Tucker's hand broken or just an excuse ?

Tucker said his hand was broken and that's why he lost to Tyson. Would he have won if his hand was ok or is it an excuse?

 

Its an excuse.

If this was true, he could have demanded a rematch. He likely would have gotten the rematch.

Truth is Tucker landed a couple of good uppercuts early with both hands. A guy with a broken hand does not do this.

Once he realized that Tyson was so much quicker than he was, he realized he would get knocked out or stopped if he decided to trade.

Hence, he went fully into defense and survival mode.

 

Answer is it doesn't matter. Injuries happen in boxing. If he lost because of a broken hand, then he should have had a stronger hand, and the idea that a Tony Tucker with a stronger right hand might have beaten Tyson is absolutely ridiculous.

 

if the injury was due to an illegal tactic (e.g. low blow, head butt etc.), then its a legit excuse. But that is not the case with Tucker i do not believe Tucker was injured.

 

It wasn't an excuse. He broke it.

He actually tore a ligament in his right hand the week of the fight. That was reported. But they let the fight go on anyway, even though it hurt when he threw it.

(Such was the power HBO and Don King had over the Nevada Commission in 1987.)

And that hand broke during the fight. Tucker said it happened in the first round. But who knows?

It was broken, however.

 

I got an uncle who broke his hand playing speed chess in the park once. He could never even get an erection again, my Aunt Sertraline told me. So, I don't doubt that this would stop you from beating Iron Mike.

 

You're so unreasonable on this issue lol.

Tucker might have won if it was 15 rounds even with the bum hand. I'm not going to put an asterisk on the fight but the least we could do is admit Tucker is one of the best HWs of the era.

 

If he'd not broken his hand he still loses a decision imo.

 

That was the uncle s story...

 

I do believe too it was broken.
He noticeably punched with it warily during the first three/four rounds, and went into survival mode after he couldn't use the right hand like at the beginning.
I'm not saying he would have won with a healthy hand but I don't believe that was an excuse.

 

He might’ve broken his hand, but it’s so coincidental that just about every one of Tyson’s opponents during his title reign happened to be having the worst night of their career and Mike had nothing to do with it.

 

But Tucker had the best performance against Tyson of anyone in that group. Thats why people take the excuse seriously he did the best regardless.

 

I think Thomas did better.

 

But durability is part of the sport, just like power, chin, defense, footwork, etc.