What is your ranking of Mike Tyson?

in tyson's prime i would rank him number 1, but thats only for the excitement he brought to the sport.

as a boxer he'd scrape into the top 20.

with his speed, amazing power, and the ability to intimidate opponents, i think he had the chance to be able to beat any heavyweight of any era. however he just couldn't sustain all of that, thats why he only just gets into the top 20.

 

Your underating his opposition but thats a long discussion I dont care to revisit. The has been Holmes went on to be quite competitive in the division, never losing that one sided again. We will never know how Tyson would have rubbed up against a fellow great, just as we wont know how Lennox Lewis would, because neither faced a great at their, or their opponents respective best.

 

No but either did Lennox Lewis or Larry Holmes. That doesnt necessarily mean he couldnt, or make his opposition subpar which it wasnt.

 

Tyson Top 15 HW, just outside of the top 10! Amazing talent who concievably could be ranked higher, if he had tapped all of that potential!

By the way Anarci has the avatar! Salma over Winona easy!
Although at my age I am still more of a Liz Hurley guy (and closet Robin Givens phan!)!

 

Beating 9 former or current champions doesnt equate to subpar opposition.

 

Like I said, its a discussion thats been beaten to death, and we can pick apart everyones resume in a comparable way. No way you have enough information on 100 other fighters and their opponents, and the timing of the fights throughout history not to, thats why I think lists suck.

Tubbs was actually a very good fighter, one of the better naturally talented fighters Tyson faced with very good technical skills. He prepared with Lou Ferrigno for the Tyson fight to keep his weight in check, and although coming in over his target weight, was in good shape for Tyson.

 

Tyson arguably beat better opposition than Holmes, and he did it MUCH more impressively. Including Holmes himself, in a way that had never been done before or since.

I have Tyson in the bottom half of the the Top 10 Heavies, higher H2H.

 

Top 5 as far as ability and intangibles. Ferocious power, great speed, and the the thing any HW dreams about having. The intimidation factor.

But his resume is certainly missing any eye popping wins, save Spinks, who was scared shitless.