Is there a LHW who would have stood a chance with Tyson?

I might give Tunney the advantage over post Prison Tyson.

Beautiful footwork to stay away from the much slower than he was in his prime Tyson (Look at how he kept away from Dempsey) great recovery powers, solid enough power, beautiful mind for boxing, willpower...

I wouldn't give him an overwhelming majority, and I doubt he could take a majority over prime Tyson... But post Prison Tyson... Maybe.

 

Liston too high on your list, and Holmes not high enough. Tyson is doing very well squeezing into your top 10.

 

No Foreman, Marciano or Dempsey ?

 

No, there's not.

 

As Flabby Gut said, Tyson had that speed which was the killer. Most light heavyweights use their illusiveness and guile to beat the bigger, slower heavyweight, but Tyson had that amazing handspeed that nullified the smaller man's advantages.

I'm not saying that no light heavy in history stood a chance, but he'd have to be a great man fighting a great fight and Tyson would have to be in less than great condition.

 

I think it is theoreticaly posible even on the night he beat Spinks.

It would require a light heavyweight of exceptional speed, durability and defensive guile who wantes it really really badly. They would have to fight to survive for the first few rounds and then worry about scoring later.

One name who I would put forward as a possible is Gene Tunney. The cruiseweight version especialy would have a fighting chance.

Incidentaly do they have to weigh in at under 175 lbs?

 

Prime Tyson - none.

 

Roy Jones KO 3

 

Ok. Tyson lost nothing on speed to light heavyweights, his hand speed is fantastic.

Tyson had an excellent defense to say the least at his best and it was a defense based arounf forward movement. Bad news.

Tyson's chin is granite when it comes to the chances of a light heavyweight stopping him. Light heavies will simply not have enough to deter him or gain enough respect.

Tyson's power is going to be hell to guys that are natural 175'ers, Spinks had a damn fine chin at light heavy.

At his best Tyson's speed of foot, pure aggression and ability to cut off the ring is going to be murder on a lighter guy trying to survive early.

Last but sure not least, Tyson is a fantastic body puncher at his greatest, enormous power, doesn't forget to go there and often has open targets due to his extreme fight ending danger upstairs.

In short - Tyson is hell on earth to these guys. All of them. People can argue and bring up the glory days all they like but these guys simply aren't going to be able to take Tyson out. He sin't going to respect them either. Joe Louis had his troubles at times vs fleet footed lighter boxers who happened to be great as well. Joe was a little ponderous of foot and could be troubled for a time by these types. Tyson with his uber aggressive style and much faster feet just ain't gonna stand for this action. I can see him blowing out many a big name 175 in no time at all.