Marciano vs Charles 1 and Holyfield vs Tyson 1

Charles was a more refined fighter where as Holyfeild was more manufactured and used a more physical approach against Tyson. I tend to think Charles was superior but that Evander compensated by being a product of his environment using strength and artificial weight.

I don't think Tyson got enough credit for his comeback, nobody was saying he was past his best until Holyfeild beat him. That loss broke Tysons heart though and he was never strong enough mentally to come back from it. So folks decide Holyfeild beat the ghost of Christmas past.

Evander fought a great fight, he overcame a great fighter. Charles fought a great fight and was overcome by a greater fighter.

 

With today’s overprotective matchmaking, Tyson’s record and Benitez’s record will stand for a very long time, if not forever. Despite his achievement of becoming the youngest HW champion ever, Tyson was always pschologically fragile.

I view him as “Frankenstein in boxing gloves.” By this, I mean Cus knew what he had in Tyson. If he could have been alive to manage Tyson’s career through the end, he would have NEVER agreed to a fight with ANY version of Holyfield or Lewis. He knew intimidation was very important to Tyson’s game. He also would’ve had success in keeping Tyson away from Don King.

As great as Tyson was, he NEVER overcame adversity during a fight. The closest he ever came was against Douglas and he still lost via 10-count, despite the 8th round long-count for Douglas. Aside from the fly by night champions he beat to unify belts, the only prime HW champions I think he could possibly beat, with his menacing approach, are Patterson, Norton. I’d even give him a chance against the Klitchkos, IF he could overcome their immense size advantage and shameless willingness to tie him up early and often. I intentionally ignored a few prime champions, such as Weaver since he was really just a belt holder.

If Cus stayed alive, Tyson would’ve been the “original Floyd Mayweather.” He would’ve been carefully matched, made even more money, never lost, and retired undefeated at a young age.