Prime Tyson vs Norton Evangelista Occasio Weaver Shavers Zanon Jones Ledoux Berbick Leon Spinks Snipes Cooney Cobb Rodriguez Witherspoon Frank BoneCrusher Smith David Bey Carl Williams Michael Spinks Keep in mid, Tyson actually did fight and beat a few of the men on this list. But here's the thing. If Tyson switched places with Holmes he'd still have Cus D'Amato with him. Could Tyson keep enough focus to make it undefeated through the above list of challengers? And if not, who in this group is his "Buster Douglas"? If so, who gives him the most trouble?
A young, motivated Witherspoon will make it. Tyson, im my opinion, was a product of intense professionell training with short fighting periods, keeping Tyson busy and in game. Depending of the personalty, this may of course lead to problems keeping such intensity up. And this is exactly what happened: Performance declined.
Jacobs, Cayton, Lott, Baranski, Rooney etc - the original Team Tyson would all be intact. This would be quite interesting. I also pick Spoon as the Douglas opponent. But on paper, Tyson has the potential to best Louis and Marciano records.
Tyson beats all of them but he needs to be careful when fighting shavers, Tyson could get him out quick but if shavers catches him it could be all over
I cant see witherspoon in 83 causing tyson too many problems...once tyson hit him he would become reclusive and reticent to throw punches . Much like he did when pinklon thomas bullied him,tim would decline exchanges I see mike mauling the whole bloody lot of them...kayoeing spinks in 85,suffering life and death with a peak prime pinklon thomas in autumn 85 ,having a long rest throughout 86 returning in october to to brutalise bruno,tubbs ,biggs and decision tucker...than in 88 fighting 3 times beating damiani,du plooy,and adilson rodriguez..by now mike is close on rockys record...he beats ribalta in early 89 than fights and beats razor ruddock in late 89 in a fight where he shows severe decline and barely wins (like a closer version of the actual 1991 fight)...tyson is now 48-0 and being accused of ducking foreman and holyfield....he fights mandatory holyfield...at this point tyson retains the skills and speed of his youth but no longer able to commit to the same surges for 12 rounds, fights more stand up and clinches inside...cus has also taught him a new cross arm defence to compensate....he wins a controversial decision over holy in a fast paced pier six brawl...than fights foreman ....mike is floored twice in the 3rd...he fights back hard but is looking beaten by 8 ...however with damatos urging he rallies and a murderous onslaught in the 9th..think pinklon thomas ending and holmes combined leave george comatose and mike retires 50-0....the following 2-3 years see lewis,bowe,and a still embittered holyfield win alphabet titles .foreman kayoes lewis in early 93...bowe loses to holyfield.. Mike is frequently mentioned ...in spring 1993 a 36 year old tyson enticed by a $50,000,000 purse comes back to fight holyfield and is stopped in 8 a shell of his former self he is cut than blasted to a ten count
Exactly. And considering it would be experienced Mike vs green Tim... Mike KO's Norton and Weaver early L. Spinks will go down in 1, Cooney won't last much longer, Zanon, Evangelista, Frank and other weak challengers will be stopped early and easily. The only 3 I can see that may last the distance are Witherspoon, Smith (clinch his way to the final bell) and Snipes who was crafty boxer at times and not easy to catch clean - if he plays it safe, he may last 15 but loses by wide decision. Cobb had an iron chin but he'd be stopped sooner or later against prime Mike.
Speaking of which, I wish Witherspoon had beaten Smith so we had gotten a Witherspoon/Tyson rather than a Smith/Tyson fight.
Yep, Spoon messed up. And just like some people claim Tyson ducked Spoon, they'll say Bonecrusher might have the power and height to do Tyson in...if they never fought.
