Better opposition: Lewis, Tyson ......

Stick to the Lounge, unless you feel that you can prove to me that Tyson's resume and run through his division was weaker than any of the others. Considering the short and dominant span in which he did it, compared to huge losses in between(Lewis), inconsistency throughout(Holyfield), to similar level opposition but over a longer period and not as dominant(Holmes).

I don't think Tyson's wins resume was as good as the others(I voted Holyfield on the poll, as I said earlier), but his reign and prime was more impressive than any of them.

 

Domination and the quality of the competition that he dominated are two entirely different things.

And I didnt say that his resume was WEAK...I said it was weak in comparison to the others on the list (Lewis, Holyfield and Holmes).

I consider his two vs Ruddock as his best. As Ruddock was in his prime and was ONE HELL of a fighter. But top to bottom, his resume doesnt stack up to the others...it just doesnt sorry.

 

If Holyfield or Lewis fought Tyson's competition, there would be no losses in between (Lewis) or inconsistancy (Holyfield)...as they would have beaten ANYONE on Mike's list. Holmes as well.

Its not a weak resume...just weak when compared to the other 3.

 

Holmes's resume is not terribly impressive either. You can find fault in all of their resumes, but Tyson beat everyone in his run, prior to his breakdown.

And again, his resume is not the best, his run was. So I agree with you there, I've said it before already though.

 

I can't say for sure that Lewis wouldn't have lost, considering how poor a fighter Rahman was. He was capable of getting caught with something big against the more skilled HW's that Tyson fought.

 

For Holmes...Norton and Shavers (at the very least) are better than ANYONE on Tyson's resume....even OLD Holmes.

And I TOTALLY agree with you about Tyson's run...there was NEVER a more dominant stretch for any fighter....

 

Who would you consider the biggest puncher that Tyson faced in his championship run???

 

I think Norton was well overrated personally, but he'd match up well with everyone on Tyson's resume. I personally wouldn't favor him greatly if at all over the Tuckers, Doulgases(of that night), Biggs, etcs though, just based on styles. Don't confuse the Ali he faced with the younger Ali.

Shavers was capable of losing to almost everyone on Tyson's resume, and I'd have picked him to lose a few. Effective over the first few rounds, after which the taller, better boxers on Tyson's resume would've taken him apart. Shavers is not overrated as a puncher, just as a fighter.

:good

 

See I think that because Norton never won a title, he is sort of underrated (look at the fighter who beat him...that man just was born in the wrong era!!!). I thought he was phenominal. As for Shavers...agreed he could be outboxed...but I think we can agree he hit just as hard (if not harder) than Tyson. That alone makes me think that NOONE in Tyson's mythical run has a chance to do that.

What did Tex Cobb say?

"No, Larry don't hit as hard as Earnie Shavers. No-one hits as hard as Shavers. If there was a fighter that hit harder than Shavers, I shoot him!"

(sorry but anytime theres a chance to quote Tex...Im taking it... )

Again tho...who do you think the biggest hitter Tyson faced in his heyday?

 

Tyson was so far superior to Shavers though in getting his stuff off, and it took Tyson a while to finish off some of the best boxers, so I don't think Shavers would go undefeated. In fact I think he'd lose most.

Well probably Ruddock overall, but in his initial run I'd say Bruno, though even then he had started to slip, as you could see in his head movement, after Rooney and co left. That was the downfall, Rooney's departure.

 

I agree totally with your two that you picked. Now go back and look at my comment about Lewis. He took shots from Morrison, Tua, Mercer, Briggs (2nd time), etc. All of which were harder (or as hard) hitters than both of them. I just dont see Lewis losing to ANYONE who Tyson fought.

 

Perhaps not, but some of those guys were also harder hitters than Rahman. It all depends on Lewis. He didn't show up to fight, and he got KO'd. If that happened against one of Tyson's big punchers, he might catch one. But I certainly wouldn't pick any to beat Lewis at his best.

 

Agreed. :good

 

Great thread.

I've got nothing really to add, but have enjoyed reading what's been posted to date.

 

Look at Lewis' best career stretch, between the Mercer fight (a close victory) and Rahman 1. (He'd also beaten Morrison convincingly post-McCall but pre-Mercer, btw)

McCall KO5. Dominant.
Akinwande DQ5. Dominant.
Golota KO1. Dominant blowout.
Briggs KO5. Shaken early, rallied to score an impressive knockout.
Mavrovic UD12. Wide points win against a tough, game opponent.
Holy D12. Clear-cut win over a past-prime, but not shot, ATG.
Holy UD12. Closer, but still clear, win.
Grant KO2. Dominant knockout of #1 contender.
Botha KO2. Destroyed a tough guy easier than anybody else did.
Tua UD12. A boxing masterclass over the #1 contender.

NONE of these fights were close. Briggs shook him up a bit, but didn't knock him down, but Lewis quickly recovered and shortly after was beating the living **** out of him en route to a mid-rounds KO. And that was as close as anybody got to doing **** to the guy.

That's as impressive, if not MORE impressive, than Tyson's run.

And it's not the entirety of Lewis' career either. Some of his best wins come before (Ruddock) and after (Vitali) this span.

:hat