How good was Tyson's stamina?

I don't think he was a 15 round fighter, but I don't think he was completely gassed after 12 rounds before prison either. He could fight at a fast pace for 4 rounds, but after that he started pacing him self more and was looking for 1 big shot. I don't think he could do what Frazier and Ali did in Manilla.

 

Tysons stamina for a power puncher is one of the greatest in history. Unlike guys like Foreman, Shavers he carried his power late into fights and didn't gas. His stamina certainly wasn't on par with say a Marciano, or Ali but it was very good.

 

Tyson was not known for many late KO's. Who did he stop late? Tyson put a lot of early pressure and energy into the first half of the fight. After 6, I think Tyson's work rate and power began to fade. Tyson's stamina was very good in the 1985-1987 age, but post 1987, I think it was something that a well-conditioned fighter could sort of take advantage of in the later rounds of a fight.

 

Tyson wasn't known for late round knockouts because he knocked everyone out early. If you were good enough to survive the initial onslaught, you were either a. just in there to survive and running and clinching or b. a very good/great fighter with a very solid/great chin.

Tyson was getting beat up by Douglas but in the 8th round (not really a really late round but due to the pummelling he was getting it's late) he dropped Buster with one punch. Against Biggs, Thomas, Ribalta he stopped them all in the mid/late rounds where he looked about the same at the time of the stoppage as he did in the first round.

After 87/88 I agree that his stamina left something to be desired but he still carried his power late.

 

Aside from a young and in shape ( 1986 )Tyson, stopping Rabilita in 10, his next latest stoppage was in the 7th round. Tyson went the distance with Tills, Green, Smith, Tucker, and Ruddock.

The only one the bunch that was very hard to stop was Tucker. He was also stopped late by Douglas and Holyfield. I think late round stamina was a small, but expolitable problem for Tyson.


The bottom line is Tyson's activity level took notable drop after around 5, and slowed down a good bit after round 7. While Tyson still had power, it appears he did not have the reserves to wing power shots round after round. Tyson's defense also tailed off into the mid to late rounds.

While part of this is because Tyson's style, I also think he was a bit of a front-runner, and not exactly, distance gruel it out type of winner like say Ali, Holyfield, or Holmes could be.

 

Not Quite.

Tyson's workrate and punch output didnt diminish as the rounds wore on. He was a 15 round fighter. Pre-Prison his stamina never faded, he simply got complacent because he was usually winning fights in one sided affairs. There is no evidence during his first career that he had stamina issues.

 

I think they did Ironchamp. We'd have to see the punch stats in fights where Tyson went 10 or more, and if we did, I think you would agree with me. However, much of what I am saying is visual notations of Tyson having less on his fastball in the mid to later rounds. It is rare to see KO puncher keep his power for the full 10-15 rounds. To do this, a puncher needs good stamina.

In truth, Tyson showed signs of becoming un-done in the first Bruno fight, which was well before his prison term.
Speaking of Tyson, I think history is starting to view him differently. He used to be over rated by those who started watching boxing in the 1980's to early 1990's. Back then, Tyson was bigger than the sport. Now that his career is over, and most of his fights both early and late can be seen, I think Tyson aura that he had in his prime are not as great as they were.

 

I'm certain that his punchout remained consistent throughout the course of the fight. Punch stats will confirm my assertions.

The signs of becoming "un-done" during the Bruno fight are indicative of his lack of commitment not his lack of stamina. Remember it was Evander Holyfield who once stated that the only person who he couldnt outwork in the gym was Mike Tyson.

His stamina was above average and his power was respectable over 12 and im certain 15.

 

Showtime's disdain for punchstats are a problem, for stuff like Tyson-Bruno II you'd have to do an unofficial count yourself.

I'll have a look when I get home at the stats I have for Mike.

 

For a pure puncher, his stamina was excellent.

I do think he lost a step in speed, intensity and combinations past the 5th, but he still carried a big punch nonetheless and 40 punches a round over 12 is pretty good when nearly every shot is designed to knock you out.


Also note that the Biggs fight was scheduled for 15 rounds.

 

I could be wrong here, but off the top of my head I seem to remember him throwing 58 or 59 punches per round against Green. That's a commendable average.

Generally though, Tyson was a big flurry puncher rather than a bell-to-bell kind of fighter.
It was the way he put his shots together.

 

He threw 46 punches a round against Green.

 

Wonder what on earth I'm thinking of then?

I'll be able to check in about, oh, 3 hours or so...

 

Excellent stamina.

When you consider the vast majority of his punches were made to hurt and he could only fight one way-explosively, it's very impressive.

Critics use to say Nigel Benn had stamina problems but it was all about his pacing- It does not matter if you have the lungs of a cheetah, if you go all out, you'll be left spent quickly.

Tyson maintained good work rate for an extremely taxing style.