I just saw on youtube that after the first Lewis fight, Rahman was offered money by HBO for a rematch, and Showtime offered him money for a fight with Mike Tyson. How does the Tyson vs. Rahman fight pan out? I believe the year was 2001, so a prime Rahman vs. a 2001 Tyson.
i was hoping rah would take the fight with mike. Mike would have busted his azz up! Rahman would come out nervous and we all know how Mike does with nerve racking opponents.
Do you mean that Tyson finally stopped Botha, or that he struggled with him and was behind on scorecards at the moment of stoppage? BTW, Botha was 1999, and Rahman fight was supposed to be 2001 when he was more past prime. I wouldn't count Rahman out, at this point Tyson opponents were far worse than Rahman (technically you can make a case for Golota, but he simply quit so there is not much to conclude from this fight).
Tyson would have destroyed him and probably pretty early. Tyson was a class above Rahman who didnt have the defense, skill, speed or chin to play with Mike.
I rather hoped to watch tyson vs ray mercer in 2002. this was scheduled before tyson vs lewis actually. but I don't know why it disappeared.
Rahman had that long reach (82") and jab to keep Mike at a distance. It's a question of if he can keep that consistancy. The Tua fights showed the kind of thing Rahman could be capable of against Tyson, which should be encouraging to him. I do think confidence comes into it though. Rahman felt on top of the world but he'd still be nervous about facing a legend like Iron Mike, that's a big pressure situation that he hadn't been in before. I don't think he'd be terrified at the first big shot whooshing in or anything but it could cause some panic somewhere down the line if things got tight. I'd expect Tyson for his part to start as fast as possible and try to impose his will on Rahman. Rahman is about three inches closer to Tyson's height than Lewis which would help Mike out. It's down to whether Rahman folds under the pressure or holds out. I do agree it would've been an interesting one. The mental battle would've been key.
Tyson in 01 was not really tyson, he was fighting for money, not because his heart was in it or wanted to, still think he might take it, but, with tysons mental state at this time, he might just quit, lol.
i would say tyson but it would be kinda like the tua vs rahman fights. it seemed to me as if rahman was over confident after he won the championship.imo