How good was Tony Tucker?

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEV1SMJvCFU[/ame]

 

This thread comes up every couple of months.

He was big, good chin, and could box some. However, he was never really was elite in terms skills- for example, Douglas was ahead on the cards before he tired and crashed.

Tucker's biggest weakness was of course the drugs, whcih destroyed his career.

 

Tucker was past his prime when he fought Lewis.

 

It depends largely on what you think of the 80's heavyweight climate in general.

 

Yet another guy in the 80's that suffered through drugs.

IN the 80's it was drugs. Now, it's food.

Tucker was pretty good.

 

Everytime I see the name Tony Tucker I always think of how hard Herbie Hide actually punched. The guy had a granite chin, but of course he was far over the hill back then.

 

If you really look at it, he was a pretty awesome contender. The highest B fighter you will ever see.


Statically after 12 and half years in boxing his record was the following-

50 Fights
48 Wins
2 losses (decision to Tyson, L. Lewis - Two all time top ten greats)
39 Knockouts

Wins over - James Broad, J. B. Douglas, O. Norris, O. McCall

From a qualitative perspective or in a simpler term visual footage analysis, he in my opinion lost 9 round to 3 to Tyson, and 8 rounds to 4 Lewis. This is not bad considering the two men were top 3 of there era.

He has wins over J. Broad, Douglas, Norris and McCall which is decent.

His style was that of outside boxer, quick hands, quick feet and iron chin. He was far better mover than either Klit brother but dosent have there will to win, or in Wlad case punching power.

Very talented fighter, but was managed by Don King, and what Don likes to do is either keep his fighters on the shelf with sporadic outings or in the case of Tucker (who was a good fighter) keep him busy fighting no hoper with every so often fighter a top 20 guy. Essentially waiting for his shot at the title.

This is affects Tucker standing as im sure he would have beaten host of other big names....but in essence this has been boxing downfall especially of late where good fighter dont fight other good fighters.

After his fighter with Lewis, he had already boxed for 12 and half years which by an stretch means his peak powers were over and he went 9-5 over the course of 5 years losing to the likes of Seldon, Ruiz and Akinwande but all this was past his physical best.

 

He did not train for Tyson. His mind was all over the place.

Lewis beat him way better.

Better version too, even though Lewis was not in shape.

 

If he took his career seriously he could have been really good.

 

Had a hell of a lot going for him but did make much of it at all. He was lucky to be in the posiition to win a paper title just before Tyson unified.

The alphabets loved Tucker, however

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. He seemed to be always at the top of the world rankings.

 

Cool rhyhme bro!

 

Yes he really only has one L in his prime and that was to Iron Mike.

 

Yeah he fit the bill to 80's heavyweights who could have been more along with Witherspoon. Even removed from his prime he gave Lewis a good fight. He did pretty good against a prime Mike so that says a lot about what he could've been. He beat Douglas who many forget was a good contender prior to Tokyo but Douglas was inconsistent. Praise the Lord Mike!!!

 

The 80's still had better talent in the heavyweight division than now. Many guys these days should were bras.