James Tillis stopped 11 times.

So, do you think the Jimmy Ellis that Foreman beat was a better caliber of opponent than the guys Tyson beat ?

 

southslickpaw, i am not a tyson fanatic but gotta say - you're very biased & our logic is a bit inconsistent.

within the same post you demean tyson but go on ty praise holyfield as ATG for beating tyson twice and beating the douglas that tyson beat (nevermind that anyone with common sense knows the douglas in tokyo came in shape & to fight and was a lot better). tyson's wins may not stack up to that of every ATG - but because you're not as good as muhammad ali or george foreman doesn't mean you're not top 10 or top 15 - which is DAMN good.

without going through lists - tyson beat a good string of contenders in the 80s. he hardly ducked anyone, fought 3-4 times a year like an active champ against the best contenders available, and was a good champion. look at today's division and you realize that fighters like young tyson don't come everyday. just because he's not as great as muhammad ali or some other ATGs doesn't mean he's not great.

 

I asked for the 10 best opponents and for the most part your failed to give me 10 from each fighter. Most of these fighters fought well over 30 fights and if you can only give me 4-6 wins from each fighter it really doesn't help your argument. What it implies is that there are mediocre wins and losses on thier resume. For instance, Foreman has a few great wins in a sea of crappy victories. 76 fights and you can't find 10 names that are better than Tyson's 10?

Here is Tyson's 10:

1. Michael Spinks: At the time he was undefeated LHW Great and twice bested HW Champion Larry Holmes. He was given a legitimate shot to beating Tyson but Tyson critics undermine victory using revisionist history not taking into account that Spinks's failure had more to do with Tyson than anything else. Tyson takes him out in 91 seconds which is more what I can say for Joe Louis, Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, Evander Holyfield, and Larry Holmes.

2. Larry Holmes: 38-2 at the time. Later went on to beat Ray Mercer, extend Holyfield the full 12 and came pretty close to regaining an alpha title in 1995 against Oliver McCall. Nobody ever beat Larry Holmes the way Tyson did, before or after.

3. Pinklon Thomas: With the exception of Tyson he was the division's heir apparent and the Ring Magazine had him as a top 10 p4p fighter during the mid to late 80s. He was a formidable opponent when Tyson met him. Just to remind you when a HW is on the p4p lists it means he's good. Notable Wins include Mike Weaver and Tim Witherspoon.

4. Donovan 'Razor' Ruddock: Top notch victory over a tough and rugged fighter. Easily top 10 in terms of punching power. Tyson took his shots smiled and stuck his chin out for more (Fight 1 round 6). Tyson beats him twice when Ruddock was still considered the division's elite.

5. Tony Tucker: Big man, fast hands and a decent punch. Tony Tucker was a level above Hasim Rahman, John Ruiz, Randall Cobb, Chuck Wepner and the like. 35-0 IBF champ (at the time Mike fought him) who would later stand up to Lennox Lewis best shots and drop a decision. Tyson outboxed the boxer and took a UD.

6. Frank Bruno: Another big puncher. Solid win, would later give Lennox Lewis a run for his money and would also beat Lewis's conquerer Oliver McCall and captured a piece of the WBC title 6 years after Tyson beat him the first time only to lose again to Mike Tyson.

7. Tyrell Biggs: Tyrell was undefeated (15-0) Olympic Gold Medalist who beat Lennox Lewis in the amatuers. Tyrell was a skilled tough philadelphia fighter who even Larry Merchant among many others picked over Tyson (who at the time was undefeated and at the height of his powers).

8. Andrew Golota: Skilled Big Man, Tyson not only made him quit but he also Broke Golota's checkbone with his shattering power.

9. Trevor Berbick: Very rugged fighter coming off a career best win over Pinklon Thomas. Tyson beat him very decisively.

10. James "Bone Crusher" Smith: Bone crusher was no slouch, elite level power and durable fighter. He's a figher who is on par fighters such as Oliver McCall, Doug Jones and Primo Carnera.

HM Tony Tubbs - Seeing as to how green fighters coming up get no leeway in your book after losing to Tyson in 1987 he went on to arguably beat Riddick Bowe on points 1 year before Riddick Bowe beat Evander Holyfield for the title.

