Did Tyson have more charisma than Frazier, Marciano and Dempsey?

There was a very brief period in the late 80's where I think he did, but it probably didn't last as long as the other names mentioned... He was on the front cover of every American magazine including Time, people, sports illustrated and many others.. He was on every talk show.... Had his own video game... And when his divorce to Robin Givens happened in 89' there was more media drama than even some of the most watched reality shows of today.....

 

YEs he did, say what you want about Tyson but he's exciting in and out the ring, he often says funny or interesting things. Frazier/Marciano come across as largely boring, Dempsey seems a better speaker, exciting in the ring, but in terms of raw off the wall charisma not on Tyson's level. Tyson like Ali transcended the sport like few others

 

yes, because Tyson in the 1980s was like something from another planet, mostly because he was a walking tribute to his boxing heros of yesteryear - he wore no socks and ankle boots and had a jack dempsey haircut ......NOBODY had a jack dempsey haircut in 1985. He even had a off centre parting cut into his afro hair to mimick harry grebs slicked back centre parting. Gold teeth. who else had gold teeth in the 1980s? Tyson also came into the ring without a gown, not a big deal now, but it was then.

Aside from how he fought mike Tyson changed the face of boxing, if that is what you call charisma, Tyson had it.

 

I am totaly discounting their ring acomplishments here.

As people have said, there was a period when Tyson came across as the perfect champion. The most spectacular force of nature anybody had ever seen, but also a consumate student of the sports history.

I think that people can underestimate the charisma of Dempsey, Marciano and Frazier, because the memories are not fresh. These were all highly charismatic champions, who built up profiles outside the ring.

In all, it is hard to seperate them

 

In terms of charisma, I'd rate them Dempsey, Tyson, Marciano, and Frazier. Dempsey and Tyson is a very a close 1-2 though.

 

Are we discussing who was more "charismatic"? Truly?

I was sure it was the "Classic Boxing Forum" .... but perhaps I clicked the wrong link and landed in the E! Online Forum

What is next? Are we gonna discuss who looked better in those tight boxing trunks?

 

Dempsey's championship fights were banner headlines on the front page of the New York Times from 1919 to 1927. I can't see Tyson achieving the notoriety Jack did starting during WW I, without modern television, radio saturation, or with a federal ban on the interstate transport of boxing films such as was in place when Dempsey was on top (along with Red Grange on the gridiron, Bill Tilden and Suzanne Lenglen in tennis, Bobby Jones in golf, or Ruth in baseball, etc... AKA, "The Golden Age of Sport.")

The communications technology during Dempsey's title run that later inflated Tyson's stature wasn't yet in place. Reverse their positions via time warp, and no, I do not think Mike measures anywhere near up to Jack Johnson's (let alone Dempsey's) transcendental impact in any way, shape or form.

 

My first impression was very much like yours. The longer I thought about it the more relevance I think I can see. As it stands now boxing is a dying art and will soon be an insignificant sideshow sport. MMA is taking boxing's fanbase not because it is a better sport, but because of the rampant obvious corruption that is overwhelmingly entrenched in modern boxing. Although I have many good things to say about them The Klitch brothers they are certainly re NOT charismatic. Nor do they seem interested in preserving the sport for whatever reason. What would it mean to boxing as a sport if a dynamic charismatic heavyweight champion demanded a cleanup of boxing. Mandatory challengers, fair purses, fair judges, 8 or nine weight classes with only ONE champion, lifetime bans for performance enhancing drug use, at ringside just before the contest weigh-ins with FORFEITURE penalty. Without changes boxing will die as a major sport in your lifetime. I think that only a charismatic heavyweight champion can lead the crusade to make the necessary changes and what would that guy look like?
As to the question posed - My opinion is that Frazier was never a very popular champion, almost everybody preferred Ali, (who I am surprised not to see mentioned) Marciano was respected in his time but not adored. Like a bulldog you could admire for his strength and courage but did not want slobbering up your home. The real magnets were Iron Mike and the Mauler. For his time Dempsey was the bigger "star" in the US but with mass media Mike was worldwide. If either of them had asked for a change in the way Boxing was done - everyone would have had to listen to them...

 

Rocky boring? Have you watched some of the rebroadcast of fights in which Marciano commentates? He's amazing, he would have made a fantastic commentator

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

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2WJEqCE1bA[/ame]

 

of course even when he was a busted flush he still was the biggest name in boxing by far .

 

Tyson had more charisma than Frazier and Marciano, but not Dempsey. Dempsey vied with Babe Ruth as an iconic figure in the Roaring 20's.

 

Charisma shouldn't be confused with notoriety...in Tyson's case.

 

Tyson in the ring was electric in his prime. But like Messrs Frazier, Marciano and Dempsey lacked charisma outside the ring.

Boasting about wanting to eat children and smashing noses into brains, may turn some on, but was not for me.