Mike Tyson vs. David Tua.

Did he admit all this before his defeats to Lewis, Williams and Mcbride or after he had retired??

I'm sure I can recall Tyson saying he was coming for Lewis after the Saverse bout...:

 

Tyson career:
1985-early 1986 - pre-prime Mike
Late 1986-1988 - prime Mike
1989-1991 - physically prime, but less prepared, less motivated and skills a bit eroded
1995-1997 - past-prime, still top-fighter though with some stamina issues
1999-2000 - more stamina issues, less motivated, still dangerous
2001-2004 - shot, unmotivated, often overweight, 3 round - fighter at best.
2005 - the worst version of Tyson you could ever seen.

It depends which Tyson faces Tua. I'd go with Tyson as far as 1997, later it's Tua win.

Because even 1996-97 Tyson was far better than Rahman, Izon and Maskaev, who gave Tua very tough fights.

 

I like this breakdown. Good analysis of Tyson's career and the levels at which he was at during those time frames. Not sure that I'd pick him to beat Tua anytime post prison, but in any event it would be a fun fight to watch.

 

Its in the James Toback film made in '09

he said after the bite fight, he went home, got high and gave up the thought of ever becoming champion again.

It explains his behaviour and quality of opposition post Holyfield.

He didnt exactly earn his shot at Lewis, he was plucked off the sidelines.

Yes he did Lennox he was coming for him......he needed the money, what else could he have said?

 

I agree, Tysons career did go in phases, the last good version of Tyson was the one who bit Holyfield (strangely enough). He was slim, fast, looked in amazing shape, but the mental discipline was gone.

Still that Tyson could have knocked most guys out (not named Holyfield).

Once he returned in '99 it was all downhill, he was bald, fat, slow and worse than ever.

But as i mentioned earlier, Tua is very overrated, Pre prison Tyson demolishes Tua.

96-97 Tyson would have an uphill battle. Anytime after 97 and Tysons there for the taking.

Tua wasnt exactly consistent himself.

 

Tua never ko'd a single durable fighter his whole career. Maskaev was Ko'd by Mcall in one round, before he fought Tua.

Ok he caught Ruiz cold in the first round and thats about it.

Is it really impressive Ko-ing Michael Moorer in the first? a guy who was past his prime and never had a good chin to begin with?

Id pick 'Etienne' Tyson to Ko that version of Moorer too.

I think although Tyson was knocked out, his 'performance' against Lewis was better than Tuas. Tyson actually tried to win and stood toe to toe with Lewis. Tua spent the whole fight chasing Lewis' ghost. Tua was much closer to his prime than Tyson was. Tyson was 14 years past his peak when he fought Lewis. Most people will agree the peak of Tysons career was 1988 when he beat Michael Spinks

 

I think It's a fight both fighters wouldn't be keen on taking at any point in their careers, both would be too wary of each other's power and reputation I think.

Would Tua be able to land that one shot that would take Tyson out??

Would Tyson be able to outfight Tua without getting caught??

Tyson had the better skills but Tua had the better chin and more one shot power.

 

I think David Tua hit pretty goddamn hard, regardless of how we try to cut it..

 

Tyson because he enjoyed fighting fighters that came to him. He demolished most fighters anyway but he was normally quicker, smarter and more powerful that the fighters that fought with him head on. He used the angles to get his shots in a good example was Buster Matis Jnir or Seldon, not that I am comparing
them to Tua who was better but stylistically they came at Tyson.

 

Tyson even at his worst needed to be bombed at to knock down. One heavy powerful shot is not going to do it against him. Ruddock and Lewis in post fight interviews have paid tribute to his chin.

 

im not disputing that, i just feel he is overrated and his win column doesn't impress me much

 

i think the early rounds will be telling. Tua is going to be on the receiving end of some serious leather against a prime Tyson. Guys who survived against Tyson simply did not stand in front of him.

Berbick, Tubbs, Etienne, Bruno all guys who stood in front of Tyson got demolished.

I think Tyson could take what Tua dishes out, but could Tua take what Tysons going to bring?

 

I don't care if they didn't knock him out Tua definitely had the power to take Tyson out with one punch IMO, if it became a game of landing bombs then I can only see Tua prevailing.

Tyson like in the Ruddock fight would prepare himself to avoid his left hook, thing is Tua didn't telegraph it like Ruddock did so it wouldn't be so easy to avoid.

 

His win list isn't that bad. And I don't think anyone is really making a claim that he was a "great" fighter. Only that he might give certain "great" fighters problems.. You don't have to be "great" yourself in order to do that. His power, chin, and left hook certainly took him a long way in the sport even if he failed to impress at the highest level.

 

It works both ways, Tyson wouldn't be able to stand in front of Tua and risk getting caught otherwise it could spell the end for him.

Could Tyson fight a disciplined fight and avoid Tua's monsterous left hook? Tua most certainly had bigger power and the better chin IMO.

Like I said I don't think either of them would have been keen on fighting the other, shame we never got to see it because it's a fight I wouldn't have missed for the world.