Carl Williams, Frans Botha - Former IBF Champion.

When you look at the body of work compared to the other fighers who you listed, Tyson resume better than most. His wins are over solid contenders of the division and he beat them all decisively. Look at the top 10 lists in the mid 80s when Tyson was champ and you'll see that he pretty much cleared out the division something Evander Holyfield, George Foreman and Ken Norton failed to do. His signature wins may not be on Ali's level but his body of work in overall fighters that he beat is top notch. Then of course when you look at his reign and the fact that he won the title and defended it 9 times and has a 12-4 record in title fights its pretty clear that he's a great fighter. You can't slice any other way and in doing so you only hurt your credibility as a poster. You can argue that he's not as great as some fighters but you can't argue that he's not great period.

 

You just hurt your credibility as a poster by trying to add credibility to these no names. I shouldn't have even replied to this because its laughable. What figthers on there are great? Spinks? Blown up light heavyweight champ that was cleary past his prime. Holmes? Past his prime great that had no buisness being in the ring, no matter who he beat after. You act like Holmes was still in his prime, be real. Tyrell Biggs? An undefeated no name that beat Tyson in the olympic trials. Berbick? Old champion who was definatley not great and had already lost to Larry Holmes 5 years earlier and had been knocked out in his first lost. Tony Tucker? ok fighter that was being out boxed by Buster Douglas before Douglas ran out of gas. The point is that Tyson has never beat a young prime fighter that will be inducted into the hall of fame. The above mentioned great fighters have beaten plenty.

 

I see you very conveniently run away from my proof of the Holmes - Cooney odds (after slinging ridcule ) yet come back laughing at others credibility

:rofl

 

So lying about odds makes you win arguememts? I said what i had to say and im done with it. My uncle and i went over the magizines and this debate and just laughed at you. I gave you the month, date, and the issue and all you did was make up some paragraph, its just laughable.

 

My uncle just imformed me that a may issue of 1982 Big Book of Boxing didn't even come out..lol You have some nerve to tell me that i am lying and you are talking about a magizine that didn't even happen:rofl

 

The paragraphs were preceded by the web sites for the entire story. Is this uncy imaginary?

 

Actually to be honest i have never seen the April version of Big Book of Boxing you claim has Cooney at 3-1. I've got 100's, but i have zero April issues of Big Book. It could exist, but i've never seen it.

I tell you what i'll do. I am a generous man and will give you the opportunity of a lifetime here.

I freely give you the opportunity to make a load of easy money as well as making a fool and liar out of me alllll at once

I will bet you anywhere from $500 to $2000usd payable via paypal that the May 1982 Big Book of Boxing issue does indeed exist.

Proof of existence will be a stroll in the park. Not only will i hook the scanner up and do multiples, but as i have two copies of this exact magazine i will also send my backup copy to someone on this forum with no bias toward either you or i. Of course they can keep the said mag as i will have plenty of your money to buy as many copies as i like.

As Tom Cruise might say

"It's like a nightmare, isn't it? It just keeps getting worse and worse".

Who's lying now?

Bottom line - put up or shut up

:happy

 

lol, People will say anything to make themselves sound like they are telling the truth, you are not fooling anyone, as i do not believe anything you have said. The quote in red really makes me know that you are desperatley lying, (judging by the way you said it). What makes me know that a may issue did not come out is the simple fact that my uncle subcribed to Ring Magizine and Big Book Of Boxing and we checked, it does exist. We spent about 2 hours looking through all of his magizines yesterday.

 

So the bet is on of course? :happy

You ain't got subscriptions to Jack Schitt :yep

 

This content is protected

You would have seen this cover of course?

:smoke

 

lol, so you go and find the cover over the internet and now i am suppose to believe you? lol please, where does it say may issue?

 

It doesn't, which is why i posted it. I want your money honey, unlike Wendy James :good

What i do know is that you (and uncy) have never seen it

:smoke



Are we on for the money?

A new set of Callaway irons would do me good.

 

lol, you said that you had the may version so where is it? My uncle has the april version and there is an article in there that mentioned the odds.