If instead of Holyfield you put Usyk fighting 30-year-old Mike Tyson in 1996, who would win?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by Mark Anthony, Jun 5, 2025 at 12:57 AM.


  1. Kiwi Casual

    Kiwi Casual Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Still better than AJ, Fury, Dubios and Chisora though.
     
  2. CooperKupp

    CooperKupp “B.. but they all playin NBA basketball again!” Full Member

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    And honestly he’d win easier than Evan Fields did. He’d frustrate Mike’s ass soo much. lol :lol::lol:
     
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  3. Mickc

    Mickc Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Tyson was never the same fighter after he chased Rooney,the last fight under Rooney being the Spinks fight .
     
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  4. mrbigshot

    mrbigshot Active Member Full Member

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    I think most of us are a bit tired to hear that he has "prooven anything at heavyweight" while in fact he has a laughable legacy of 5 opponents at heavy , with three of the 5 are witherspoon , old chisora and kid version of dubois .

    Strange question . I think it would be good for the sport when he would just fight the division instead of only talking and avoiding , especially when he has a "massive" counter of 5 guys faced at heavy . And i think it would be better for the sport to fight kabayel than jake paul . No ?
     
  5. Jackstraw

    Jackstraw Mercy for me, justice for thee! Full Member

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    I wouldn’t discount Usyk’s power that easily. No, he’s not a 1-shot KO guy, or a traditional power puncher, but he hits harder than he’s given credit for.
    He reminds me of Mayweather in the sense that he has that “FAFO” power. Neither man has a high KO percentage, but none of their opponents ever felt compelled to rush in and go for the knockout after having eaten a few punches.
    Shane was content to know his place and lose a decision after staggering Floyd in the 2nd round.
    Joshua literally had a nervous breakdown after 24 rounds with Usyk, and Fury had no desire to try to replicate his success in the first 6 rounds of their first fight.
    I love Mike Tyson and give him a shot against Usyk, but don’t think Usyk wouldn’t wind up getting his ear bitten or a late round KO.
     
  6. iceferg

    iceferg Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I think Usyk wins dominantly. Tyson was still powerful and explosive at this point but only threw single shots, maybe 2 and couldn't match the sheer volume of movement and output of Usyk.
     
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  7. Barrf

    Barrf Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Mayweather isn’t really the best one to bring in here. I don’t think anyone really said Pretty Boy couldn’t crack. But between moving up multiple weight classes and developing hand issues, he lost what he’d had. Not the only ATG to have it happen — Muhammad Ali seemed to be a pretty hard hitter early on. Not so much single punch power, but if he was consistently landing, opponents didn’t last long. Then hand issues came and the KOs largely went away.

    But yeah, Usyk certainly hits hard enough to have opponents not enjoy being hit by him. He did rag doll Fury after catching him good, after all. This said, Mike Tyson had a very underrated chin. It took extending one side beating by Douglas and Holyfield to take him out, and took about 4 rounds of Lewis teeing off on him to take him out (remember, Lewis was real careful for the first 2-3 rounds). Him walking through Usyk’s punches to land something of his own would be a viable strategy — I can’t recall him ever going full Ray Mercer like that, but he absolutely could have against some guys.
     
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  8. IM JUST SAYING!

    IM JUST SAYING! New Member Full Member

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    I'd favor Usyk to frustrate Iron Mike, weather the storm, and win an anti-climactic decision but I sure wouldn't bet any money on it.
     
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  9. MorvidusStyle

    MorvidusStyle Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Tyson never beats Usyk. He definitely doesn't beat Usyk if Usyk has the same PEDs.
    But let's be real, AJ hits harder than Tyson and Usyk took shots. Dubious also would. Even Fury likely hits harder.
    Usyk could take some shots from Tyson if they landed and it wouldn't be difficult for him once it got past five rounds where Tyson would tire and Usyk would take over.
    Tyson was a quitter and bully fighter who folded all the time, and Usyk is the opposite.
    As long as Uysk doesn't get caught badly in the early rounds he would win comfortably.
    A few people Tyson lost to: Buster Douglas, Danny Williams.
    LOL at you 'ATG'.
    You 'Iron Mike' groupies, go and play Punch-out and pretend your little PED man commercial brand with his rubber willy for **** tests is going to beat the great Usyk.
     
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  10. Mark Anthony

    Mark Anthony Internet virgin Full Member

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    I don`t think the division is that good and he`s almost 40.
     
  11. Mark Anthony

    Mark Anthony Internet virgin Full Member

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    No way, the shots that sparked Tubbs and Berbick were harder than AJ`s punches, Tyson was a better finisher than AJ and far more skilled.
     
  12. Jackman65

    Jackman65 FJB Full Member

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    Usyk wins and makes it look easy. Tyson fans who would have predicted “Tyson by murder” would complain and make excuses. Mike would gas and try to take the collard’s way out by intentionally fouling Usyk (biting or hitting him low intentionally to avoid humiliation). Usyk is too skilled, too smart and too fast for Evander era Tyson (or any version of Tyson). Tyson is a can crusher and Usyk is about as far from a tomato can as it gets. No contest.
     
  13. Mark Anthony

    Mark Anthony Internet virgin Full Member

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    No, Usyk isn`t more skilled or faster than a prime Tyson.
     
  14. Jennifer Love Hewitt

    Jennifer Love Hewitt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Usyk doesn't really hold. Hard to nullify Tyson without clinching. Tyson is also a good body puncher. In 1996, Tyson had yet to completely give up yet. He'd keep fighting unless he's stopped. I kind of favor 96 Tyson here. Tyson is probably the wort possible stylistic match up for Usyk. I think even in 1996 he had enough to win.

    If it was a post Holyfield Tyson, that's where I'd start to favor Usyk.
     
  15. themaster458

    themaster458 Well-Known Member Full Member

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    He's way more skilled Tyson could only fight one way if that didn't work he gave up and didn't know how to adapt at all. Usyk is the opposite
     
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