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

Holyfield has a very insignificant portion of his career at Light Heavy Weight. Even so at 177 he woudlnt have the strength necessary to move Tyson around like he did in 96.

I seriously doubt that a Light Heavy could have beaten Tyson, Not Moore, not Charles, not Foster not Tunney- although Gene might have one of the best shots at doing so.

 

Yes, but can that A+++++++++++ horse be rode by a C level rider?

 

There's more if's there than i care to count mate.

 

Good point.

Tunney would most likely be one of the only LHW's I'd give a realistic 'live' chance, though even up against an immediately post-prison inshape Tyson it would require a monumentous effort to pull out a victory. :yep

There wouldn't be many (if any) others.

 

Tunney struggled with a natural 168lb pressure fighter several times. And he beat old-old Dempsey who out of a sudden desided to be a boxer, instead of a hunter in their fights. Tyson would wipe the floor with Tunney in the first two rounds and finish him quickly.

 

Tyson was too dynamic with his hands and feet for most light heavies. A dynamic swarmer with more power almost always blows out a good boxer type. No light heavy could hope to stand toe to toe with a true heavyweight bomber. Many old time heavies that had issues with light heavies because they were slower with their feet and hands. Not Tyson. This is the reason why he would blow most of them out.

I suppose Tunney of Langford at 175 pounds could defeat Tyson. Each man had a good chin, good movement skills, and some sting. Langford was super strong for his size, and had the type of stuff that could make Tyson's questionable intangibles come into play. I do believe Langford hit at least as hard as Holyfield, who knocked Tyson out.

Tunney was a master boxer mover, and smart ring tactician who would not get caught on the ropes or in the corners. Tyson had some trouble with James Tillis, who was a quick boxer type. The fight was close to a draw.

If Langford Tunney could make it past round 5, Tyson begins to slow down. These are the two light heavies I would pick to have the best chance vs Tyson. I would expect Tyson to beat them though.

 

Archie Moore would have tested his boundaries and puched him a bit but still fallen short against a prime Tyson..

 

Prime Archie Moore was hit plenty even by Oakland Billy Smith, who was nowhere near as aggressive or as accurate puncher as Tyson. And Moore was passive, too passive in there. He'd be overwhelmed from the very beginning.

 

1946-10-23 Oakland Billy Smith vs Archie Moore (16min 39sec)

 

Never is a verry strong word in boxing and not one to be used lightley.

There is no heavyweight in history who I wpould categoricaly say could not theoreticaly loose to a natural light heavyweight on a given day.

 

A lighter man depends on his speed of hand and foot to evade the heavier man and land his blows.

There are very very few LHWS who can outspeed Tyson.

Tyson is the worst HW to fight for a LHW. Sinse there would be no significant speed advantage for the LHW