Jack Sharkey on Mike Tyson

Interseting, Jack Sharkey (1902-1994) voiced his opinion on Tyson in 1986 in an interview.

His words:

''There is only one heavyweight that I can see who would fit into the old school and that’s Tyson. They’re all cream puff punchers today except Tyson, and his secret is that he doesn’t waste many punches.”

then he goes on to speak about Ali, who he admired but does say he took too many punches (which is true)

''Ali was a real good boxer but he took too many punches in his training, which he didn’t have to take. Joe Louis was nothing sensational, being a methodical fighter, but he was a great finisher when he had his man in trouble''

I can't post the link as it won't let me, but type in 'jack sharkey interview' and it's the 'Jack Dempsey: True Greatness - Boxing.com' page.

 

Jersey Joe Walcott about Tyson:

"I think he is a great fighter and a great champion. He would have done well in any given time. I'm sure he would've done well in my time when all the great fighters of the 40s were around."

 

Trainer Ray Arcel about Tyson:

"He could have fit in at any time in the heavyweight ranks. He could punchhard enough to have beaten anybody if he could hit them. The guy's a natural fighter."

Interesting to see older fighters on the newer ones, did Dempsey or anyone ever say anything about ALI?

 

Okay, Ray Arcel on Muhammad Ali, well he MENTIONS him.

Our first eyewitness is Ray Arcel, who was one of the greatest trainers in boxing history working corners from the 20’s to the 80’s. He worked with 18 world champions including Barney Ross, Tony Zale, Ezzard Charles, Roberto Duran, and Larry Holmes. He was in the opposite corner from Joe Louis in 14 of his fights, he knew Benny Leonard, and if anyone knows the strengths and weaknesses of fighters it is Ray Arcel. He has stated that he considered Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis and Jack Dempsey to be the three greatest heavyweights in history and hedged on picking between them