Was there any former lightheavy in history that could beat a prime Tyson?

I don't think any light-heavy I have seen could do it.

Ezzard Charles pre-1948 might have a chance if he gets past 5 rounds.

 

Bob Fitzsimmons....

 

Joke people.....Sheez

 

Magoo, your avatar is no joke though.

Top notch....as usual.

 

Much appreciated my man, much appreciated.

 

Mike did well with guys moving up like Ratliff. Whenever he fought the cruiserweights he got one or two round knockouts, so a light heavyweight would not stand a chance. I was surprised that Spinks did not last longer though. I actually gave him a chance in 1988.

 

Maxie Rosenbloom - KO 1. Just joking, more likely a UD in 12.

 

I have never quite agreed with the asumption that Tyson walks through any light heavyweight just because he demolished Michael Spinks.

While Tysons win over Spinks would suggest that it should be noted that historicaly fighters with Tysons style have always been troubled by small mobile technical fighters whether we are talking, Terry Jack Dempsey or Jack Dillon.

I think that the right lightheavyweight with the right fightplan should give him some problems and probably beat him as he past his prime and declined.

 

Bernard Hopkins, Gene Tunney, Ezzard Charles

 

Langford would probably have the bext chance considering his sucess against big men followed by Moore then Charles. However I wouldn't favour any of them I think Mike speed would enable to land more often then most heavys and he is such a great finisher he'd probably stop these three.

 

As GREAT a fighter as B-Hop is....he doesn't stand a chance. First of all he is too calculative in his approach and Tyson was too aggressive. Even if some how he managed to survive 12, Tyson would have have won enough of the early rounds and scored enough KD's to when a UD easily. As far as Charles goes imagine Rocky with 2-3 times the handspeed and defence, then asses the outcome

 

billy conn would have given him a run for his money, lasmotta at light heavy with his granite chin could have held up to tysons shots and possible take him into mdeep waters. harry kid matthews would have boxed his ears off same as joey maxim.

 

Holy was a LHW in the olympics but the amateur limit is 178 not 175. Put Charles on Holyfield's roids though and you'd give him a shot against post-prison mike

 

I think that Hopkins could find a way to outclever Tyson. Maybe he would bust his eyebrow by a headbut like with Winky. Hopkins is a profesor in the school of dirty tricks in which tyson was a student.

 

I think Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney, both of whom fought part of their pro careers as light-heavyweights, would have had good chances of beating Mike Tyson.