Could Mike Tyson Have Been Considered One Of The Greatest Athletes Ever?

One of the best heavyweights, but I don't know why he'd be the best athlete ever.

But there are a lot of assumptions here. Him not going crazy and beating Evander and Lewis. Hell, let's say I did that! I'd be one of the best boxer ever!

 

Well If He Hadnt Ducked Lennox Lewis Early On ... Maybe.. But Unfortunately They Knew Better And Ducked Lennox Lewis...

 

That's possible, yes.

Edit: In his prime he was certainly one of the most agile specimen in history for a person of his size and musculature. People that large generally cannot move so well.

 

Thats true.:good

 

Despite the losses and the "could have beens"... Mike at his best is up there with the best boxers the world has ever seen. I used to really underrate Mike, just like a lot of diehard boxing fans seem to in order to counteract his fanboys, but the reality is, he is in the top few heavyweights of all time head to head (at his best).

 

tennis = Federer

I have you paid attention to tennis in the last 5 years

 

Yes. But with most tremendous talents, they are extremely flawed. Tyson's demise was likely inevitable.

 

Yes.

Not only was Tyson incredibly physically gifted, he had exceptional skills to back it up (head movement, footwork, ...).

Unfortunately, all of this talent was held together with a very fragile psyche.

Had Mike been able to harness all of his ability, I think he could have been one of the greatest athletes ever, yes.

 

i already consider him one of the greatest athletes ever....he was the heavyweight champion at 20 years old for crying out loud

 

You mean "lets say his career would have been totally different"?
...damn...i need to take a break

 

No. Ali accomplished more. If we are gonna go down the woulda, coulda, shoulda road here's a couple off the top of my head.

1) Mickey Mantle allready an alltime great and played post color barrier. The guy was a huge drinker and when he was a rookie he blew out his knee on a sprinkler head and never recovered. If he didn't drink he would have probably been the best baseball player ever. If he didn't blow out his knee, same thing. If he didn't drink or blow out the knee, he would have eclipsed Ruth and Aaron and Bonds would still be chasing.

2) Bo Jackson. Runied his hip early on. The guy was unbelievable. I, a Raider fan, have mourned since

 

The term "greatest" connotes not only ring/athletic exploits but also personality which is lacking in Tyson...