If Mike Tyson was coming into his prime at the start of the 1970s

And if Ken Norton and Jimmy Ellis could beat Quarry, and an old Patterson could run him close, then... This doesn't really lead anywhere, does it?

Quarry couldn't outbox Tyson from distance like Douglas did, he didn't have the size or the jab to do that. And he was also to small to bullly Tyson around like Holyfield did. Tyson wouldn't have too hard a time to land on Quarry, and Quarry didn't have the power to seriously discourage Tyson.

 

Tyson would have gone straight to the top imo.

 

The best Bonavena could hope for is a Ruddock like beating.

 

Ali, Frazier, and Foreman would be issues.

The rest of that era he would go through as casualy as he went through the fighters of his own era on the way to the title.

 

I believe he beats everybody with ease except for Ali, Frazier and Foreman. I can see him losing to all three of these fighters and vice-versa.

 

Easily? I don't think he would have beaten Holmes at all, and certainly not easily. Just look at everyone he fought that showed foot speed and an educated jab( Tills, DOUGLAS, Biggs, Tucker) and Holmes even on his worst day was miles better than all of them. You have to have heart to survive with Holmes, because hes not being blown out early and when you are a front runner like Tyson, that might not be good going down the stretch.

 

Tyson couldnt beat a fighter like Oscar who wouldnt back down be afraid ect,look at Tyson's fights he gets his ass kicked every time a good fighter didnt back up and Oscar didnt back up he also had a granite chin.Tyson would end up frustrated and either bite Oscar or quit.

 

Bull**** myth Contrary to waht you might believe .

Not being afraid of Tyson does not mean you beat him.

Tyson beat a bigger better version of Bonavena in Ruddock twice.

Being tough and having a granite chin means you get a beating against Tyson if you dont have the style or skills to beat him.

 

Biggs received a 7 round beating . Tillis did ok against a 19 year old Tyson still lost decivelly Tucker did well in the first round received a beating as the fight wore on was being outjabbed by the smaller Tyson from round 7 on Douglas beat Tyson by boxing and clincing not so much footwork.

 

A peak Tyson around 1970, beats Joe Frazier, Jimmy Ellis, Jerry Quarry, and possibly even a returning Muhammad Ali fresh out of exhile. The only other fighter outside of a fully prepared Ali that I would pick to beat Tyson during the 70's is George Foreman. But, Foreman did not come into the picture until maybe 1973, therfore a peaking Tyson could have conceivably reigned for about 3 years during that period.

 

This thread seems to have scewed into a side conversation about what a prime Holmes might have done against Tyson. I have all the respect in the world for Holmes and have often defended him in numerous boxing discussions, but the more I think about it, the less apt I am to picking him against Mike Tyson. Sure, there are those who will use the James Douglas fight to draw a comparison in every conversation about Tyson, including how well he'd do as an insurance salesman. But, I really don't think the Douglas match represents the very best of Tyson, and frankly if we're going to pull that ****, then we certainly have a lot more of Holmes' fights to choose from in terms of lackluster performances. From 1978-1983, Holmes was nearly beaten on at least 5 occasions that I can think of, and most of those guys were nobodies at the time. On the evenings that Larry struggled with Mike Weaver, Earnie Shavers, Tim Witherspoon and Renaldo Snipes, Tyson could have ( and likely would have ), capitalized when Holmes was in trouble and beaten him.

 

You do have point, but if one looks at Tyson's fights before Douglas it's easy to see that intelligent movement and, especially, a good jab was the style that Tyson had the most difficulties with.

Tillis, Thomas and Tucker were all comfortably beaten by Tyson in the end, but they were nevertheless the ones who gave him the most trouble before Douglas. In that light Douglas win doesn't seem to be such a bizarre fluke.

And a prime Holmes was superior to all of them in just about every aspect, not least when it came to jab and movement.

 

I suppose a reasonable argument can be made from both sides. Tyson definately had trouble with taller, more mobile boxers, who could use the ring and tie him up on the way in, but Holmes was floored, staggered and troubled by men who had a decent power in the form of a servicable right hand. Tucker, Douglas, Tillis,etc all gave Tyson problems and none were quite on the level of Larry Holmes. However, Weaver, Snipes, Norton and Shavers all gave Tyson hell, and I wouldn't put those men in Tyson's league either.

 

All true.

 

He'd be a major player for sure.

First off, I cannot see him beating Ali. Ali was larger than life back then and I think his ability to rise to the occasion and inhuman toughness of both mind and body would be Mike's achilles heel. Yes he was slower than in his 60's heyday and yes I can see Tyson getting through with some serious punches, but Ali would absorb them and come on strong later in the fight with quick and accurate punches to take control.
I think they'd fight twice, Ali winning both.
The first by a score of about 9-6 or 10-5 in rounds, and the second with Ali scoring a TKO in the 11th or so. Both would be excellent fights with massive fanfare.

Foreman would be a great fight, with Mike's superlative defence and vastly quicker hands making the difference. Tyson stops George in a wildly exciting fight, probably in the 7th round or so. Kind of like Ruddock 1 in many respects.

Frazier I don't think fares all that well. His style would pose certain problems for Tyson, but once Tyson finds his range I think it's going to be a rather one-sided fight. I don't think Frazier has neither the power nor chin to take on Tyson with that type of style.

Of the big guns, Norton would be the easiest fight for Tyson. We pretty much all agree that Norton did seem to stiffen up in front of punchers and he'd be made to order for Tyson, stylistically. An early night for Tyson here.

Other leading contenders like Quarry (to brave for his own good) Shavers (one-dimensional) Bonavena (tough, but too raw) and Lyle may pose a few problems, but ulitmately will none will be good enough to beat Tyson.