Significance of Ruddock fights for Tyson?

Tyson's rematch with Ruddock in my eyes probably enhances his pre prison legacy more than any other fight, it is often overlooked. It especially dispels the myth that he was a pure bully and would fold if he encountered any resistance. Tyson fought other fighters in his prime that didn't appear scared but he was never hurt by them in the way he was against Ruddock (obviously omitting Douglas).

This is more directed at Tyson detractors as I'm sure the fans will agree with me in that he wasn't just a bully. I really don't get the argument that even many boxing experts also come up with? Tyson will wilt if put under pressure! In the Ruddock rematch I saw Tyson a punch away from being knocked out, what did he do? He kept throwing even when hurt, unwilling to give ground, he went back to his corner after taking these massive punches that would have destroyed most fighters (near murdered Dokes) then comes out for the next round with the full intention of taking Ruddock out, no discouragement at all?

Tyson did himself no favours with his post prison career but to me he was not the same physically or mentally. When you look at that guy it is difficult to argue for him. But i do believe if you look hard enough there is strong evidence to show the pre prison Tyson could have beaten both Lewis and Holyfield etc. Against Ruddock Tyson showed everything he didn't in his 96' fight against Holy, where he basically ran out of steam after 4 rounds (which would be his post prison trend). He was hit much harder by Ruddock early in the 91' fight so why did he not fold? Because he had stamina and a mindset to win.

I just think that fight does a lot to seal Tyson's pre prison legacy, he met some adversity against the top ranked contender at the time and came out on top. If he was beaten by Ruddock I would see why he gets such a beating by the detractors but it puzzles me that many say he had no heart? That little run after the Douglas loss brought a bit of credibility back for Tyson and as a fan I am glad he managed to fit in those Ruddock fights before he imploded, because it does prove his mindset was totally different in my eyes.

 

Yes there was some low blows but I don't read too much into it, you cant be serious comparing to Golota, who basically fought Rid**** Bowes nut sack, twice. They were blatant but he was known to fight dirty at times and Ruddock returned in kind, with hitting after the bell as well. It was a tough, dirty fight.

Call me crazy but I am not convinced Holyfield would have taken the punishment Ruddock did in that fight and be able to land his assortment of punches? Its a fair point that Holy had a much bigger range but Tyson wasn't going to be standing there taking them with no offense himself, in 91 he showed he had devastating speed and power, with stamina to back it up.

Round ten helps prove my point, as well as making your fair point that better fighters could have put a hurt Tyson away. My point being that although he was hurt, he survived and threw back, then ultimately won. He was still dangerous, who is to say he wouldn't have caught a great like Holyfield while he was trying to finish the job. I was amazed by Tyson's chin in this fight, it actually made me wonder if Holyfield could even have hurt him, Ruddock landed that smash punch enough times to prove Tyson's chin would hold up, did Evander in 91 even hit that hard? would he have landed those combination with no offensive from Tyson?

 

This isn't really part of what I am trying to point out, I agree this was sub par from Tyson and a few years earlier he could have made this an easier task. Despite that it did show Tyson had grit, in a way it was better that he wasn't at his best because an easy win wouldn't have showed his heart. The only other fight he had to show real heart was Douglas but he didn't come out on top. Seeing pre prison Tyson tested was rare, he was victim of his success, so to me the Ruddock fights are a good example of how Tyson dealt with a bit of adversity.

Also to add, Ruddock didn't seem like an easy man to break down. Its easy to say now that Lewis destroyed him in 2 rounds etc but there is a strong argument the Tyson fights ended him. He had a hell of a jaw in those fights and although he had limited punches some of those combinations were devastating. I wonder how he would have done if he didn't fight Tyson, How Holyfield would have dealt with him?

 

I'd like to think Holyfield would win but I think it would have been a tough fight for him as well. I agree that Evander could probably take what Ruddock had to dish out and find a way to survive but I could see him getting hurt a few times. People will laugh at that considering how much more skilled Holy was but I do believe that version of Ruddock was no walk over, evidence shows he went 12 rounds with a Dangerous Tyson and he handed out his own dose of punishment. I think Holyfield would win in the end on points with his work output, jabbing and movement, couldn't see him getting the KO.

 

maybe. but Holyfield wasn't that hard to hit, especially if he got drawn into a brawl. if he fought to a strategy like he did in the second Bowe fight he could make it a much easier fight.

I think Tyson's chin in this fight shows the difference between his pre and post prison form. No way Evander hit him as hard in 96, even with the accumulative punishment. Tyson just didn't seem used to getting hit, when he got hurt he seemed more shocked. Totally different mindset.