What if Tua and Tyson switched eras?

I think Razor would have had a great chance to defeat Tua although his chin was not great. Ruddock was one of many exciting heavyweights in that great era of the early to mid 1990's. After watching the dreck from tonight it makes you wish guys like Ruddock, Morrison, Mercer, Moorer, Smokin' Bert Cooper, etc. were around now.

 

I disagree here Tua would have demolished pretty much everyone Tyson did in my book he would have had trouble with jabbers maybe but Tua would have been a star in most eras.

 

I don't think there would've been too much difference in each man's career. Tua probably would've smashed some guys, struggled with others, and occasionally lost. Tyson would've run off a hot streak of wins, then been exposed by someone at some point, and likely would've lost to Lewis if they ever fought.

 

He would lose to Smith, Tucker, Holmes and Biggs all would outbox him pretty easily and I'd put my money on Thomas and Williams to do the same. Thats the only realistic outcome with Tua in the 80's era. Beacuse of Tysons dominance ppl forget how good his era really was, in fact minus EH and LL it was on par with the 90's. :deal

 

Tua was and continues to be overrated. He wasn't in Tyson's league. And yeah, I've seen all his fights. I remain unimpressed. Tucker and Pinklon Thomas beat him. Old Larry Holmes beats him too.

 

The 80's HW division would of been a horrible division stylewise for Tua.

What troubles Tua? Tall boxers with good jabs. Tucker, Thomas, Holmes, Biggs would all be terrible matchups for Tua and he'd likely lose all of them.

Tyson is more untested against good bombers than good boxers. Tyson absolutely smashed more than a few fighters who have the "style" to beat Tyson in that they stick and move and hold on. The late 80's had very good technical fighters but not as many good punchers. Sort of the opposite of the 90's.

 

This is the bottom line.

 

:good

 

Tua only has a left hook. It is great and hard, but Tyson was two handed and moved in with defense to land bodyshots first. Just a greater fighter than Tua. They do not compare. And the way Tua is not fighting anyone or didn't fight more is a shame. He could have been a champ.

 

Well if Don King was at the steering wheel of the Tua, I think he just goes ahead and does a selective job of matchmaking to Tua's benefit. Maybe a Tony Tucker doesn't hold the IBF title and it's a different opponent that's easier to hit and doesn't match up as well.

But I could see an opponent list of beatble guys from that 85-90 timeframe insterted instead of a few of the dangerous type matches for the Tuaman. No Tucker. No Tubbs. Maybe no Douglas. Perhaps avoid Holmes. But there were other guys around that could've had shots that really had a name but not much chance of winning; Weaver. Snipes. Bey, Plus, you could have that King touch of undeserving type title challengers==like say a Saad Muhammad moving up to meet the guy. Dee Collier starched Cobb, so he gets a title shot. Cooney maybe? Tillis. DuPlooy maybe.

It all boils down to matchmaking & in particular selective matchmaking. I believe it could've been handled in a manner to get tua a 4 year title run before getting licked on a decision.

 

Tua was outboxed by guys like Izon, Maskaev, Wooden and Rahman for most of his fights, who werent half the mobile boxers of the better guys Tyson faced in the 80's. Tua would have lost a lot of decisions.
Tyson on the other hand would have had to do less chasing and had much easier stationary targets to tee off on.
The mid to late 90's was the weakest era in heavyweight boxing behind todays.

 

I agree. Bar being a very good finisher with dynamite power he has little to offer.

Only a good chin makes him slightly better than Shavers IMO. Don't think he'd be able to compete with ANY top heavy, probably even Marciano would beat him.

I'm a big fan of Tua's by the way, love watching him fight; I'm also a realist:good