Did Vitali Klitschko ruin his chance to face Tyson?

I don't see Tyson fighting Vitali Klitschko at that point. He was looking for the easiest fights possible.

 

You are right - Tyson's people didn't want tough opponents for him at that point of his career. They were looking to cash him out and that's it.

Look at the bunch of opponents he fought after his come back in 1999:

- Botha. Tough, but very limited fighter with average power and very hittable in addition

- Norris. Past prime, very small heavyweight. Not a puncher

- Francis. Journeyman

- Savarese. Tough, but incredibly slow and hittable fringe contender. Dream match up for Tyson stylistically

- Golota. He was THE ONLY guy in this list who was relatively dangerous for Tyson. Golota was very talented fighter, but he was a slow starter and a nutcase. He always fought a way to lose big fights. Still, he was much more dangerous than anyone else of Tyson's opponents in 1999-2001 period

- Nielsen. Old, slow ridiculously overweight fringe contender, who recently got a very tought decision win against shot Orlin Norris

And no, Tyson (or his people) didn't want no part of Chris Byrd not because he was with Don King. Byrd has signed with King in 2002, in 1999-2001 he was promoted by Cedrick Kushner. They just didn't want to fight ANYBODY who could derail huge mone fight with Lennox Lewis - Vitali, Wlad, Byrd, Tua or any other top contender. Tyson was finished by that point and his team knew it very well

 

No. Still plenty of time for it to happen

 

Had Tyson beaten Danny Williams Klitschko had him next. Vitlai and Tyson took pictures took pictures together for the promotion.

It would have been a blow out loss for Tyson. When Williams upset Tyson, Klitschko fought him next instead.

 

I had a post that Tyson had his share of cherry picks and you reasoning as to why is 100% correct.

 

Vitali vs Tyson in the 00s was no business, Tyson had no chance

 

Yes but in the year 2000 Klitschko wasn't a heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis was. If Tyson had fought Vitali Klitschko he would have been beaten and the hopes of Lewis vs Tyson go out the window.

 

Mike was worn and had nothing to gain by fighting Vitali.

Look at who Mike fought around that period.

He just wanted that big Lewis pay day at the end.

If they’d have fought in the early 00’s, I think Vitali would have beaten him badly.

 

Vitali was all wrong for Mike at that stage.

Even in losing on a technicality to Byrd, people could see how dangerous Vitali was.

It just made no sense to put Mike in with him.

He was steered towards a cash out against Lennox.

 

It wouldn’t have made any difference whatsoever.

Vitali was a monster and in his prime.

It would have been for a lightly regarded belt with no huge money at stake.

Mike wasn’t elusive like Byrd.

He was fighting towards a monster pay day with Lennox.

His heart wasn’t in it anymore and he was carefully matched.

His team wouldn’t even have considered putting him in there with Vitali. It made no sense whatsoever. It wasn’t a winnable fight for him, and nobody would have been interested in a Lewis fight.

Why do you think he fought European level HW’s like Julius Francis?

Shelly wouldn’t have put him within 100 yards of Vitali.