Anyone can look awesome in a 3 minute highlight clip with multiple slow motion replays but the Ribalta fight was by Tysons own account an "off" night ( even allowing for Ribalta's gutsy effort) and the simple fact remains that Tyson couldn't put this journeyman away despite having him down and hurt early. This wasn't in any way one of his best displays. Tyson didn't look good either against Tillis or Green. Sure he won and dominated against Green in particular but Tillis made it tricky and Tyson was wild and made plenty of mistakes against Green. Maybe you should watch the fights in their entirety instead of going by 3 minute highlight videos. Highlight video's tend to miss the bits where Mike looks bad and gives people like you the wrong impression on Tysons invincibilty.
He won by TKO so what are you on about?? I've seen that whole fight with Ribalta, but of course you haven't. Ribalta could barely even hit him with a jab and Mike was laying havoc to his body. The uppercut he throws in round 2 of that fight would've put Foreman away for good and retired him. Or that 6 punch combo in the 8th round. If Tyson "struggled" with Ribalta than Foreman looked like **** against Gregorio Peralta or Levi Forte (who was a journey man who had been KOed several times yet Foreman couldn't put him away) And I find it hilarious that Tyson in slow motion is still faster than Foreman :rofl:rofl
Ribalta had been knocked out before, but some nights fighters come determined and they wont be stopped. Ribalta was mentally and physically ready that fight and came to fight. It was a perfect test for a young Tyson and Tyson beat the **** out of him and broke his will. It was certainly a turning point in Tyson's career and something his handlers were definitely wanting to see before taking Mike to the next step.
Tyson still would have lost the fight, but it would have been much more competitive, Tyson clearly wasnt the same after the headbutt
Ok Sorry my bad That might be because most of them were knocked out by then. There was only a handful that went past 7 rounds and only 4 of those beat him (Holyfield, lewis, Douglas and....Mcbride) But guys who fought in a totally different style to Foreman, Tyson would have an easier time finding Foreman than he did Tucker. Theres only so much u can do if the guy keeps grabbing and hugging you. The best action was after the bell of the first round where Smith says to Tyson (sarcastically) 'Whats wrong Mike?' and Tyson punches him in the face. In one of the later rounds Smith clinches Tyson and Tyson hits him with an elbow and Smith replies, 'You ****ing piece of crap' Yes but Tyson matured fast and his decline was equally fast. I never said hed walk through Foreman, but i guarantee it would be a tougher fight than Frazier.
This thread is pathetic and its scary that it has gone on this long. Foreman stops Tyson early, between rounds 1-3. Different caliber of opponent and a bad matchup for Tyson.
What is pathetic is that a poor champion with a fragile mental makeup and dubious stamina who get a result against Tyson that an elite All Time Great heavy was unable to render against him a dozen years past his prime.
For sure. It really is a pick'em kind of fight, one in which I chop and change all the time. Frazier had a heart like a lion and at his best was one of the very, very best Heavies of all time but peak Tyson was one of the most athletically gifted fighters you would ever see and the Foreman-Frazier comparison is irrelevant when talking about someone like Tyson. I lean towards George just for his power and amazing strength (which even fat,old George still had in spades) but a Tyson win is also distinctly possible. Two of the great physical forces of heavyweight history but with flaws. A really great match up.
How is this a bad matchup for Tyson? Foreman would have been by far, the slowest guy Tyson has ever faced. Yes Foreman has an edge in power but he wouldnt land consistently enough. Tyson would outland Foreman. Mike Tyson isnt Joe Frazier. He, wouldnt just try to overpower George, he would make him miss and make him pay. Even in 96' Tyson was ducking alot of punches from Holyfield (the ones he wasnt walking into).
Even when both fighters are in similar ballparks in their careers, some write off styles as too simplistic. Personally, I've made a lot of money betting on styles, a lot more than I've lost, and, in this hypothetical fight, I'd bet on styles again, and most likely win a bundle.
As much as I think OP isn’t sharp. Tyson would demolish 70s Foreman. About the chins and power? Well I’d say the power is irrelevant and the man with the best delivery is the one to look out for in a shoot out and that’s obvious. Tyson took a one sided beating from Lennox Lewis before he was stopped in about 7 after having a buffet of uppercuts. Foreman was nearly stopped by Ron Lyle much sooner from a few straights.
