Some say he was past his prime when he started to get beaten but I preferred to see it more realistically; he was finally facing better fighters that came along, such a Holy and Lewis The earlier era Tyson seemed unbeatable during was rather lacking as far as strong competition to test his greatness. Tyson was an amazing cultural iconic figure, most certainly... but better fighters proved he was not the unbeatable monster he seem to be early in his career Holy or Lewis both thoroughly beat any "version" of Tyson
I'd pick Tyson by KO. I mean, even a well past prime near shot or shot Tyson won the first round against Lennox Lewis. Prime Tyson could do that for 12 rounds if needed to be against Wlad. Just the wrong type of fighter for Wlad. Prime Tyson is a tough out for anybody, including those that beat him when he was past prime like Holyfield and Lennox Lewis.
Im sorry i should have explained a bit better. I asked this as i am seeing a lot of people wanting to heap praise on AJ for fighting Wlad. When i see it as AJ is a young hungry champion coming into his prime years and Wlad is coming to the very end of his career at 41 coming off a loss. AJ should be beating the likes of Wlad easy and he deserves zero credit if he wins. He should be fighting someone just as hungry as himself ( Joseph Parker ). Lets face it Fast Eddie wouldn't be putting AJ anywhere near Wlad if he though he was dangerous, he has already admitted he dosn't want AJ to fight this version of Wlad who is washed up.
I can only favour prime Tyson vs past-prime Wlad. Recently Wlad has been looking like krap. But the version that took on Mercer would be a fun fight indeed. Wlad's offence and balance were superb back then.
Ali would have taken Prime Tyson to deep Water and Drowned Him...even Tyson knows that...Hell a Prime 24 year old Foreman who was possibly the Hardest Puncher ever at Heavyweight could not defeat a 32 Year Old Ali I am sure Tyson would have Struggled.!!!
True, but 32 year old Ali was not far out of his prime in my opinion, as you said he beat Foreman, then Frazier, Norton, Lyle. Perhaps I should've worded it more carefully. Ali at 37-40 years old definitely loses to a prime Mike Tyson, I'm sure you'd agree.
Definately...when he fought Holmes you could see Parkinson's was already starting to Dog Him......Was the saddest thing I have ever seen that fight.!!!!
Would have to strongly disagree. That spell inside destroyed him, he was never the same fighter when he came back out. Tyson of '86 - '89 beats any version of Holyfield, and likely prime Lewis too.
Yes, Tyson was still world-class when he came back but he was not the same. Prime Tyson certainly beats any Holyfield, but I am not that confident against prime Lewis (it's a very tough fight for both in my opinion).
I hate prime vs prime comparisons in cases like these. Tyson's prime lasted like 5 minutes, whereas Lewis has a whole body of work to demonstrate, over many years. That said, yeah, I could well see a prime Tyson blowing Lewis out. Furthermore, Lewis even in his prime managed to produce some sucky performances where he just scraped by. I doubt he's take Tyson lightly and undertrain, but if he did ... oh dear.