Mike Tyson and adversity

Could you imagine the lethality of a 1986-1988 Tyson with the gift of Toney’s ability to look so relaxed in the face of trained killers (all professional boxers)?

 

Although Tyson NEVER snatched victories from the jaws of defeat, I have no problem giving him credit for taking his losses like a man.

Although I don’t recall needing to do so on these boards, I have vociferously defended Tyson against the foolish accusation that he took a dive against Douglas. I’m sorry, but nobody with a diver’s mentality “takes the plunge” after absorbing nearly 10 rounds of punishment. I believe a legitimate dive occurs before 3 rounds are complete.

 

Douglas was no bum. He was an underachieving 42-1 underdog who Tyson happened to catch at the wrong time. Without the fuel of his mother’s recent death, R.I.P. to Mama Douglas, I seriously doubt he fights with the same focus and determination he did on the night in question. In accordance with his M.O., he starts the fight seeking to establish his jab, has some success and troubles Tyson early before deciding he doesn’t want to or can’t stand up to Tyson’s fury and loses by TKO6-8.

 

That Pee Ka Boo style relies solely on supreme conditioning and reflexes. You have to be a 100% at all times to execute that style i.e. Taking an opponent out early or Fighting the distance if the knock out didn't come. With the Catskill team, Tyson never had an problems going the full 12 rounds where if the knock out didn't come, he carried on outpointing his opponent or adapting to out box the opponent. Frankly speaking he was no longer a boxer after leaving the Catskill team, became a brawler instead who kept looking to finish fights early and could no longer go the full 12 rounds.

 

I KNEW IT!!! Feels good to come clean, doesn't it?

 

This is wrong again, Mike Tyson has snatched victories from the Jaws of defeat i.e. Botha, Tillis, Razor Ruddock e.t.c, those victories were from the jaws of defeat or close to it. This thread has been proven incorrect and should not come to an end.

 

Unfortunately for Tyson and his most loyal fans, the rest of the world does not see his victories over significant underdogs, Botha, Tillis, and Ruddock as examples of a fighter snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.

 

Tyson fans comfortably outnumber the rest of the world and there is proof of this via numbers. I am pretty sure Lenni's wins in rematches over Mcall and Rahman are his bastian to overcoming adversity to his minority nuthugging club. The fact that Mccall and Rahman were not considered underdogs against Lenni speaks volumes about how great a fighter he was really.

 

Actually Lennox’s “controversial” WIN over fellow HOFer Vitali is his bastian to overcoming adversity. Since Tyson’s lady friends, I mean loyal lovers, like to point out that McCall and Rahman are mere D level fighters, I won’t even mention the fact that Lennox avenged his defeats to those two fighters.

So tell me again, when did Tyson ever avenge a loss as a professional. I’ll wait for your answer. However, since I Love life too much, I won’t hold my breath. Better yet, as Tyson’s honorary publicist, I’ll let you provide a good explanation as to why a professional boxer (Tyson) acted like a DOG when he bit his two Masters (Holyfield AKA Evan Fields and The Pugilist Specialist).

Say it with me...42 to 1, Danny Williams, Kevin McBride. I forgot who, but someone else said that the ghost of Jack Dempsey could’ve beaten McBride...lol!

 

History is not so black and white. Everyone knows that the bulk of Tyson's losses occured at the end of his career when he was washed up and that Douglas refused the rematch rather than Tyson not wanting to rematch Douglas.

I am sure Muhammad Ali should be hounded for not avenging his defeats for not avenging his defeat to Larry Holmes and Trever Berbick right?

 

This is a great analysis

 

Nice try, but you should keep Ali out of this. There’s a HUGE difference between Ali losing to an ATG in Holmes and a solid champion in Berbick at the end of his career as opposed to Tyson’s end of career losses to Danny Williams and Kevin McBride.

Regarding the rematch that you accuse Douglas of avoiding, I have a few theories as to why this happened.

Douglas was likely upset at the fact that Tyson and King conducted themselves as ungracious LOSERS and lodged an official protest, over the 13 second count that occurred in the 8th round, immediately following the fight. Due to your idol’s lack of character, as demonstrated by his inability to HUMBLY accept that he lost to a once in a lifetime laser focused, highly motivated, 42-1 underdog, the WBA and WBC delayed their recognition of Douglas as champion by a week.

I realize you’re the ultimate Tyson apologist and debating his flaws with you is as pointless as painting a portrait with Stevie Wonder. However, I’d like you to try to view the situation from Douglas’s point of view. How would you feel if after nearly a decade of toil in a largely unforgiving sport, you felt like you finally made it by overcoming 42-1 odds to knockout the “Baddest Man on The Planet” and became the undisputed champion, per the contract of the fight, only to have to wait a week for the official recognition that you rightfully earned?

The second theory is that Douglas said screw your idol, aka the Sore Loser, aka the pugilist specialist’s wayward son, aka Holyfield’s Huckleberry and decided to cash out against Holyfield. His record shows that he took nearly 6 years off from the ring following the loss to Holyfield.

By the time he came back in 1996, following a diabetic coma, it wouldn’t have been worthwhile to grant Tyson the rematch his supporters claim he coveted. Based on the delusional tenacity of Tyson’s supporters, like yourself, I’m sure even if Douglas won the rematch in 1996 or later, you guys would discredit it due to Tyson’s post prison decline.

Tell me I’m wrong.

 

Cheers.

 

But i thought Trever Berbick was a bum that Tyson beat, he becomes a solid champion for Ali but becomes a bum for Tyson? Isn't that what you Lenni nut huggers like to spout? Everyone knew that Tyson was finished in boxing terms and the Tyson that Lewis beat in 2002 was no different from the one who lost to Mcbride and Williams. I suppose if Pacquiao retires now after the Jeff Horne fight you will not spare him either? What about Sugar Ray Leonard losing his last 2 fights, does that diminish him in your eyes as well?

So you have now gone from Facts to theories? Keep it coming. Douglas knew that he was not going to get lucky the second time around and that is evidenced by his actions of not going out of his way to make the rematch happen.

King and Tyson went through the proper channels and had the right to request a review of the 13 second controversy but decided to withdraw their appeal due to public outcry and saluted the new champion Buster Douglas. Douglas in his post fight interview behaved like the ultimate jerk but unlike Lewis vis a vis Rahman, Tyson does not badmouth Douglas ever in interviews.

Everyone can see you for what you really are, a Lenni nuthugger who just like his hero is trying to still battle hard and lobby for his legitimacy and credibility everyday. You shouldn't really be saying "You like Tyson" given the language you use against him.

There was big money on offer for the rematch and Douglas could have made much more than he made in the fight with Holyfield, but the reality is he knew deep down he was not going to get lucky again.

Lou Savarese beat the **** out of Douglas and knocked him down 3 times, Tyson destroyed Savarese in 39 seconds. Tyson even in his eroded state would have made quick work of that Douglas, but i wanted to see the best version of Tyson vs the best version of Douglas.