Hypothetically, of course.

Not bums- C and B level fighters, good fighters, but the fights were always slightly past their primes or just plain lesser fighters.

Berbick wasn't a bum; he was a solid B-level Heavyweight. Holmes an ATG, but he was older; Spinks was bloated; Bonecrusher Smith a fine, B-level fighter himself.

His level of competition was better, IMO, than most give him credit for here on ESB. It was not a legendary bunch, because Tyson put them in their places, but there were some good figthers there.

 

Hey! isnt that Joe Calzaghe' career? a ghost career without ever having gottn to the truth, Oh thats right Joe is alive

 

With wins over Hopkins, Kessler and Lacy, I would say Calzaghe's career is looking pretty good right now. :deal

 

I think this question would be better if you posed it for the time immediately after the Spinks fight. He started showing signs of deterioration (headhunting, lack of head movement) thereafter, and some surely would have called him out on it.

In any case, he'd be considered the No. 1 hth heavyweight by many, for sure.

 

I was thinking earlier in his career when he was first round KO'ing everyone like Marvis Frazier (brutal knockout btw).

Berbick certainly wasn't a bum, nor Holmes or Spinks, but I mean you can nit-pick and find points about all three of those, Berbick wasn't a top-class fighter, Holmes was past his best and Spinks was a light-heavy.

He has a fair few good names on his record but I don't think you can say he really beat an A-level heavyweight in their prime, I think he gets his legacy more from the manner in which he beat his opponents rather than who he beats.

 

he'd have been the big bopper, richie valens and buddy holly all rolled in to one (sports wise of course), heck Id even throw in James Deane

Tyson was the most recognizable athlete on the planet at that moment in time. Nobody (except robin givens :deal)had exposed any real weakness and his scary ko style is the stuff of legend anyways.

Good thread. In short he would have obtained superhero status e.g. "who would have one between the incredible hulk and a 25 year old Tyson??"

 

Surely both Foreman & Frazier counted as prime when Ali beat them? Who would dispute that? And they certainly are ATG's.

 

that has got 2 be the funniest thing i've ever heard bout boxing but it is tru........................don't tell tyson i said anything bad about him:scaredas: