How dy think Tyson would have gone on, if he'd suffered a shock loss, BEFORE challenging Berbick? As Louis did against Schmeling for example? Would he have regrouped, or do you think an early loss changes his destiny? Ps :Mike Tyson not the Fury guy
I wonder if that had been scheduled for 12, Tyson may have tired, given all away those last round s. Not sure off hand the scoring now, but it was Tyson s learning fight for sure.
I don't see why not. Tyson still had his tight knit team around. The fame, Don King, drugs, and Robin Givens were the issues later.
That was my basis for my question, Swag, If he could recover from a set back that early. That big L on his record already. Jacobs and team wondering 'What now'!?
Great question Ferg. I tend to think it might’ve simply derailed him that much sooner. Mike thrived on winning - never losing. It drove him to the heights he reached. He admitted to a “fear” of losing - and maybe that “fear” was too acute - and he also admitted (some years after the fact) to it being a sort of relief when he did lose to Douglas - the burden of invincibility being removed from his shoulders. I watched a recent doco on Mike and it was interesting to hear him say that he was sick of people making excuses for him - and that when he lost, maybe he just lost, fair and square. Losing can be devastating - particularly in the manner and context Mike suffered his first loss. That’s when you would really want a caring team around you - which Mike did not have. Louis had Blackburn and I’m sure he was great in helping Joe deal with the mental and emotional effects of losing - and how to use that loss to become back bigger and better. Still, it will always boil down to the core psyche of the fighter in question. Also, if beaten earlier, Mikey would’ve lost a measure of his aura and advantage by way of intimidation - as Foreman did. A compounding, negative effect might’ve been Mike losing some confidence while future opponents would come at him with even greater confidence. I don’t know that a fighter like Mayweather would’ve been effected so severely if he lost badly early in the piece - but then again, Floyd has certainly used his undefeated status to drive him ever forward - with a very unique record to protect - a good beating early in the heavily defensive Floyd’s career might’ve seen him off…
Cheers Pug. Yes, Tyson was built up with that killer persona, that's what sold him We know how vulnerable he could appear when a amateur, and he lost. Not let's say he he shock of shocks, drops a tight decision to Tillis. That's gonna do something to Tyson surely. And his promising career suddenly looks.... Not so glittery.
