What if Seldon Didn't Freeze on that Fateful Night in 1996?

Since we hailed from the same state, I followed Bruce's early career with great interest. He was very inconsistent, which was a shame because I thought he possessed a few solid assets:

- Athletic
- Excellent hand speed
- A powerful jab that he could effortlessly flick

After Foreman was stripped by the WBA for refusing the face his mandatory, Tony Tucker, Seldon and Tucker fought for the vacant strap. What followed was a pretty entertaining heavyweight bout, with Seldon the eventual winner by using his jackhammer jab to bust up Tucker's face. A fight with Tyson would be next.

I recall seeing one of the pre-fight press conferences. Seldon, with his just-so-happy-to-be-here grin, seemed like a fan versus a defending champion, saying something like: "Its an honor, Mike!" and reaching over to shake his hand. Tyson, looking serious, shook has hand but didn't appear in the mood for pleasantries.

We all know the ignominious ending. Bruce was scared to death. Many in the crowd started to chant the fight was fixed. Years later, in an interview with Bernard Fernandez of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Seldon admitted the loss "haunted" him. Indeed, the backlash he felt was swift and ugly.

The sad part is that I think Seldon could have at least lasted a few rounds and made things interesting on the strength of his quick jab and athleticism alone. If Seldon shows up at 100%, I think it looks like the Botha fight: he outboxes Tyson for a few rounds - but ultimately succumbs to his power.

Classic Boxing fans, if Bruce showed no fear and fought to the best of his ability, would it change the first-round TKO outcome?

Jimmy

 

I can remember this fight!! I recall Seldon looking nervous when he got into the ring, I think the build up to the fight got to him. If I remember correctly, for the first minute or so, it looked like Seldon had come to have a go, but then went down at least twice? from seemingly half hearted shots from Tyson.
Seldon was WBA champ at the time, and looked in good shape, but I think it may have been one of the shortest HW championship fights if I recall.

 

Yes, if he moved and boxed from the beginning, he could have lasted much longer. He may have made it to the mid rounds. He certainly didn't have the chin to engage Tyson in a head to head shoot out. Seldon was a talented fighter, but rather mechanical. He couldn't outbox the best boxers, nor outfight the best sluggers. He wasn't really championship material. It was a testament to his connections with DK and good matchmaking that got him a piece of the heavyweight title.

 

Did he 'freeze' against Rid**** Bowe too? That was also a 1st round KO. I think the story of Seldon's career is that he was an athlete not a fighter.

 

I remember The Ring bringing out their somewhat 'infamous' computer to 'calculate' how Tyson would get on after he gets out of jail.

Bowe was considered a 'pick-em', but every other potential match up was considered an easy Tyson win but with one odd exception: The computer predicted although he would still win, Tyson would need to get off the floor to beat Seldon...

They could not fathom it out either!

Seldon seemed made to measure for Tyson. Although athletically gifted, Seldon did not have any 'tool' that was better than anything Tyson had; maybe the jab, but then only because post Rooney, Tyson 'forgot' to use it.

Tyson was always going to blow Seldon away, even if Seldon had 'gone for it'.

 

Seldom took a dive in that fight, and left behind a horrible stench behind that probably haunted him for many years after that ugly fight, it was bull****.

Everyone mistakenly thought Tyson was Superman after that fight, and in his next fight he was soundly beaten to a pulp by Holyfield. LOL..

 

Very harsh, I think it was more along the lines of Seldon being petrified and his body looking to survive. Much like The Bomber in the fight before.

Yes not great in the 'macho' world of boxing, but it does show fighters are human, not machines...

 

If you think he took a dive then watch his fight against Bowe. It's almost exactly the same. 2 knock downs and a left hook that finishes the fight. Also, whilst the 1st knock down punch against Tyson looked questionable the 2nd didn't. Tyson did the same thing to Buster Mathias Jr, the difference was that it took him 3 rounds to actually land a punch but as soon as he did, the fight was over.

 

I dunno I don't think it's too much to ask a World class fighter, to put up a much stronger effort in a World title fight, considering he's making a couple Million bucks, not to mention all the folks at home spending all of their hard earned money, on PPV?, and are expecting to see a serious effort, considering the amount of money these guys are being paid..

When your opponent swings and misses, and you fall straight to the floor, something smells bad, I'm not naive..

 

Seldon did take a dive in the fight and he knows it. He had no belief in himself starting from the day he signed the fight. Seldon had skills but a weak mind and a poor chin.

 

Seldon was knock out by a gust of wind in the fight against Tyson.... A ridiculous and shameful performance that showed what he always was: an athlete with good skills but no cojones. After that fight no one else took him seriously as a boxer.

 

Blame George Foreman.

Its his fault someone like Seldon ended up with a title.

Anyway, i believe had Seldon got past 4 rounds and weathered the Tyson storm, Tysons fragile mind would have caved in to Seldons resilience and superior technique.

 

Seldon was not a resilent fighter. He had a history of caving. That scenario of him surviving, then out fighting Mike would never happen. I know you hold Tyson is low regard, but thinking Seldon would ever outlast him is reaching for the bottom of the barrell.

 

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I was being sarcastic

 

I agree with the opening paragraph, it is just sometimes even top class boxers cannot control their 'basic instincts'. Fighting for a Dollar or several million cannot change that; Seldon was petrified not corrupt.