Tyson was good 15 lbs overweight in the latest part of his career

Tyson had the combo of power and speed at 218 of any fighter at that weight or under and any fighter above that weight would have been too slow to beat a prime slimmer Mike.

 

Literally invincible Mark?

 

Yes he was the finest physical specimen to ever set foot in the ring.

 

Oh Mark.

 

Somebody better warn Tyson. This is becoming Lennon/Mark David Chapmanesque.

 

I don't disagree with mark, it's difficult to argue Tyson isn't one of the most physically gifted fighters of all time. Mike had his weaknesses but lets be honest short reach was his only physical short fall and his style was built around. Mike had his weaknesses with stamina on occasion too but even asthma wasn't really a problem for 20 year old Mike, at least against Bonecrusher type guys. Evander Holyfield and Foreman are the only ones I'd consistently favor over young Tyson.

 

After Holyfield 2 boxing was something Mike did for money.

 

Did you see the exhibition with RJJ? At 54, great shape and retained some of that speed and power ,, Blasting RJJ to the body .. OUCH !!!

 

Okay, if he was great, I do not want to see boxers who are in worse shape.

 

Yep he let himself go in his latter years. He'd had enough of boxing life,, no he'd had enough of life full stop.
Still good enough to put fear in a lot of heavyweights minds but no where near what he was.

 

After Carl Williams boxing was something Tyson only did for money.

 

He did want to regain the title after he lost it to Douglas.

 

Mike is a tiny dude, if you didn't notice that with him sharing the ring with Roy. That he wasted the entire division in a few short years is almost a miracle and one of the greater achievements in sports given his size. Holyfield rightly pointed this out a few years back. Holy was considered too small to be dominant in the division and Vander looks like a giant next to Mike.

Speed, skill, athleticism. A young man's approach to the game. And you can't hold on to this combination for long.

 

I think Tyson never had his earlier single minded focus post prison. He was a spectacle in the 90’s. He was a sports figure in the 80’s. He was always an event but there was much more focus on his actual boxing ability in the 80’s. There was focus on his place in history. That he wasn’t in great shape later isn’t surprising. I just don’t think his heart was in it. He definitely was sharper at a light weight. Someone his height who relied on speed shouldn’t weigh 230.

I always wonder what would happen if you switched Tyson’s opponents around. Older Tyson fought bigger guys (other than Holyfield) and guys who were sluggers. Young Tyson fought mostly quick handed boxers who looked to outpoint guys. Put the 90’s - 2005 Tyson in with Biggs, Spinks, Thomas, & Carl Williams. I think he still beats them. Put 1986 Tyson in with Lewis, Holyfield, Danny Williams, & McBride. That I don’t know about.