Let's Talk About Tyson's Best I Faced

BEST JAB
Tony Tucker: I had to be certain to slip well to keep from getting tagged.

BEST DEFENSE
Larry Holmes: I have to say Larry Holmes even though I did win inside the distance. He was very tough to hit cleanly.

FASTEST HANDS
Tony Tubbs: Tony Tubbs had the fastest hands. I was surprised how quick he let go with those combinations. And he was not afraid to throw them.

FASTEST FEET
Mitch Green: I think Mitch Green had the fastest feet. It was very tough to set up near him and throw big shots.

BEST CHIN
Jose Ribalta: I hit Jose Ribalta with everything, and he took everything and kept coming back for more.

SMARTEST
Holmes: Larry Holmes was the smartest of all. It comes with being a champion for seven years.

STRONGEST
Ribalta: Jose Ribalta stood toe to toe with me. He was very strong in the clinches.

BEST PUNCHER
Holyfield: He threw terrific shots with both hands and with bad intentions.

BEST BOXER
Tucker: He had an excellent jab, moved well and was very tough to hit clean.

BEST OVERALL
Holyfield: Great champion: chin, heart, determination, work ethic, demeanor.

 

Larry Holmes the best defense ? sounds really bull**** to me. I reall thought it was Buster Mathis Jr. or something. He also said that Larry Holmes is the smartest, yeah really really convincing.

 

He may have meant Holmes was the smartest overall, thru Larry's entire career.
Let's face it, you don't get to stay heavyweight champ so many years if your a bone head.

 

Honestly- I think its a pretty good one. Great he gave Holyfield props too.
I think the most powerful would had to have been Ruddock, Smith or Lewis... Then again even with no defence left he was walking through shots from Lewis and still coming forward- Smith didn't get much off and Ruddock has a similar problem. Maybe Vander timed him best? who knows.

 

The problem is you can't just say he is the smartest fighter you have fought becuz he has so much experience, it must be something you experience fighting someone. Roy Jones Jr. said Bernard Hopkins is the smartest fighter becuz of his ability to make the attack harder the second time. I know Larry Holmes might be smart becuz of his experience, but how knocking him out gave you the experience that he is the smartest fight you ever fought ?

 

Here's my opinion on Tyson's "Best I Faced" opponents. Obviously, I don't know better than he does since he fought them, but it's just my 2 cents & perspective from the outside looking in.

BEST JAB
Pinklon Thomas - His jab was sharp & effective in the early rounds, but he couldn't follow up on it due to Mike's speed & aggression.

BEST DEFENSE
Buster Mathis Jr - Tyson had a hard time tagging him early & had to lure him in to get the sudden knockout blow.

FASTEST HANDS
Tony Tubbs - The only Tyson opponent that had hands as fast (if not faster) than Tyson.

FASTEST FEET
Tyrell Biggs - Biggs moved very well (particular in the first 2 rounds) before Mike systemically broke him down for the finish.

BEST CHIN
Razor Ruddock - In the 19 rounds between two fights, I've never seen a Tyson opponent take such vicious blows & have their senses still intact like Ruddock did.

SMARTEST
Evander Holyfield - This cagey, veteran version of Holyfield completely nulfied Tyson's attack & smothered his offence while getting off his counterpunches on Mike to eventually a late stoppage.

STRONGEST
Razor Ruddock - Not only was Ruddock solid is his durability, he was very physically strong & Tyson wasn't able to physically overwhelm him despite landing many hard clean shots.

BEST PUNCHER
Frank Bruno - Bruno is the only fighter to have rocked Tyson in the 1st round & I believe that while he'd still lose the fight, he could have done more damage if he had more confidence, didn't hold excessively & didn't fight scared. Ruddock is an honourable mention.

BEST BOXER
Tony Tucker - Very good technical boxer with solid movement & a jab.

BEST OVERALL
Evander Holyfield - No words needed.

 

Well, I don't really know then tbh. I see ur point, Holmes didn't really spend enough time with Tyson to show ring smarts.
It needs explanation.

 

Excellent one, i would have put Ribalta instead of razor ruddock tbf, Tyson hit him with some brutal and vicious combinations and he kept coming back for more!
I recently heard Tyson aparently said Bruno hit him harder than any other heavyweights he has ever stepped in the ring with in the recent documentary about Tyson-Bruno rivalry.
It would be pleasure to talk with somebody who actually watched it so he can confirm it.

 

I think "best puncher" doesn't necessarly mean "Hardest Puncher".
Mercer has stated 10000 time that Tommy hit him harder than any heavyweight he has ever faced...yet in his "best i faced" article, he said the best puncher was Wladimir Klitschko.
Olivier McCall claimed Bert Cooper was the hardest puncher he ever fought, Buster Douglas and Mike Tyson were up there too according to him.
But he mentioned Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis as the 2 best puncher in the best i faced article.
I believe Bruno was certainly a harder puncher than Holy, but not a better puncher. (In terms of skills, accuracy ex...)

 

Tucker also put Tyson on his heels for a fraction of a second in the 1st round right at the start of the fight.

 

A pretty classy Best I faced to be honest. Most guys pick someone they beat as their best ever all round opponent so credit to Tyson for picking Holyfield, who was on enough gear to win Mr Olympia when he fought Tyson. The historical theme of that fight as Saintly Evander vs Psychotic Tyson always made me smile considering taking PED's is worse than fighting with loaded gloves.

 

I've gotta disagree on Bruno, Ruddock also rock Tyson with one punch, Heck! Tyson even said he punches like a ****ing mule kick.

 

Where Is Lennox?

 

Where Is Lennox?

 

Don't ask me...