Okay, first of all, I am not a Tyson hater. I think he is a little underrated. I was just wondering, in his prime, who gave him a hard fight that he had to really work in, a "war" so to speak. He usually just dominated his opponent from start to finish. I can't think of anybody. Maybe it was because he was so dominant, or maybe it was the level of competition he was facing. It just makes me wonder. Something else I realized is: Tyson doesn't like to be on the ropes Tyson doesn't like long fights Tyson doesn't like getting backed up And all of those things would most likely happen if he was in a war.. I just wish he had some great fighters in his prime years. If Holyfield backed up Tyson like he did in their 96' fight, how would Tyson respond? Would like to hear your thoughts, Classic Forum
Tucker certainly came to fight and made tyson adjust and outwork and outpoint him in a well fought 12 rounder. Tony Tucker was young, undefeated, A heavyweight Champion, and was 6'5 220lb. Also Ruddock II was filled with action. Ruddock landed some big shots on tyson and made him work to outpoint him. Also the James Quick Tillis fight. Tyson won no more than 5-6 rounds in that fight. It was very very close.
But were these what you would call wars? I agree Rudduck made him work a lot by landing that... uh... Smash.. But this wasn't completely prime Tyson, which is why I'm not really counting it. Yeah, I remember the Tillis fight. Tillis hardly ever hurt or backed up Tyson though.. He danced and moved with his jab, and won some rounds, but he was basically on survival mode, I think. thanks suzie, I'm gonna have to watch Tucker-Tyson tonight. Was he the guy that landed a right hand early in the fight and Tyson took a step back? I might've watched it then. It just seems to me that all of Tyson's opponents, pre-douglas, were all on survival mode.
Tucker was my 1st thought as well, and yes TG he did rock Mike in round 1 with an uppercut. Mike had some issues in the fight, but it was no war. Ruddock II was his toughest fight that he won but as you stated (and I agree) this Tyson was not the Prime Mike. Bruno landed a couple of good shots in the first fight, 2 nice shots towards the end of round 1. No one really was competitive with Mike like you said, I mean you know Biggs may have won round one, Pinklon Thomas may have won a round. Tubbs looked ok in round one, Bonecrusher shook him a bit in the closing moments of that fight after being pathetic for 11 1/2 rounds..... But no one went to war with Mike. The Prime Mike was a very Dominant champion.
Not many like to be on the ropes. Ali I bet would have rather had his legs than be on the ropes...same with others that eventually had to be on the ropes. There are some fights Mike fought off the ropes and looked like he trained for it somewhat or forced to as well given the sparring sessions you can watch on video. Most, if not All, fighters would like the fight to be over as soon as possible. Only Roy Jones Jr. I think said that he enjoyed fights to go on long because he enjoyed the moment and wanted to give the fans their money. Something like that. It was hard to get up when you are Tyson. You are 5'11, 215+, going up against usually much bigger men, and the amount of energy he used and needed to have to fight the way he did...took a lot out of him. On top of that, when he was down it was because he basically used everything he had and took a severe beating up to that point. But he even got up on wobbly legs against Douglas. He was in a war with Ruddock and that was Tyson past his peak. He didn't have the technique nor the true desire to be a fighter. That's a lot going against you. And it is much harder to do and a greater test to have than you being at your best. Especially when you are the smaller man. A lot of great wins are when you are fighting when you are not at your best and or past your best. He could have quit in that Douglas fight by the way...but he didn't. Even against Ruddock. He could have quit. But he didn't. He could have even retired after that fight but he didn't. As far as "having to work," he had to work for a lot of his fights. For example: Tyson was 5'11, 215+, and had a small reach...and he had to go up against opponents like Tucker and Biggs, undefeated at the time, who were 6'5, long reach, good amateur background so that means they have some skill, both were agile, and so on. If he is defeating his opponents in a certain manner, that's because he was better. But going back to a point, he was already knocked out by Douglas, not the same fighter, and yet went up against Ruddock. Ruddock wasn't scared of him either. All that is a challenge. He took some incredible shots in those two fights. Remember, the '96 version of Tyson, by his own admission, had no business being in the ring with someone like Holyfield. Tyson wasn't mentally fit to fight and when you are not mentally fit to fight, physically, it doesn't matter either. And technically along with preparation, not the same fighter anymore. He didn't even know what to properly do after he hurt Holyfield bad to the body. That's how far gone he was from the D'Amato system. Holyfield would have to try to back up a peak Tyson which would be different than the Post-Prison mentally and arguably even physically, unfit, version of Tyson. I remember mention from guys like Bert Sugar how Holyfield didn't let Tyson bully him around. Didn't let him use those tactics like hitting after the bell. And that would always work against Tyson. WRONG. He tried to do it with Ruddock and Ruddock wasn't having it. Ruddock wasn't scared of Tyson. He was also bigger than Tyson if you nobody has noticed. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCttLWZVjz0[/ame]
