Worst fighter who would give Prime Tyson trouble

Scrap Iron Johnsons.

This guy would give him a better fight than you would expect.

 

Foreman is definitely a top contender here. He can easily push Tyson aside, outmuscle him, out tank him, out range him and he's proven to be rather crafty. Tyson could beat him via power shot flurries due to his speed and defense advantage, but well what are the odds of him landing the needed shots without Foreman popping him once or twice in return?

 

Reminds me of Buster Mathis Jr.

 

Pretty good. Tyson was comfortable at mid range and Foreman had zero defense.

 

I don't think it would be very dissimilar. Sooner or later Mike (especially 80s Mike) is going to bust through.

 

Marvin Hart.

 

A rematch with the unranked at the time Quick Tillis would be a good one considering many believe this win was gifted to Tyson.

 

Gifted? Really? I thought Tillis fought a remarkably more impressive fight than ever expected, but I thought Mike won it pretty obviously.

Sure, Tillis was the first to show cracks in the Tyson armor but I never had him behind any less than three points (and I don't count that kd).

 

Peak Valuev.
The question is who would give Tyson a TOUGH fight; not who would beat him.

 

Tyson was unable to finish Tillis which that by itself stood out. To be honest I would have to rescore the fight before an in depth conversation. As you said though Tillis showed cracks in Tysons game and that's why a rematch would be interesting. imo

 

Snap! But you got in before me. Marvin is at the top of my list also.

A long second to the Fighting Kentuckian, I have Liston. Call me crazy and I'm probably reaching, but I think Sonny also had the right stuff to not only trouble Mikey but beat him also.

 

Yeah, Mikey won. He was 10-1 favorite going in, so some might've afforded Tillis relative "bonus" points (incorrectly) for having the successes that he did during the fight and going the distance.

I agree that Tillis upheld a measure of legitimate stylistic antidotes to Mike's own style, but others draw a preclusive "pre-prime" line through the fight. A pre prime that supposedly ended after that Tillis fight or after Mike's next fight vs Mitch Green.

 

Off the top of my head, Valuev. I don’t see Tyson KOing him early with that Neanderthal chin, obviously Mike is comically quicker than him, but I think Valuev could wear him out with his size and make it an ugly fight that Tyson likely wins 8-4 while struggling.

 

If Tyson doesn't manage to stop Chuvalo early, that could become a very ugly fight. Chuvalos inside skills and concrete jaw would make Tyson dig deep and have to actually outbox his opponent instead of going on a seek and destroy mission. The fans would get their money's worth for sure, but again this would depend on if Chuvalo manages to survive the early storm.

Joseph Parker would frustrate and infuriate Tyson. Parker was better than a 1 armed Tucker and a clinch spamming Smith.

 

Well I think it's fair to say it was a learning fight from Tyson, he'd only been a pro for a year and a bit wasn't it ? And it was his first time going the distance. Often prospects come against a tough gate keeper that test them, and Tillis at that time was the gate keeper of the division.