Tyson reflects on his punching power

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Glass City Cobra, Oct 31, 2021.


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  1. Glass City Cobra

    Glass City Cobra H2H Burger King

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    ''I was blessed with speed and a good punch. Everybody thinks I’m the hardest puncher ever. But I just think I was really fast, and my punches got to the target faster. That’s what made my knockouts always seem spectacular. I do think I was a very hard puncher, but I was also a very accurate puncher if I hit you on certain spots and stuff. Guys like George Foreman could hit you in the back or on the side of the head or behind the ears and knock you out. But most of the heavyweight guys were so much bigger than me"

    - Mike Tyson



    Thoughts?
     
    Glass City Cobra, Oct 31, 2021
    Glass City Cobra, Oct 31, 2021
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  2. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    Yeah, that's bang on for me.
     
    McGrain, Oct 31, 2021
    McGrain, Oct 31, 2021
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  3. Flash24

    Flash24 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Accurate assessment of himself. Spot on.
     
    Flash24, Oct 31, 2021
    Flash24, Oct 31, 2021
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  4. Fogger

    Fogger Father, grandfather and big sports fan. Full Member

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    Excellent analysis from Mike. He was thoughtful and accurate without being egotistical or self-deprecating ... or what McGrain said.
     
    Fogger, Oct 31, 2021
    Fogger, Oct 31, 2021
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  5. White Bomber

    White Bomber Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Spot on. Mike's the best.
     
    White Bomber, Oct 31, 2021
    White Bomber, Oct 31, 2021
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  6. sauhund II

    sauhund II Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Always humble.................but he was a extremely hard puncher, the speed and delivery were just the icing on the cake............completely washed up and shot he scrambled Botha with ONE 8 inch shot......and Botha was never chinny..........even more washed up and shot plus stoned he, literally , cracked Golatas neck/cheekbone with ONE shot and made him quit.
     
    sauhund II, Oct 31, 2021
    sauhund II, Oct 31, 2021
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  7. Barrf

    Barrf Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I think he's accurate, although perhaps being a bit humble.

    He was a top tier puncher (maybe mid-pack for the top tier? a little higher?) with a top of the top tier delivery system. Made for some crazy knockouts. That said, even when he was washed up with nothing left he was capable of one-shotting dudes with good chins, so maybe he's a little closer to the top of top-tier than he's taking credit for.

    He's definitely spot on for Foreman. I can't think of anybody who had as many nonchalant knockouts as Foreman did. He'd throw a half ass looking arm punch and it would end the fight. I'm sure Foreman's biokinetics (or whatever you call it) were actually spot on, but man did he make it look like he wasn't even trying sometimes. Everybody gives Shavers so much credit, but, when Shavers threw a big punch, it looked like every fiber of muscle he had was behind it. Compare that to the lazy looking drive-by knockouts Foreman would pull off sometimes, like what he did to Cooney.

    edit: just wanted to add that what Tyson also had that many didn't was equal power in both hands, and that high power regardless of punch type. That's why I rate his delivery so high -- he didn't have to land one or two specific punches with one specific hand to be truly dangerous.
     
    Last edited: Oct 31, 2021
    Barrf, Oct 31, 2021
    Barrf, Oct 31, 2021
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  8. Puroresu_Fan

    Puroresu_Fan Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    The speed did matter but his doing himself a disservice as he punched very hard.
     
    Puroresu_Fan, Oct 31, 2021
    Puroresu_Fan, Oct 31, 2021
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  9. Man_Machine

    Man_Machine Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    That's about as honest a summary of Tyson's power you will ever find.
     
    Man_Machine, Oct 31, 2021
    Man_Machine, Oct 31, 2021
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  10. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    He was a good puncher — a REALLY good puncher. But the speed was his difference-maker.

    Also, he was a GREAT finisher.
     
    Saintpat, Oct 31, 2021
    Saintpat, Oct 31, 2021
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  11. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Absolutely on both.
     
    RulesMakeItInteresting, Oct 31, 2021
    RulesMakeItInteresting, Oct 31, 2021
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  12. 70sFan865

    70sFan865 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I also try to find someone else that fits that criteria but I can't think anyone as fitting as George. Anyone?
     
    70sFan865, Oct 31, 2021
    70sFan865, Oct 31, 2021
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  13. Man_Machine

    Man_Machine Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Nah, me neither - There was only one George Foreman. He was a unique wrecking machine.
     
    Man_Machine, Oct 31, 2021
    Man_Machine, Oct 31, 2021
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  14. Glass City Cobra

    Glass City Cobra H2H Burger King

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    I like that expression, drive by knockouts. It's true tho, Foreman did often deliver sudden nonchalant knockout blows. The Cooney KO he looked like he was going for a stroll to the mail box, then snapped Cooney's head upward with a casual uppercut that had hardly any snap or wind up to it. Guys like him have true, raw clubbing power. It looks like someone being beaten into the ground by guys with bats and 2x4's.

    When Tyson's punches connected it was like a grenade had gone off right next to the opponent. Their lights went out very quick either from a blistering combination, or a scorching blow that they didn't see coming.

    In both case, the opponent is KOd, but the side effects and the way the punches are delivered are very different. Clubbing vs Explosive power.
     
    Glass City Cobra, Oct 31, 2021
    Glass City Cobra, Oct 31, 2021
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  15. RulesMakeItInteresting

    RulesMakeItInteresting Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Heavier, clubbing punchers: Foreman, Cooney, Marciano, late-era Bowe

    Explosive Punchers: Tier One Shavers and Wilder, tier two Tyson, Louis, Lewis, perhaps early Bowe

    Somewhere in between: Liston (though he could be on the clubbing side), Weaver
     
    RulesMakeItInteresting, Oct 31, 2021
    RulesMakeItInteresting, Oct 31, 2021
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