(I know the short answer is, then he wouldnt be Tyson) But lets say he 100% commits to training under Kevin Rooney, or your best trainer of choice. If that is the case and his aspirations are all about being and staying the champ, how does he fare for the rest of his career under those circumstances?
He still drops trainers. I'm in the minority with most Tyson fans, but I always thought when Rooney was steering the ship, he was walking the plank at the same time. The sand was always going out of the hourglass. He still loses in that same timeframe he did. There was quite a few pedigreed up and comers from that 88 timeframe, plus Commander Vander moving up. Whole different ballgame than Mike facing the old guys when he had the youthful reflexes advantage.
Was an effective weapon against McNeeley, scored the first knockdown with it and set up the finish later. It was a good weapon against Bruno, had him backing up early from it. And of course Botha might be the best single punch knock out of Tyson's career.
He also made Ettiene look like Gumby with the right hand, no jab. And he hurt Holyfield in the first round of their first fight with an overhand right.
...I think was totally committed to training for the second Holyfield fight. He still wasn't the same as 88.
He would have been formidable. Watching post-prison Tyson you can't help but notice the drop in the amount of head movement. He also was much less active and seemed to be much more enamored with his power. Is understandable that someone that young, and from that background would believe all of the hype. I knew you was trouble when he stated that he could train himself. I think he would have beaten Rid**** Bowe and I like his chances against Lennox Lewis at their primes.
I agree with you on Holyfield. I am much less sure about Douglas. Even that version of Tyson was able to catch him and may well have been able to finish the job.
Your initial post is confusing In the title, you seem to be saying what if he got a better trainer post prison Then, in the body of your post you seem to be saying, "What if Tyson never left Rooney." If you are talking about post prison, I think it was too late for Rooney to fix much. Too much rust, bad habits and physical punishment had been incurred by then. Maybe, Rooney could have gotten him back to 70 percent of what he once was. I still think he probably would have lost to Holyfield and Lewis. If you're talking about what would have happened if he never left Rooney in the first place? I don't think he would have lost to Douglas. Most people, I think share this belief. A few like Wass85, think Douglas would always beat Tyson. I think Wass is in the minority in believing that.