In Mike Tyson's 1986-1989 "prime" we saw him go on a bum tour with standout wins vs Spinks, Holmes, Bruno and Berbick... are they really standout? Spinks was terrified of Tyson even before getting in the ring, his ring walk was that of a man who was already defeated and he was trembling with fear all the way through. Larry Holmes... a 39 year old shell of himself, coming off 2 straight losses and an almost 2 year layoff. Bruno... had him hurt and Bruno himself was very limited, all he had was a good jab and a terrible gas tank. Berbick... good fighter, very crude set of skills and was an overachiever and it was amazing that he got his hands on the title. So in summary Mike Tyson beat a bunch of C-D level boxers with nobody above B level, except Spinks who was a decent win, but he let himself down in that fight. People always say that Tyson in his prime was unbeatable and nobody would live with him. I think there are at least 10-15 HWs I'd pick over prime Tyson.
Tyson's "bum tour" was more superior than the resume of today's Top 4 contenders. Even in the 1990s he was still a force and the 1990s contenders would stomp on today's champions IMO.
To say he was unbeatable is overrating him. To say he had a chance against anyone in history is not. He was disciplined enough in his absolute prime. He later didn't utilize his full skills, it was obvious.
He was certainly overrated at the time. I remember one magazine article, I think - won't say actually because I can't really remember, but one article that said he couldn't be knocked out. Because of the way he was built, his neck etc. He made otherwise right thinking American journalists crazy. Most HW primes are overrated by a sizeable chunk of people.
Yes, he's overrated. That being said this era is subpar just like the 80s was. He has wins over Golota, Ruddock, old Holmes, Spinks, Bruno, Williams, Berbick and Thomas. And his style was monstrous.
Lotta New York fighters with MYTHICAL primes: Mike Tyson Riddick Bowe Zab Judah Catch them in their mythical one-year prime and it's lights out for you. We don't need to look at them failing time and again against elite boxers. Just watch the highlight reels folks! Mythical!
Overrated by casuals who will tell you he beats everyone in history from Ali to Godzilla. Underrated by hard-core boxing hipsters who say he only fought bums and was nothing special. The truth is somewhere in the middle. For better or worse the bum argument has no teeth. In his first thirty five fights Tyson fought seven current or former World Champions. If anyone can name another Heavyweight champion who fought at that level in their first thirty five fights, let me know. Seven. Due to both mental and physical issues Tyson was a four to six round Heavyweight who could be frustrated by movers with a jab and timing, and always faced an uphill battle against those who could physically stop his come forward mid range power with effective wrestling or clinching.
His resume is pretty shallow for a guy with his reputation. He fought one great opponent in Holyfield and lost both times, once in disgrace. He was the most exciting fighter of my lifetime and no one has captured the post-Ali US boxing imagination like him, even Mayweather. But yes, Tyson fans get weird when you ask them to list his best wins.
Technically it's a NC because Tyson was high but imagine what Tyson would of done to him if he wasn't high lol.
Tyson is one of those weird dudes who had both pronounced physical gifts and pronounced physical limitations that he could either exploit or could be exploited against him. Any elite long, rangy clincher type fighters would have a lot of success against Tyson. People like Ali, Lewis, the Klits, maybe even Prime Holmes, would be able to beat Tyson even on his best day. Fighters especially susceptible to an uppercut would have the hardest time against him. Frazier, Norton, etc. would just dissolve. Tyson would probably walk through most of the smaller heavyweights pre-Liston. I just can't see Joe Louis being mobile enough to keep Tyson away from him. Then there are the counter-bullies, people who would intimidate Tyson and temper his aggression even before the fight starts. Foreman, Liston, even Ali. I'm not SURE Foreman beats Tyson, as I think Tyson had more physical attributes and a good enough chin to extend Foreman long enough to take him. MAYBE. Liston would be another story. But I would LOVE that fight. In other words, Tyson is a proper ATG and would win some and lose some against other ATGs, as it should be.
