Boxing fans since the 80's, how popular was Mike Tyson at his peak?

There was even a song about Ali. "Ali was known to have said, you watch me shuffle and l'll jab off your head."

As for Tyson, l'm about 2 years older than him and l remember his rise, his peak, and his decline like it was yesterday. For awhile he was probably the most famous athlete in the world although it may have been close between him and Jordan

 

Yeah but did Ali have his own cartoon TV series?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Tyson_Mysteries

Edit: I stand corrected. He did.

 

Ali was waaay more controversial. His controversy was political and racial. I was too young to experience Ali's phenomenon at it's peak, but it's clear to me that Ali had more clout worldwide than Tyson. But other than Ali?
I don't think any other fighter transcended boxing like Tyson did.

 

Far enough although if you back to the days of Jack Johnston, Dempsey and Louis they could have been bigger and/or more controversial than Tyson. Certainly Johnston was more controversial.

 

Boxing ppv was not around,of course millions would have tuned in ,in the 70's...Tyson created ppv for boxing and has done over 100 million in revenue on more than 3 occasions,its not even close to what the number of who was watching Tyson was.And he didn't need a back story in doing so,he just need himself.If you don't think the world stop when a Tyson fight was on,you are mistaken.

 

Termite you are wrong again. Ali was and still is a one off icon who transcended the sport of boxing.
Ali was not just famous for trash talking he did it with humour and backed up his boasting wth achievements in the ring.
He also fought and beat the best of his era and made it possible for athletes who followed him to earn vast fortunes.
Please educate yourself properly before entering into these discussions as it is quite tiresome having to correct you and your pidgin english on this forum.:verysad

 

Yeah you're right there. Fair point and well made. Anyway,in my lifetime there has not been anyone like Tyson.

 

How old are you? I know the world stopped when Tyson fought l was one of those watching but it was no where near the same as when Ali fought in Manilla or Zaire. It was just a different magnitude.

If you just when by ppv numbers l guess that makes Mayweather more popular than them both. But if all three walked down the street people would mostly gravitate towards Ali even today.

 

Refusing to go to war wouldn't make him more controversial,neither would be affiliated to any muslims as Tyson was that as well.,thats one mans stance...everything ive stated about Tysons character is why he is more controversial.Ali never was the sporadic character Tyson was.In retrospect Tyson makes ali look very normal.

 

So Pay Per View has been a good thing for the casual sports fan is it? Your sentences don't really make any sense Termite. Are you using a virus ridden google translate?

 

Tyson vs Spinks is still the most widely watched HW fight of all time! Tyson was the magnitude.

 

Don king and Tyson created ppv,you fool!:smooch

 

You're an idiot.

 

Yes there was a big difference. Ali's fame transcended sport, his views and opinions helped develop a debate that transformed the USA.

Outside of boxing, Tyson was merely cliché; plenty of celebrities had been involved in street fights, car wrecks, drugs, ***ual assault and imprisonment.

Tyson only became more interesting outside of boxing when he started face up to his problems, and by then the boxing career was but a memory.

 

Nah man. You gotta understand the times.