What fighters in history at 20 years old

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by TheOldTimer, Jan 4, 2015.


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  1. TheOldTimer

    TheOldTimer Active Member Full Member

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    could fight Tyson (when he was 20) and be competitive?

    Joe louis at 20? I don't think so. At 20 Louis career had barely touched the ground.
    Ali at 20? No; again not experienced enough at 20, he hadn't yet fully developed physically and wouldn't have the firepower to keep Tyson off him.
    Foreman at 20? No, again he turned pro at 20, too inexperienced to stand more than a small chance in this fight.
    Look further down the list and it's the same story; from Dempsey and Johnson, who at 20 weren't even dreaming about fighting for a title to Lewis and Bowe, (who were incidentally still in the amateur ranks at the same time the younger Tyson in Lewis" case was the first undefeated undisputed world heavyweight champion since Muhammad Ali).
    So at 20 Tyson probably destroys any other fighter in history as they were at 20 years old, interesting...
    Youngest champion in history and the most precocious heavyweight fighter in boxing history.
     
    TheOldTimer, Jan 4, 2015
    TheOldTimer, Jan 4, 2015
    #1
  2. TheOldTimer

    TheOldTimer Active Member Full Member

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    No thoughts. Don't like my style? or did I say it all? :lol:
     
    TheOldTimer, Jan 5, 2015
    TheOldTimer, Jan 5, 2015
    #2
  3. BlackCloud

    BlackCloud I detest the daily heavyweight threads Full Member

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    You pretty much nailed it in your opening post.

    No 20 year old beats the same aged Tyson, no way.
     
    BlackCloud, Jan 5, 2015
    BlackCloud, Jan 5, 2015
    #3
  4. TheOldTimer

    TheOldTimer Active Member Full Member

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    Yes sir. :boxing1
     
    TheOldTimer, Jan 5, 2015
    TheOldTimer, Jan 5, 2015
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  5. jowcol

    jowcol Boxing Addict Full Member

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    OK, I'll give you the argument.
    Joe Nuxhall became a Major League pitcher at age 16 in the forties. Could any other pitcher have been as good at that age?
    Big Train Johnson, Koufax, Maddox, Carlton, Cy Young, Mathewson, etc, etc.? Probably not. Benitez won the welter title at age 17. Could SRR, Leonard, etc, etc. have done the same? Probably not.
    I could go on in other sports. Did any of the youngsters cement themselves as THE GREATEST ever in their sport? No.
    Many other examples and the ones I mentioned had their rear ends handed to them on a plate later on as did Tyson.
    Mozart wrote his first opera at age 8 and, unlike Mike, continued his high level of profeciency until his death.
    I'll give Tyson his quick rise to 'fame' but peaking early with later mishaps hardly warrants some sort of SUPER effort.


    ​
     
    jowcol, Jan 5, 2015
    jowcol, Jan 5, 2015
    #5
  6. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Dubblechin, Jan 5, 2015
    Dubblechin, Jan 5, 2015
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  7. VVMM

    VVMM Well-Known Member Full Member

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    I think Tyson landed 191 punches Smith landed 51.
    Don't forget before this fight Smith slaughtered the reigning
    champion Witherspoon in the first round.
    Stevenson was a big nothing in pro. We talk about the
    professional boxing. I don't know 12 rounds amateur fight.
    Maybe the 20 years old Stevenson has zero stamina.
    Biggs was a great amateur fighter he beat the young Lennox
    in amateur.And Tyson destroyed him.
    But otherwise Stevenson never wasn't so muscular like
    Smith.
    In 1972 OG. Stevenson was skinny like a beanpole.
    His body was **** like Jaco's. The prime Tyson destroyed easily
    these 72s version Stevenson type skinny "girls" like Richardson,Jaco or Ratliff.
    You live in a dreamworld.
     
    VVMM, Jan 5, 2015
    VVMM, Jan 5, 2015
    #7
  8. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Dubblechin, Jan 5, 2015
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  9. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Dubblechin, Jan 5, 2015
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  10. klompton2

    klompton2 Boxing Junkie banned Full Member

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    God Tyson haters are pathetic.
     
    klompton2, Jan 5, 2015
    klompton2, Jan 5, 2015
    #10
  11. janitor

    janitor VIP Member Full Member

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    Sam McVea might be one of the more competitive options.
     
    janitor, Jan 5, 2015
    janitor, Jan 5, 2015
    #11
  12. TheOldTimer

    TheOldTimer Active Member Full Member

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    No. Stevenson would be knocked out quickly. Totally untested in the pro game. Sorry.
     
    TheOldTimer, Jan 5, 2015
    TheOldTimer, Jan 5, 2015
    #12
  13. TheOldTimer

    TheOldTimer Active Member Full Member

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    You didn't answer my question.
    I asked what 20 year old fighters could be competitive with 20 year old Tyson, comparisons with other precocious athletes are irrelevant.
    I mentioned nothing about "THE GREATEST" or "warranting a super effort".
     
    TheOldTimer, Jan 5, 2015
    TheOldTimer, Jan 5, 2015
    #13
  14. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Dubblechin, Jan 5, 2015
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  15. Dubblechin

    Dubblechin Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Dubblechin, Jan 5, 2015
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