How could Tyson's post exile comeback have been as successful as Ali's?

Avoid Holyfield and Lewis. He might have been able to beat most of the contenders and if he retires undefeated since the Douglas loss in 2000 people would claim that he was the goat.

 

Get back with Atlas and Rooney, avenge Douglas ends up a trilogy where Tyson takes 2/3, blow out Morrison, Bowe, and Foreman, beat Holyfield and Lewis in absolute wars as a career cap

 

I agree, post-prison Tyson had the potential to run through the division, but Tyson himself was just too self destructive too manage a good trainer.

 

Mike did well enough as it was. He had enough left really. He came back and beat Bruno for the title better than he had first time around. His later wins over Golota and such show that Holyfield beat a good fighter.

 

I think he would have lost to any high-class boxer: Ike, Bowe, Tua, Lewis, Byrd, maybe Holmes or Mercer or Whitearspoon Tyson was still very strong and dynamic but:
1. He had much weaker cardio, slowing down after just a few rounds
2. He had much worse timing, landing many missed punches and landing fewer combinations
3. He was much worse mentally and mentally unstable - he had maybe one or two offenses in the 1980s. After the fight with Douglas, he had warnings from Ruddock, Botha, he fouled terribly against McNeeley, Savarese, Norris, Holyfield, Golota, showing every time a lack of control over his emotions because they were stupid fouls.

 

True answer but there really was no way of avoiding at least one of them.
But yes, no Real Deal or Lewis and maybe he could remain unbeaten. Hard to say.

 

Tyson did not have the height that Ali did. Tyson needed incredible cardio to be successful unless he could blow a guy out quickly. Ali could stay at a distance, pepper people with jabs, rest his legs etc.

Now if Mike had chosen Lewis instead of Holyfield in 96, he might have won on an early stoppage. Tyson's team were trying to cherry pick thinking Holyfield was going to be an easier fight. Bad idea.

Only way Mike could have had a great comeback if he retired in 1999 and carefully planned the 96-99 era.

Take on a good boxer in 96 ala Witherspoon. Aging guy who could still fight.

Take on Lewis and hopefully win.

Beat Moorer and Briggs.

Avoid Tua, Ibeabuchi.

Retire after beating Briggs.

 

I think Tyson would have potentially beaten both. The fights he lost were against Lewis and Holyfield. No real shame in that. Both were better than Douglas.

 

He’s going to equal Ali’s post-exile career by avoiding the biggest possible scalps of his era? Strange logic.

 

Prime version, yes. Prime Tyson beats Ibeabuchi and Tua. But late 90's Tyson? This version was declining. And fast.

 

He simply wasn't good enough to get past the very top fighters. He was never going to beat Lewis and Holyfield at that point and possibly ever.

 

agreed with the first point.

I think given how Lewis never ever faced an opponent who remotely combined the speed, power, combination punching and head movement of a young Tyson, that Lewis would really struggle vs the 88 Tyson. Conversely, Lewis is 5 times better than anyone young Tyson faced but given how large a target he was, i think Tyson would land big combos on him and finish him early to mid rounds. I think Holyfield is a bad stylistic match up for Tyson but IMO Tyson is a bad match up for Lewis. Lewis couldn't keep young Tyson away without throwing some huge hits himself and that would open him up to 5-6 punch combos

 

Peak for peak i take Lewis. He'd fight exactly how he did against old Tyson. Throw a couple of monstrous uppercuts early to gain respect while also tying him up and leaning on him, wearing him down. It would be rinse and repeat. Tyson would get frustrated, desperate and start lunging and pressing and making mistakes. It's far from out of the question Tyson could stop him but i favor Lewis.