1985 Tyson vs 1996 Tyson

so basically what your saying is, the 30 year old post prison Tyson was better than the 20 year old pre prison Tyson?

 

Tyson against tillis can be excused. That was his first real challenging fight against an experienced guy. Even the commentators before the fight were expecting him to be tested in the fight.

 

Yes i agree.The 19 years old Tyson was inexperienced.
It was a decent win for a 19 years old fighter but it wasn' impressive
for a world-class fighter.And especially wasn't impressive for
Tyson's incredible talent.

 

No, no way. McNeely was scared to death and that was the reason why he fought that way. Tyson didn't look awful at all, because his opponent was low-level. Tyson would've decapitated him in 100 secs if the fight went on.

If so, you can say the same that Jones Jr looked awful vs Brennan, who tried to bully him during 2 mins 30 secs in the 1st round, being extremely agressive against much superior boxer.

So if Tyson looked awful vs McNeely, so was Jones vs Brannon because he was attacked by lesser opponent. I don't think it's the case. McNeely could've done the same against any Tyson...for 10-15 seconds, then he gets KO'd cold.

 

This is a good question.The eighties Tyson won his every fight.
(And he won his every fight with the D'amato camp).
This says all.He was amazing (considering his young age).
I think the key point what were the reasons of Tyson's 6 losses?
Considering Steven Lott's or Rooney's opinion i think the eroded skill,
mental problems Don King,Givens,Snowell later Finkel and others'
influence.
But we can't forget maybe(i am diplomatic) Tyson had drug problems, i think he was on Zoloft,family problems.
The prison like you said.
Plus the ****ing Golota,Norris NC fights,Injury on the Danny W.
fight.
Bite fight.Tyson's crazy behaviour against Savarese
or Botha.
Considering the circumstances Tyson wasn't so bad.Moreover!
By Tyson's opinion i think he landed his best right hand ever on the Botha fight.
But in the end Tyson collapsed against McBride unfortunately it was a logical outcome.
Can you imagine other successful fighters with similar problems?
I respect Tyson in my eyes he always was great no matter
he won or lost.But who was perfect fighter? Nobody .
I think he's talent never was questionable but the weight of the
problems destroyed him.
In my opinion the young 18-19-20 years old Tyson improved
fight by fight and he reached his absolute best in 1988.
But this 1988s version Tyson was far away from his potential,
according Kevin Rooney Tyson couldn't fulfil his talent before
his 25. birthday.And Tyson was only 21 years old nearly a kid
an immature man against Spinks .
The 1996 version was older mature man with problems.
1985 Tyson vs 1996 Tyson? Maybe you see better the chances.

 

He had Tyson against the ropes and was throwing punches and hitting him at will and even headbutted him, no one had ever dared to try that before.

 

Yes that's true. Same with Brennan vs Jones. Watch that fight - Brennan had Jones on the ropes for almost whole 1st rd, and Jones only desperatedly defended himself.

Mike and Roy didn't need much time to expose their opponents, though.

 

The point im trying to make is that against pre prison Tyson, Mcneely would not even have been able to do that.

 

He would've been even more terrified against 80's Mike than he actually was in 1995:yep He thought Tyson was rusty so at least tried to be agressive.

 

Precisely, now if Mcneeley could see that, im sure Holyfield would have figured it out.