Best ability-wise.

Only 10 times?

And, yeah, I agree. Tucker, who gave Tyson trouble before busting his right hand, was really a sized up Ali, but only had the misfortune to share era with Tyson during his 9 1/2 week prime. Heroin addict Thomas, who gave Tyson some paus with his one good hand, would cut through any other era like a knife through hot butter.

 

He was no Kalambay in skill, but then who was?

In terms of ability though, he was able to punch very fast from range at the right times, be it a combination to keep his opponent off-balance or a sneak long right lead to take him out! His up-jab was tremendous, thrown from below the hip at an angle difficult to detect. He was very, very, very able at his natural weights

 

SRR
SRL
Duran
Charles
Whitaker

 

Tucker back then I would say was a better boxer than Lennox Lewis ever was. When Lennox became so big and strong though later on, it was almost unfair.

Pinklon Thomas was a very talented world champion, high on the lb4lb lists. And Biggs a very talented unbeaten Olympic gold medalist. Tubbs was also a talent, arguably the fastest hands in the division, Tyson aside or even maybe included, since Patterson or Clay. And Larry Holmes was not as far past his best as you'd like to believe. He was training for the comeback in early 1987 and looked to have beaten Spinks twice just before.

 

I'd say MW/SMW was his natural weight. Those were the weights he were at from 25 onwards, when fully grown. But then "natural weights" are a hazy concept.

And of course he was able, but his success below 160 was very much a function of his freakish dimensions for those weights.

 

Tucker was good, but not fantastic in any sense. Thomas was good in his prime, but some way past it when he faced Tyson.

Tyson reign was highly impressive, don't get me wrong. But he was clearly not untouchable, not even before the beat down he suffered at the hands of Douglas.

And no way in hell did Holmes win the first Spinks fight.

 

I certainly wouldn't include Tyson. For that style of fighting Duran is leaps and bounds ahead of him. When did you ever see Tyson use feints and roll with punches or turn opponents around and force them against the ropes (ie Moore among others)? or even counter-punch all that much?

 

Personally I'd pick Duran's skill set over Tyson's in a new York minute. I don't recall Tyson using feints all that much, nor do I recall him rolling with punches, nor was he an exceptional counter puncher. And when did have you ever seen Tyson slip a punch and flip a boxer around so that he was against the ropes, the way Duran did against Moore, (and a couple of other fighters?)

They're really not in the same league talent wise.

 

Link please.

Only unlike all the other Tyson apologists who would have us believe he was shagging geisha girls, drinking beer, and smoking dope all the time he was in Tokyo. You would have us believe he still had the dedication and discipline to lose 60 lbs in 2 weeks.

Perhaps you could take it up with the more rabid of Tyson's fan boys, and let us know which it was.:rofl:rofl

 

Dunno, Arguello maybe

 

Let me guess...your pick is Lennox? Tyson is actually a fantastic pick here. In terms of speed and power there was no one better. Roy Jones is another excellent choice. Tommy Hearns as well.

How about a young Hector Camacho? The guy was a phenom until Rosario took a bite out of his heart while the coke aye ee nay all but stole it.

 

Problem for Tyson is he's short for his weight division.
A lot of his ability, effort and energy went towards overcoming a natural deficit.
It limited his style and possibilities.

 

Tough style to perfect though, wasn't it? Not really a problem if you had the ability to do so.