Do you think Tyson still had the kinda stuff to beat a young big strong up and coming heavyweight like Michael Grant at this time? Personally I feel should Grant have fought Tyson instead of Lewis at this time the result would've been pretty much the same. I think Tyson still was a force early on in the 2000's. Not nearly the skilled fighter he once was but still very aggressive, very powerful and fierce. I think Tyson would catch Grant in either the first or second round put him down and if Grant did get up he'd be finished soon after. Am I the only one who thought Tyson looked pretty good in dogging Golota a year later from this and even his fight with Savarese in 2000 to go and drop a big guy like that with one punch right out the gate takes some force. I feel Tyson fell off even more after the Golota fight, I believe he served something like 6 months or a year in prison for a road rage incident following his meeting with Golota. I believe Tyson declined even more so during this time. He looked good awful against fat Brian Nielsen. Still I think the Michael Grant hype train would've been derailed all the same had he faced Tyson early on in the 2000's. :deal
Co-sign on every word :good Tyson had 2 round stamina at that time, but it would be more than enough vs Grant, who was nearly (or in McCline fight really) stopped in 1st round against Golota, Lennox and McCline, 3 fights in a row.
Grant is slow and glass-chinned without heart (Mccline fight). His lucky win against Golota saved his fame.Basically Grant was an ideal Tyson target who could knock down or out tall fighters like Savarese or Golota in the first round around 2000. Easy Tyson win considering Grant was a very slow starter and Tyson was the fastest (the worst version Tyson could win the first round against Lewis and i think every boxing fan knows the Lewis-Grant first round.)
It took Lewis 8 rounds to get Tyson out of there. Tyson had more than enough in his tank to dispose of a mediocre fighter such as Grant
Grant might be able to survive the early scares and last a few rounds by holding, maybe get into his rhythm and win a few rounds, but I suspect Tyson, in that situation, would be able to pull it out like he did against Botha. Ultimately, however well he performs, Grant doesn't quite have the chin or the know-how to actually win the contest.
