Why so many rate Tunney ahead of tyson at heavy?

That's because basically Tyson had two careers and is judged by the whole span. If Tyson would have stopped boxing after getting out of prison, he would be ranked alot higher. His career at the end was not stellar by any means.

Prior and shortly after prison Tyson was 45-1, then he met Holyfield for the first time and finished out his career 5-5-2. That is why he got moved down the ranks, coming up the big name fighters he met were over the hill in many cases and then to finish his career all the big names beat Tyson.

 

Tyson is perceived as a quitter...a bully that once stood up to backs down and does not have a plan B. Boxing historians don't rate quitters very highly.

 

nostalgia

 

He had the most torrential devastation of the division over 4 years that was ever recorded.

 

Pep was a 'quitter'. Is he not rated high?

 

Tyson is the H2H GOAT and far superior to Tunney

No boxer past, present or future beats a 1988 Tyson

 

Well it depends what criteria you have I guess. Being undefeated at heavyweight and retiring as champ is your thing then he's gonna be in your top 10 for sure

 

Tunney shouldn't be in the top 15 HW let alone above Tyson.

 

Anyone that calls him a "Quitter" is an idiot.

As far as a "Plan B"...he had a Plan B when Rooney was guiding him but I can agree without Rooney he didn't have one...which is something I've brought up before with why Ali is greater than Tyson: Ali was his own "General" while Tyson was more "Soldier" obeying orders.

If you need an example of a "Plan B" just watch the Tucker fight.

 

Nostalgia Whores!

There opinions are not based in logic. These guys will talk up an opponent of a past era fighter even if that opponent sucked balls. These same guys will act like the modern fighter never beat anyone decent.

Look at the recent threads about Sonny Liston vs. the Klitschko's and Lennox Lewis for example. It's even worse when the fighter is from an era even earlier than Liston. Liston never beat a decent HW to be honest with you. Patterson x2, Folley, and Machen were Cruiserweights. Cleveland Williams sucked balls.

Who else did Liston beat? Oh yeah, he beat Johnny Summerlin x2, Marty Marshall 2 out of 3, Mike DeJohn, and a washed up Nino Valdes (who wasn't even that good in his prime)... No I'm sorry, they were Cruiserweights as well... some could have made LHW. How's that taste? LOL:happy:bbb

 

who should Liston have fought?

 

Tyson lacks a single great win.

One could argue Spinks is the only signature victory he ever notched.

Tunney has Dempsey twice, a name that easily trumps any in Tyson's win column.

I think rating Gene over Mike is pretty asinine, but if an argument existed, that would be it.

 

Michael Spinks is a LH ATG and HOF fighter, Agree?

Michael Spinks moved up to HW and fought at natural 200+ pound Undefeated HW Champion Larry Holmes and beat him which gave him some legitimacy, agree?
I say "some legitimacy" because Larry wasn't exactly in Peak form anymore but still good.

Tunney beat Jack Dempsey (an under 200 pound HW as well) after Dempsey was off for 3 years from the sport and you want me to give Tunney full credit but not Tyson?
Do you know what 3 years can do to a Pitbull that is getting satisfied by Hollywood Starlets?

And how "Great" was Jack Dempsey?

You think he was better than Tyson?

 

Rating Tunney higher p4p is rightful. At heavyweight however, I personally don't see the basis for such an argument.