Looking back, how did Mike Tyson end up fighting Marvis Frazier?

Why not ?An easy fight for Tyson ,a name opponent , experience for him and Bob s your uncle !!

 

Money and marketing.
Joe Frazier lived in a world where he was still fighting via his son. He thought he couldve beaten Tyson so put his son in there. He even trained Marvis to fight like him even though it didny suit Marvis and his son dutifully obeyed.
The match up was Frazier seniors ego plus money.
For Tyson an easy matchup and a good name on his record
Marvis was talented but very light framed for a heavyweight.

 

He was an okay opponent,imo. hadn't lost in 3 years ,had wins over Broad,Ribalta,Tillis,Bugner,& Smith.

 

It was a good name for Tyson, yet very safe, and a good payday for Frazier. As posters have already noted, Frazier was 6-0 (1) against some reasonable names post-Holmes. And Fraziers aren't afraid of anyone.

FWIW, going in The Ring ranked Frazier at #12 and Tyson at #15. KO ranked Tyson at #7 and didn't rank Frazier.

 

Marvis actually had a decent ledger with victories over Bugner, Smith, a still servicable Tillis, Ribalta and an undefeated James Broad. That's a far, far, far better heavyweight record than the likes of, say, Carpentier or Gibbons or Brennan, who I am told were most worthy challengers for the title.

 

Joe Frazier discussing the knockout after the fight:

"The fight ended in a fitting manner for a heavyweight bout. That's the kind of way I like to see a man go out."

 

Funny pre-fight quote:

“Tyson will eat him alive, spit him out, and step on him," said Beau Williford, trainer of Tyson victims James Tillis and Lorenzo Boyd. "And if the old man (Joe Frazier) keeps running his mouth, Mike will knock him out too."

 

I wouldn't be surprised, Marvis got some hype due to his father. But really the thing was that it was easy money, Marvis stood no chance

 

It was a superb choice.

 

Joe was a terrible manager!

 

Here's what Marvis said in interview few years ago

"I threw a jab and that's all I remember"

That's pretty interesting and enlightening I suppose...

 

If ever there was a fight that screamed 1st round KO this was it, another was Cooney Norton