin Rooney, the man who had guided Tyson through his career after Cus D'Amato had passed away in 1985. Without the right people around to help him, and with exlpoitative, money-thirsty vultures everyhwere he turned, Tyson was left in a position where he was more vulnerable than ever before. And it showed in his subsequent fights. This documentary details the events very well:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-56eIdfxsQ[/ame]


Tyson’s next bout was schedules against Englishman Frank Bruno. Without Rooney is his corner, Tyson showed signs of vulnerability never displayed before before in his career. In the first round, despite knocking the challenger down, Tyson himself was staggered by a left hook from Bruno, appearing shaken for the remainder of the round. Despite recovering to stretch Bruno in the 5th, Tyson had looked worryingly penetrable. Questions regarding his dedication began to surface as the turmoil of his personal life began to impace upon his career.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPHofYgReog[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTK_4zl96mk&feature=related[/ame]


After controversially stopping Carl ‘The Truth’ Williams inside 2 rounds, in February 1990 Tyson would fight 29-4-1 James ‘Buster’ Douglas in a title defence in Tokyo, Japan. Douglas, a 42-1 underdog, was given no chance to topple the dominant favourite. Shockingly however, in what is regarded by many as the single greatest upset in the history of boxing, Douglas dominated and knocked out the undefeated champion in 10 rounds, shaking the entire sporting world to it's core. Despite rallying in the 8th and knocking Doulgas down for what seemed like a long count, the poorly prepared Tyson himself was hurt just a round later, and finally taken out in the 10th with huge swelling around both eyes (which his disgracefully inept team failed to deal with). Tyson had been subject to an upset of epic proportions and had lost both his unbeaten record and undisputed championship to the more motivated, dedicated and prepared underdog.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTQ7CsEK5DY[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8CDBgxXvUM[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KNuAVivQkU&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KNuAVivQkU[/ame]

 

Jesus ****ing christ that's exactly 10000 characters or whatever the number is. Had to crop the absolute **** out of some bits just to fit it in :yep

I can adjust the videos so that it doesn't stretch out the page if you guys want. I don't particularly like having to scroll sideways myself.

 

the video's are fine.

great read that, aint seen the videos yet but will defo have a bash, specially at the documentary

Well Done :blurp:blurp:beer

 

I appreciate it, Mr LP :good

 

I'm not Tyson's biggest fan by any means, but that is pure quality! Nice work m8 :good

 

Cheers.

The documentary is class by the way. Learnt alot about young Tyson from that, and it basically covers the exact same part of his career that I did.

 

:good

 

Good shout actually.

I'll do an Iron Boy one within the next week or so.

Gives me an excuse to watch more of the great manchild!

 

That's a tease Mand!