1988 Mike Tyson vs 1971 Joe Frazier

Tyson beats Frazier, Joe smokes Wilder though

 

tyson in 4 .

 

The examples are spot on. Given the thread title is "Mike Tyson 1988", using fights from that year as examples is about as relevant as it gets.

Larry Holmes was coming in off a 21 month layoff. Wlad was coming in off a 17 month layoff when he fought Joshua. Neither had "tuneups".

Larry's "back to back" losses were closer than Klitschko's loss to Fury. In fact, it's debatable whether he lost to Spinks at all.

Larry was 38, Wlad 41. Larry fought another 24 times after facing Tyson, including against future hall of famers, undefeated & reigning Olympic gold medalists & world title holders. Wlad will likely never fight again.

Suggesting that "plenty of people" would have stopped Larry on the night he fought Tyson is nonsense given no-one else ever did.

As for Spinks, it's unlikely he would have done any better against Tyson earlier in his career. Tyson was clearly too ferocious & punched too hard for him. It was Sonny Liston v Floyd Patterson all over again.

 

They aren't good examples because Larry And Spinks by the time they fought Tyson were no where close to a prime Joe Frazier and would've been destroyed by any half decent contender.

Also, Wlad fighting Joshua, who was very green with not even 20 fights isn't the same as Holmes Fighting Tyson, who was very experienced with over 30 fights and multiple title defenses as the undisputed champ.

Holmes managed to do better in his fights post Tyson because he made a proper comeback with several tuneups before fighting Ray Mercer and Holyfield. If Holmes fought Mercer or Holyfield as his comeback fight they would've also ended him as easily as Tyson did.

Spinks in the Tyson fight was a wounded animal. Spinks had bad knees even in the early 80's, but by 86-88 they were completely shot. I'm a huge fan of Tyson, but Spinks came off a 1 year layoff and 10 lbs overweight. I give Tyson about as much credit for beating Spinks as I give Cotto for beating Sergio Martinez, who also had shot knees, which is none.

 

They're who Tyson fought in 1988. I assume the thread starter chose 1988 b/c that's when he thought Tyson was at his absolute best. If so, I agree with him.

I don't agree that Holmes & Spinks circa 1988 "would've been destroyed by any half decent contender". Both were destroyed only once in their careers. By Tyson.

I think Wlad fighting Joshua was analogous to Holmes fighting Tyson. While Joshua had fewer pro fights, he was Olympic champion and much older than Tyson.

Tyson didn't become truly the "undisputed" champ until he beat Spinks. That was the whole point and historical significance of the fight.

Not in my view. When they got the opportunity, they didn't. I don't believe either would have stopped him inside 4 in the devastating way Tyson did.

If you're not going to give Tyson any credit for his best wins, that's that. I think Spinks would have gone early if any version of him showed up on that night in 1988.

As for him being "10lbs overweight", Spinks came in at the weight he wanted to come in at to give himself the best chance of winning. Whether he was 10lbs lighter or another 10lbs heavier, the result would have been the same (imo).

 

If only anybody believed that

 

Tyson KO 1-3

 

Sorry I just had to laugh. Is Ali from the Holmes bout there as well? We could have him knocking a peak Louis out on the undercard.

 

Jesus Christ. Stick to general pal

 

Joe wins,Tyson cant fight backing up

 

Prime Tyson. just defeats Frazier...But Prime Foreman destroys Tyson...Foremans chin was Granite and He would just over power Tyson and take him into later rounds.!!!

 

Tyson was the most skilled heavyweight of all-time and would have too much for Joe.

 

Sad thing is. The guy's a mod.