How many "A" level fighters in their prime did Tyson face?

Not really. Lewis was at the end of his own prime, Spinks was old, slow & small and Holyfield was at the end of his prime also.

 

if we're talking mike spinks, he wasn't old, but he was small for a hw that cannot be disputed. is the question ATGs or 'a level' and what does 'a level' mean?

 

Pinklon Thomas, Tony Tubbs, Razor Ruddock, Michael Spinks, Evander Holyfield, Buster Douglas

 

he wasnt a+ but b+.................he gave lewis hell........frank bruno in 8 rds with tyson in 2 fights never won 1 rd...:smoke:smoke:smoke

 

Michael Spinks and Evander Holyfield were both in or near their prime. Lewis was past his best.

 

It depends what we're calling A level

He fought the folowing A level fighters, but I'd argue none we're at their absolute prime

Lennox Lewis
Larry Holmes
Micheal Spinks
Evander Holyfield

He also fought a good few solid guys at their peaks, but whether they'd count depends on this "A" level business. They were high ranked fighters at the time, most former or future belt holders, but are not looked on as top level heavyweights in hindsight.

Bone Crusher Smith
Tony Tubbs
Buster Douglas
Frank Bruno
Pinky Thomas
Tony Tucker
Tony Tubbs
Razor Ruddock.

 

:good

 

He might have been a little better physically but he was a smarter fighter in 96.

 

the problem w/ this question is it's not often "A" level fighters face each other in their prime. You can pick apart anyone's resume & criticize it if you want

Also A+ level fighters are really special. There isn't an abundance of them to choose from as far as selecting an opponent.

Last, boxing is a business. Some fights simply don't happen for whatever reason

 

lewis??? holyfield????

 

This is why you don't bring Tyson into the general forum. Disrespect. :-(

 

They weren't prime, Lewis was 37 and Holyfield 34 I think!

 

Lewis was indeed in his prime when he faced Tyson.

(Age and prime are correlated but not perfectly.)

A boxer has a physical prime and a skills/experience prime.

Most guys reach physical prime around 20 or 21 and stay there till around 27 or 28. After that, physical decline begins.

However, training and experience usually continue to hone their boxing skills from they begin boxing till well into their physical decline.

For most boxers then, their combined (physical/skill) prime comes between 25 and 32. After that, increases in experience/skills is more than offset by physical decline (loss of reflex, speed, ability to take a punch, endurance...)

Now, with some fighters and with better training and nutrition, the effects of physical decline can be minimized and a fighter might continue to improve overall into their thirties.

Bernard Hopkins, for example.


IMO, Lennox was prime from 1995-2002. He was at the end of his prime, even on the decline, when he met Vitali. I believe Vitali caused him to retire, as he felt he would probably lose a rematch there. (Prime Lennox would beat Vitali most of the time).

So he was prime when he met Tyson.


Was Tyson prime ?

Probably not.

His prime years ran from 1988 till around 1995.

But he was damaged goods after Douglas (1990).

A portion of his early success stemmed from his aura of invincibility.

With that gone, the blueprint was out there, and Mike was always a bit fragile mentally.

IMO, though older, Lennox was prime and Tyson was past prime.


However, I would pick a prime, in-shape focused Lennox to beat the best version of Mike 7 or 8 times out of 10.