Tysons' peak performance/first sign of trouble ahead .

Sometimes you just lose, lots of great fighters had night lives, addiction and spent too much time around ladies - it’s a trope really but they still handled things in the ring.
Buster Douglas beat him and the rest of the world turned it into a shocking catastrophe.
Fighters lost to guys “far below them” all the time in the old days. His decline was all after prison he was away for 3-4 years hopped on the PEDs lifted some weights to look the part and resumed with what he had left.
Did he have anybody in his team post prison that could teach him anything about how he fought? I don’t believe so.
Mike is totally accountable for how he fought, his trainers after his lock up were all probably just competent pad holders who wouldn’t try to teach him anything or make him work.

 

I have read about Jose Napoles partying habits that he often came to the gym with alcohol on his breath.
Difference between them is I’ll bet Napoles was really learning something when he clocked in for the day.

 

Tangible sign? ,,#1 being seen all the time with Don King

 

Definitely Bruno, Mike was much worse than the one from Biggs or Holmes, for example. Later, he had periods of good physical condition, but his mental, timing and cardio were worse

 

I've always felt that Tyson's vulnerabilities were revealed piecemeal as his career progressed, before suddenly exploding all at once vs. Douglas.
-His vulnerability to body shots & uppercuts was revealed vs. Tillis.
-His difficulties in stopping opponents from smothering/tying him up was revealed vs. Bonecrusher.
-His tendency to lose discipline & become focused on the KO was revealed vs. Thomas.

Prior to Douglas, whatever shortcomings Tyson may have had typically didn't matter b/c his opponents just couldn't withstand his immense firepower. He epitomized the term "equalizer."

 

I think it's commonly viewed as Bruno where things started to get shaky, although it's arguably a hindsight view. He still finished Bruno in 5 but you can tell he had shifted to relying more on one punch power than putting together combos.

The fact that everybody was shocked he lost to Douglass, shows that the general boxing fans still perceived Mike as being in peak form through early 1990.

 

He was already slipping during his biggest victory , M. Spinks .... he was under the cloak of Givens, he was free of Jacobs, breaking from Clayton,Don King owned his head, he was losing respect for Rooney and not training the same ... he was worldwide news on an hourly basis and likely already slipping from the prime Frazier to Tubbs ... he just mashed up so well against Spinks there was nothing to it ...

 

A lot of people are surprised Mike "flamed out" so early but if you review what he was going through at that time, as a man still in his early 20s, it's actually surprising he was able to hold it together for so long.

I don't think his fighting style was ever meant for longevity but it would have been something if he had better people around him to help his mental aspect. I think he would have dominated straight through the mid 90s at least but may have had a quick fall off thereafter.

 

I heard that as early as 1987, after he won the first belt, he started to slack off during training and sparrings. It started to **** Rooney off and escalated further when Mike started to date Robins.

 

I think Tillis especially showed his weakness to men who knew what they were doing and came to fight. More experienced fighters almost always had something to show against Tyson, as long as they weren't scared (And no, I don't think that Mike was a bum, but his intimidation of opponents helped immensely in many fights).
The following is a quote from Tyson when he commentated over a broadcast version of Vazquez Vs Stevenson in 2014;

Raul Marquez:
"Mike, were you ever hurt by body shots in your career?"

Mike Tyson:
"Absolutely- James Tillis. When I fought James Tillis- When I fought James Tillis, oh, man, I couldn't even move. I went straight from the fight right to the bedroom."

 

I always wondered what would happen if Berbick fought like he used to fought and not slug against Mike. He would most definitely lose, but it's interesting, if some other vulnerabilities would show in Mike.

 

Judging from his performances elsewhere, he could've taken Tyson for a rough couple of rounds.

 

Bruno. He was hit with those left hooks and rocked. Bruno was a good fighter, but Mike was reckless.

 

I agree with you. I always thought of Tyson as a bit of a wasted potential type fighter. But when I read his autobiography - really saw his demons, background, addictions etc - I actually thought My God... look at what he achieved despite all those problems.
I think he was always destined for a short career, both mentally and stylistically. More stability would have prolonged things ... But not for long.