Best Mike Tyson win pre-Buster Douglas?

It doesn't have to be, but clearly in this case it's undefeated lineal champion Michael Spinks.

 

* Pinklon Thomas had one loss, was the WBC #1 contender and was the former WBC Champion.
* Tony Tubbs had one loss and was the former WBA Champion.
* Tony Tucker was the unbeaten, reigning IBF Champion.
* Bonecrusher Smith was the reigning WBA Champion.
* Trevor Berbick was the reigning WBC Champion.
* Frank Bruno was a future WBC Heavyweight Champion.
* Michael Spinks was the undefeated reigning 'World' Champion and Hall of Famer.
* Larry Holmes was the former World Champion and Hall of Famer who had lost to one person in his 15-year pro career by close decision (twice).

(Between Holmes, Spinks, Bruno, Thomas, Tubbs and Tucker, I think they had a combined 190 wins and 5 losses when Tyson faced them.)

When you find another 23-year-old heavyweight who has wins over EIGHT past, present or future Heavyweight champions and two hall of famers before suffering his first loss, get back to me.

Otherwise, you need to start over again.

If Mike Tyson had a terrible 37-0 (with 33 KOs) record prior to the Douglas fight, every heavyweight who ever lived had a worse record prior to their first loss.

 

No one noteworthy. Just the undefeated Pinklon Thomas for the WBC title, the then-undefeated/top-rated (and future WBA heavyweight champion) Greg Page, the once-beaten and former WBA heavyweight champ John Tate, ranked guys like David Bey and Mitch 'Blood' Green, and some guy named Muhammad Ali.

Nobody anyone heard of, apparently.
Isn't this a boxing board, for ****'s sake.

 

Berbick had big wins vs John Tate, an undefeated Greg Page, and an undefeated Pinklon Thomas who was unbeaten for 7 years.

Tyson beat 8 fighters ranked in the top 10 during a 4 year period, show me another Heavyweight apart from Ali who has beaten that many ranked contenders in 4 years.

 

It’s Spinks. He beat him so badly that people have come up with all sorts of excuses (I.e. bad knees, scared, old, etc.) and they’re all bs. That win is every bit as good as a blowout win over Patterson, Norton, or even Schmeling.

I also suspect that Ruddock had a lot of potential that was derailed by Tyson.

 

I'd say Spinks or Tucker.
Even tho Thomas was past best, the way Tyson stopped him very impressive.

 

Well he pretty much smoked every good 80s heavyweight except Holy, Spoon and Douglas. I'm not sure why you're completely writing off Berbick, he was a solid fighter. Regardless, he's not like Bowe or Frazier with an obvious atg win, he has about 5 or 6 very good wins that you could make a case for.

 

I knew others would have a proverbial Field Day here.
The least you could fairly argue is that Tyson had only a good resume during this time period.
But it seems to me & most it is more like excellent.

Yes context is everything. But are you open to what most never get past: examining how your Ego got in the way of objectivity?
At least re: defending your position instead of being rigorously objective.

For example sure look at post prime losses-but guys often do worse when damaged-in confidence or physically-after facing a devsatating fighter.
Like Marciano & Frazier allegedly "ruined" some fighters.
Tyson at his peak had better competition-in terms of their proven records AND head to head-than them, even peak Ali, & most other HWs.
Foreman can be slagged off since Frazier was out of shape & complacent & past prime & a stylistic advantage....
Norton later lost to the biggest sluggers-Foreman only fought "winos from the Alley" when he was 40-0 w/37 KO's b4 facing Ali in Africa?

You were guilty of not discovering or acknowledging exculpating or mitigating facts too.
You need to consider the record of guys entering into fights, amateur & professional pedigree-& Tyson's competition was stellar in that regard.
Better than maybe you can find at least for any HW...EVER.
Beating guys who had a combined 190 wins & 5 losses just as PROS, fighting fairly frequently (at a huge pace by today's standards) is *huge*.

Also you must be much younger than around or likely even alive during Tyson's prime, so do not recall that Holmes was 38.
But if you just looked up DOB & fight year, you have a 50% chance of getting an age wrong.
Holmes was born in November of 1949 & fought Tyson in January of 1988, so he was not far past turning 38.


Please reconsider your idea that Tyson had terrible competition in his prime.
ALL fighters face some cannon fodder at least early on/when starting. You can cherry-pick & make anyone look more like Jerry Lewis than Lennox Lewis!
It was at least very good.

 

I think Tyson’s best win was Larry Holmes pre 1990. Ruddock probably pips it after.

I was watching Tucker Douglas at the weekend and whilst I was always under the impression that Tucker was talented and a good challenger, I just think Tucker and likewise Douglas were losers. They lacked something mentally. So Tucker wouldn’t be my vote.

Holmes had no such mentality issues. And I don’t think Holmes at 38 was that far gone either. He schooled Mercer and made Holyfield look a little silly fighting a top defensive fight. I think he would always lose to Tyson best for best. And Tyson was the only man to stop him. That’s very impressive.

Spinks blow out had some quittage about it. A heavyweight down from a body shot inside a round is … rare. And I’ve closely watched the punch that got him good and it was a good short counter right but nothing spectacular, which brings into question Spinks’ credibility as a HW.

 

What did Pinklon Thomas achieve AFTER he was the Heavyweight Champion?

What were Jack Johnson's great WINS after he lost the title? Christ. Most heavyweight champions don't win it again, you know?

Mike Tyson beats EIGHT former, reigning or Future Heavyweight Champions, including two Hall of Famers, by the age of freaking 23 ... and his resume is TERRIBLE to you?

You're a straight up moron.

Did Trevor Berbick beat anyone NOTEWORTHY? Four heavyweight champions wasn't good enough?

How long have you been following boxing? Since the 2020s? I've got tickets to boxing matches in my drawer older than you. **** off.

 

The condition and context? I watchd the fights live. I actually remember what was happening at that time, unlike you, who wasn't even born when Mike Tyson was the champion.

I get the impression you don't even know who some of these people are.

WTF do you know about anything? Because, based on this thread, it isn't ****.

 

YDKSAB