Statements You are So sick of Hearing ...

If it’s not that’s all good no hard feelings.

 

He was.
I agree about post prison Tyson being past his prime, but in 1991 he was certainly not.
He still had those razor sharp reflexes and showed better infighting skills than in most of his 80's fights.
Also, Giachetti had him working more on his right hand shots, and it showed by the added variety to his attacks.

 

Speaking of false statements … Jose Ribalta is Cuban.

Tyson (and everyone knows I’m not a big fan) did face top fighters from the UK, South Africa, Canada, Poland and Denmark (in addition to the U.S.) during his pro career. That’s global.

If your contention is Joe Louis and Willie Pep and Ray Robinson shouldn’t be considered greats and their careers should be marginalized because the Communist Bloc didn’t allow boxers to fight as professional and throw out all the history involving them and countless others, I don’t know what to say.

 

He was fighting like a HW, that wasn’t a good look for him at all he’d show up in spurts but he was forcing things, probably because of Ruddocks frustratingly low work rate … Tyson was not a good inside fighter - my 0.2$.

 

Actually I think he fought smart the first time : he targeted Ruddock's body during the 2nd and 3rd rounds, slowing him down considerably.
The second fight was more of a slugfest I agree, but he almost closed the show during the 2nd and 4th rounds.

 

I could do without the totally unsubstantiated claims of corruption and paid off judges.

 

OK, bud. Enjoy your stay.

 

I have spent a lot of time in gyms that are predominantly focused on Mexican fighters. One of my close friends was 15-0 with 10 by ko when he had a shoulder injury that derailed his career. He said this about his first time sparring a Puerto Rican fighter; "I always knew they had soft bodies and I always wanted to hit one. The first time I hit him in the body he groaned and I knew it was true."
Some people take that rivalry very seriously.

 

Yeah mine is strictly an outsider’s perspective. I appreciate you and @AntonioMartin1 giving me a peek behind the curtain for those who live it.

Some of my favorite fighters are Puerto Rican. Some are Mexican. And black and white and so on and so forth.

I know back in the day you didn’t put on a fight card in NYC without a Puerto Rican on it unless you want to lose money. Their fans would turn out for sure. And you didn’t put on a show in the Olympic Auditorium or Forum in LA without a Mexican (or at least a Mexican-American) for the same reason. And you’d have been a fool to promote in Boston without having someone who went by “Irish” (insert name) in the headliner or key undercard spots.

 

Duran trashed Giudices book. Said it was basically crap

 

I didn’t know that, I assume most athletes in the 80s use and don’t damn any of them but thank you for that, I also still maintain I think Duran used PED’s. Do you have a source? I trust you as integrable so I take your word but I’d be curious to hear Durans opinions on the book.

 

But that is the thing..there really is no rivalry. it was made up by promoters, writers and the boxers who were trying to sell the fight.

I should add, Im very proud to have a Mexican adopted niece and grandniece.

 

I used to be friends with Guidice. I inspired him to write the book on Gomez and Im credited on the back of the book. Havent talked to him in years, through!

 

Did he acknowledge he read it and point out what he thought was inaccurate?

 

I read this over and over because I wasn’t getting the cryptic meanings. Then I realised there weren’t any.

Excellent post and I also totally agree.

PS - not there’s anything wrong with being cryptic. That’s just some fun in its own right.