Buster Douglas on Mike & Mike ESPN this morning

The best fighter Tyson ever beat was Michael Spinks, a dominating 175-pounder but average heavyweight who was terrified when he stepped into the ring with Tyson in 1988, an advantage Tyson had over most opponents. He also stopped Larry Holmes the same year but Holmes was 38 and in decline.

After that, his resume is void of memorable names in part because he fought in an era that was very weak when he was at his best. That’s not his fault, obviously, but it’s reality.

And consider this: Even some of Tyson’s most-ardent supporters will acknowledge that he was never as dominating after he lost to Douglas, meaning he peaked at the ripe old age of 23. He was only 13-5 (with two no-contests) after the Douglas fight against marginal opposition.

If that’s not a shooting star, what is?

He ultimately had three fights against current or future Hall of Famers, two against Evander Holyfield and one against Lennox Lewis. He lost all three badly, the first an 11th-round KO by Holyfield; the second the ear-biting fight, which many believe saved him from another knockout; and an eighth-round KO to Lewis when Tyson was badly faded.

Clearly, he is no better than the third best heavyweight of his time – behind Holyfield and Lewis – and arguably behind Riddick Bowe.

And there’s no shame in that. Tyson was an outstanding fighter – a future hall of famer himself -- who might’ve brought more excitement to fans than any heavyweight in history. That’s saying something even if he wasn’t as good as we once thought he was.

 

No. Tyson is not the creme puff mental weakling people on ESB try to make him out as.

Early Tyson was quite tough mentally. Even in the Douglas fight Tyson was not giving up, he didn't quit. It wasn't a question that Douglas wasn't scared of him so Tyson imploded.

What happened is Tyson boxing entourage became a house of fools, and Tyson believed their bull****.

His head movement was gone, his defense was left to rot, instead, he started to believe the hype that he could take anyone out with one good head shot, and allowed his skills to decline and instead put all his chances in power alone.

Power was not Mike Tyson true strong point, it's how in his early career this power was delivered. Excellent head movement and defense allowing him to deliver an unexpected blow.

It wasn't until much later that Tyson basically didn't care about boxing, and if he couldn't knock someone out in 4 rounds quit, that Tyson became mentally weak.

Early Tyson did not simply give up in the face of adversity.

 

I cant agree that Spinks is the best heavyweight that Tyson defeated...i think that Spinks would have lost to Tucker, possibly Pinky, Ruddock and Golota at heavy just off the top of my mind...as a heavy...Spinks was not that good....

 

:yep

 

its to bad cus passed and tyson left rooney because if they were with him through out his career tyson could possibly have been the best heayweight ever to walk this planet

 

you give sugar shane a bad name, and that's hard to do:hat

 

you give boxing a bad name.

 

after some more thought i feel that prime Ali, Holmes, and Foreman give him problems and possibly beat him, but i still feel he is the favorite against a Louis, Lewis or Frazier.

I feel prime Tyson was Tyson TILL 88 not so much only 88.