The Tony Tucker thread.

Number 3 heavyweight of the 80,s ( number 2 Holmes , number 1 Tyson )

 

I don't think many experts would put him that high

Witherspoon, Weaver, Thomas probably higher.

 

This is basically true

The Tucker that fought Norris in 1991 was much heavier and slower of foot than the one that fought Tyson.

That layoff killed his prime.

 

Maybe his prime was killed before that. Especially if he was using drugs during the 80's, that could, in part, kill everything.

 

I like Witherspoon but he got tko,d inside the first round...
Thomas got ko,d in six
Weaver lost a few times in the 80,s also
Tucker went 35-1 in the 80,s ( only losing on points against a prime tyson )

 

You are probably correct, but i think i would consider putting him their in a head to head sense. Maybe Spinks (who i rate higher than most) and Bonecrusher smith are two from that era who might have a say.

 

Would love to see a prime for prime battle between Tucker and Bowe. I see Bowe pushing Tucker to his best, sort of the old "fights to the level of his opponents" type boxer Tucker was.

 

I don't see why Tucker gets so much disrespect from some people.

At his best a very well schooled athletic boxer puncher with a good jab and pretty good foot movement. One of the only guys that can say they rocked Mike Tyson in the first round.

 

Tucker really moved swiftly for a 6'5" boxer/puncher against Tyson.

Maybe his hurt right hand was a blessing in disguise.

 

There is a big contingent here that goes by what they can read on boxrec and in historians' ratings instead of what they can see on film.

 

Tucker would beat up Marciano.

 

Without putting too much thought into it, if i had to go with a non lineal world champ to beat Marciano, i think Tucker might have as good a chance as anyone.

 

I'm not sure why Tony Tucker's name comes up so often in this forum. Tony Tucker wasn't very special in my opinion. Prior to Tyson he went 34-0 (29) 1NC and 1-0 (1) in an IBF HW world title fight. The record sounds good plus a primeTucker was 6'5" with an 82" reach and about 222 Lbs. Let's look at who he beat though-

Keep in mind that he turned pro in 1980 and until 1985 his opponents combined for a losing record.

A washed up Jimmy Young W10, James Broad W12, and Buster Douglas KO10 (for the vacant IBF belt). Douglas gave him plenty of problems but ran out of gas.

He went the distance with Tyson but that's about it. Oh, he landed a decent punch or two, so what?

He beat a bunch of bums then fought Lennox Lewis for the WBC belt. He was dropped twice and dominated for a decision loss... but he went the distance!

Ok, ok, he won close and questionable decisions over Norris and McCall. Norris won the rematch.

What else did he do besides get stopped by Sledon and Ruiz late in his career?

 

Take away that shot he landed on Tyson and what do you really have? You do understand that he was totally dominated vs. Tyson right? Look at who Tucker fought prior to Tyson and add up their wins and losses, it's on the worst resumes you'll ever see for a guy who won a world title.

 

Got KTFO by Herbie Hide....