Is Mike Tyson a myth?

I think I made it pretty clear that I don't agree with those cracks before Douglas. That Douglas of that night just had the measure of Tyson.

 

The Myth at 53.

(Keep in mind, at 53, former champs like Max Baer, Ezzard Charles, Sonny Liston were dead and Ali couldn't talk.)

I think Tyson's going to be one of those champs like Dempsey who knocks out robbers when he's 80 years old.

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Which heavyweights are you confident would beat Mike Tyson at his absolute best?

 

Ali, Holmes, Foreman, Lewis, Holyfield, Frazier, Liston, Louis, Fury, Douglas and though I’m not particularly big on Vitali, I would give him the edge.

 

The cracks were their, just because he won those fights doesn't mean he wasn't
slipping. Doesn't mean he hadn't slowed. It's on film. It's obvious.
There's a difference from Tyson in 85- 87, compared to Tyson during and
after 88.

 

I would argue that his prime run, that is from 86 till 90, was more impressive than Jeffries, Johnson, Dempsey, Marciano and Liston based on the quality and quantity of his opponents and the emphatic nature of the majority of his victories.

 

No, it's not obvious on film.

 

To you....

 

Of course. Isn't that the case with your view, you mean? Or are you but a vessel of some divine, objective truth?

Not even the Duran fans are as creepily "I have seen the light and the absolute truth" as Tyson fans, I'd say. I don't know of any fans that are as much like a cult. It's almost a bit disturbing. Like you've made a false idol of "Rooney Tyson".

 

You're an idiota. Otherwise Douglas beat McCall who destroyed the unbeaten Lewis in the second round. Considering this Tyson's Douglas loss wasn't so big shame.

 

I'd give several of those guys a very good chance of beating Tyson, and a few I might make favorites, but for the most part I wouldn't be very confident about it. And I think Tyson is a terrible matchup for Louis and Frazier.

 

What are you ranting about? I'm NOT a Tyson fan, and never have I been. If you have a problem with someones
point of view that doesn't agree with yours, I suggest to you that you 'Have the I seen the light and the absolute truth".
Complex your accusing others of having. There's is NOTHING I wrote that suggest I'm a Tyson fan. But I'm fair,
and call it like I see it. That simple. At least with me. You on the other hand just showed me your lack of objectivity
with your "Like you've made a false Idol of ' Rooney Tyson' comment. What the hell does that mean anyway.
Anyway. You have your opinions , I have mine, you have a great and safe day. Be well.

 

Thanks. You too.

 

I've just finished reading all the posts on this thread and I saw some very objective posts from posters who are not Tyson fans, and I respect them for that.
I've also read all the absolute nonsense and garbage posts written by some Tyson haters like [url]young griffo[/url] and [url]ChrisJS[/url].
So here's my 2 cents, as a Tyson fan:

Most of us Tyson fans admit that he never achieved his full potential and thus it's very hard to rank him among the top 5 HW's in terms of greatness. BUT he's definitely top 10. Whether he's 6th or 10th place is a different discussion altogether, but he's definitely top 10 any way you look at it. And here's why:
- he became the youngest Heavyweight Champion of all time;
- he was the first fighter to unify all three World Heavyweight Championships;
- he cleaned out the division;
- he has defeated 11 world champions for the world heavyweight title, the seventh most in history;
- he has 2 ATG's on his resume: Holmes (who was still good enough despite being past his prime since he went on to compete for the world title 2 more times in the 90's, when he was 40+ years old. He lasted the distance both times) and Spinks (who was undefeated at the time, and the recognised world champ by Ring magazine. Spinks was the one who put a holt to Holmes's winning streak, which was no easy task);
- he also has some good boxers on his resume, which were top contenders and world champions, and some were undefeated when he faced them: WBC Champion Trevor Berbick, WBA Champion James Smith, former WBC Champion Pinklon Thomas , IBF Champion & Undefeated Tony Tucker (34-0 with 29 KO's,who hadn't lost a fight since 1978), Tyrell Biggs, Tony Tubbs, Frank Bruno, Donovan Ruddock.
- he managed to regain his title when he came out of prison;
- he has had the biggest impact on the sport of boxing, a department in which he's second only to Ali.

There's no denying his place among the top 10, no matter how hard some haters try. As for those who are clearly greater than him, you could say that about:
- Ali and Louis, who are the top 2 HW's in most people's eyes;
- Marciano, who was undefeated in his era;
- Lewis, who dominated his era;
- W. Klitschko, who holds the record for the longest cumulative HW title reign of all time, albeit in a weaker era.
And then you have guys like Johnson, Dempsey, Liston and Foreman, who one might say are greater, or one might say they are not.
But there's nobody else that surpasses Tyson.

 

I'd add Jeffries and Frazier to third tier of arguable choices.