Like Tyson or not (and I don't), I don't believe anyone can produce a valid argument that he was not a great. Amongst anyone with a decent knowledge of boxing I don't believe any could justify saying he was not. The only debatable issue can be HOW GREAT? For me along with Liston and Jeffries I have Tyson just outside the top 10, not so much because he was not great I just feel that there were greater others. In his early years I felt that he was on his way to top 5 placement...in the ensuing years I feel he fell short of accomplishing that (IMO). Bowe would be another that I saw as top 10 potential, that fell short of what I felt he would do and I place him just outside of the top 15...But I don't feel that neither were great. Unless you only consider top 10 guys as great. Tyson was great, but I feel he had the potential to be greater.
Love the Philadelphia retro cover, Phillyphan.. Worm and Boogaloo..... Thats tha bomb.. !!!!!!!!!!!!!
He was a great fighter with a legacy that will be remember for generations even if it wasn't always for his boxing ability. No doubt in my mind he is an ATG.
I agree with this. I would have Tyson inside the top ten though just based on how he won his fights in his prime. He accomplished a lot in a short period of time. The unification of the titles involving all the top fighters at the time in the tournament is something that never happened again. Noone can say that anyone was shut out except Spinks who Tyson later destroyed. He consistently disposed of top level fighters quicker than anyone in the history of the sport. That being said his career still came up short. Just as some real great fighters were coming onto the scene, his career unraveled.
How many short HW's go inside as well as Tyson, bringing as much as he did? None, could very well be your answer, and it is mine. Even Marciano who was so deceptive, slicing his way in, didn't bring so much potential destruction as he did. Tyson's naivete, trusting nature, is what did him in. Would have loved to see him up against other ATG's ... Ali, Foreman, Marciano, Louis, Frazier; I think Mike would have held his own.
I think half of the problem with Tyson is that he was that good that no matter what he accomplished people would still ask what if. IMO his resume is easily of ATG standard and is better than a lot of higher rated heavyweights, but because he was so talented his standing in history takes a hit, which I believe is unfair to what he achieved.
He had the potential to be one of the greatest, speed and power he had it all. But obviously from Tokyo onward...
I credit him as bringing a great deal of excitement and popularity back to heavyweight boxing after a decade of stagnation and making the title whole again after being fragmented for many years. Mike Tyson was young, charismatic, had an exciting style and won fights emphatically and dramatically. His prime years were short lived and his life outside the ring controversial. But he made an enormous contribution to the sport and did so in such little time.
Nice bit of digging through the old threads Fergy. I have read alot of books and watched alot documentaries on Mike Tyson. The most recent book I have been reading is Twice Bitten The Untold Story of Holyfield Tyson 2. It covers alot regarding both Tyson and Evander Holyfield's respective backgrounds and upbringings. I feel Tyson really squandered his potential was influenced and manipulated by those who didn't have his best interests at heart. He wasn't the best heavyweight and I don't know if or where I would personally place him in my top ten? However he was one of the most exciting heavyweights.
I think Tyson in his relatively short prime is an issue for any heavyweight champion ever and you couldn’t confidently pick any of them against him.
Cheers mate. I've not read that one about the bite fight, sounds a good one. He's an hard one to place at times I admit. But for excitement, he's one of the best easily.
It’s so vogue to put Tyson down and act like your knowledgeable to do so but the reality was he is great for a HW end of and it’s highly likely he stops anyone on the cast of the 70s dream team.