Heavyweights you would pick against Tyson From The Berbick Fight

Tyson was very determined against Berbick but he was also fairly green as a pro. I dont think this was the best Tyson. Berbick stood and fought him and thats why they had no problem matching Tyson against him at such a young age.

Not sure they would have allowed that Mike Tyson to even fight the Larry Holmes that he faced. Tyson was still learning how to deal with mobile fighters and he did very well improving his ability to cutoff the ring and close the distance on mobile tall boxers. He might not have been ready for that in 1986.

 

Louis has a chance against any Tyson, based on punching range; I've always felt when Mike languished on the inside that Joe could put something together, if he hasn't been decimated by a leaping Kid Dynamite coming in from just inside mid-range with his bombs.

Ali, 50-50 against that Tyson. No one I'd make a genuine favourite over the young Mike, he was a ****in' animal and a complete offensive machine.

 

My sentiments exactly. But I try not to get too deep in these mythical match ups.

Regarding the question, I feel Tyson can take anyone. I give Ali, Foreman, Liston and Bowe the best chances to unseat Tyson. Lewis would be dangerous and Holyfield would be tough but Ali, Foreman, Liston and Bowe would be the most difficult.

 

A lot of people say Ali's best fight was against cleveland williams - but how good was cleveland that night? was the big cat any better than 5 or 6 other contenders at that time? He did not represent the biggest test and neither did Berbick.

When a guy wins easy against an inferior foe he looks great because everything he tried worked and landed.

Tyson was a phenom but as "salty trunks" says he was still green because his talent (and match making) was such that he bypassed certain tests other ATG's would have already had and passed at that stage.

How good was berbick? I would say good. How good was berbick compared to the best in history? Not that good. How good was berbick at the time he fought Tyson? As good as anyone around but not realy any better than another 5 or 6 other heavyweights at that time. Its still a great win but Tyson had it his own way, you can say that is because Tyson was so good but you can also say it was because Tyson had it his own way.

A good strong ATG should cream a contender who is no better than 5 or 6 other contenders and this has always been the case. That berbick was one of 2 others to hold a belt does not make him any better IMO than half of the active contenders that year.

 

Its too difficult to judge based on the style of Berbick. Tyson might have had a completely different approach if he wasnt facing a fighter who decided to try and trade with him.

His performance against Tyrell Biggs was equally impressive in that he was fighting a very skilled tall mover and he did a great job making Biggs miss those shots so he could get close to him and eventually take his legs away. That in my opinion is far more impressive than beating a guy who stood in front of him and didnt have the ammunition to make Tyson think twice before he came forward.

 

Nicolay Valuev , Vitali Klitschko , George Foreman , Henry Akinwande . These guys were no Berbick .
Neither were McCall & Tua but Tyson could have won a decision against them .
Remember that Tyson did not come close 2 stopping Tucker & Smith , Tua & McCall were each harder punchers and more durable than each of these guys .
Corrie Sanders hurt every man he ever fought against prior , during and even fairly past his prime except from Nate Tubbs .
Tyson was no Nate Tubbs and lacked his size . Tubbs had a very good chin and absorbed a few shots from Tua until finally succumbing 2d preasure as expected .