Mike Tyson - Top 5 Wins

I was in a discussion about what was Mike's best win and I thought about revisiting this video. To me there are two train of thoughts here, when did Mike look his best:
1.Berbick
2. Spinks
3. Holmes
What was his best win?
I'd say an undefeated Tony Tucker
followed by Bruno.
Can't really rate his victory over Pinklon as a great win
as after Pinky lost to Berbick he dropped 6 of 10 fights due to
drugs. But Mike's resume is better than most, especially today.

 

My top 5
1- Spinks
2- Holmes
3- Tucker
4- Ruddock
5- Pinklon Thomas

 

1. Holmes
2. Tucker
3. Thomas
4. Ruddock
5. Bruno

 

My personal Top 5 Mike wins:
1. Bruno 1
2. Bruno 2
3. Spinks
4 Holmes
5. Golota
I was 12 when Tyson became champ. Loved the boxing but living in Australia, we got the major heavyweight title fights beamed live and super fights at other weights but we missed a lot of action. So heavyweights like Berbick, Thomas, Tucker and Tubbs etc, I didn't know a lot about. Everybody knew Holmes though. So my list might not match with most.
The first fight with Bruno. Bruno came to fight and fought well. Yeah, Bruno's glaring weakness was his chin but he wasn't like 95% of Tysons opposition, that were beaten before they stepped in the ring. It might sound like bull**** but Tyson had this incredible aura, he struck fear in his opponents and virtually all of them were beaten before the first bell rang.
Bruno wasn't and he was made to make Tyson look great because when Frank used to get clipped good, he wouldn't go down, he'd freeze up and become 'Stiff Frank", so then Tyson could just create a highlight reel stoppage.
2nd Bruno fight, mostly because Mike had been in the joint, come back, won a belt, a lot of **** happened but he still came back.
Spinks because it was such a huge occasion, Spinks, no matter if you felt he deserved too, had beaten Holmes twice and was still viewed by many in the game as the 'real' champ. I remember being shocked at the result. It really put Tyson over the top.
4. Holmes - mostly because Larry later came back again, beat Mercer, went the distance with Holyfield, fought well into his grandpa days. I think when Tyson beat him, Larry was still a lot better than people thought, so that result stands up for me.
5. Golota - people are gonna scratch their heads at this but Golota could fight, he was good. Yeah he was nuts and on occasion, maybe especially this one, people could question his 'intestinal fortitude'. However other than being blown away by Lewis in one round, a fight in which Golota was favourite', the 'Foul Pole' was always competitive. In reality, he was a top 5 heavy most of his career and one of the best not to have claimed a belt. Yes, I was one of the suckers that bought the Golota v Tyson ppv. Maybe Golota quit that night but he did sustain serious injuries from memory. Very uninspiring fight but I think on paper Tyson stopping Golota in 2, is a very good performance at that stage of his career. I think if Golota's career was placed earlier to mid 80's rather than the 90's, he's beating the Berbicks, Tuckers, Tubbs etc. The leading bunch during Golotas prime, that he was battling was better than the leading bunch mid 80's.
I think thats a win for Mike, that stands up on paper.

 

All of these top 5s just illustrate how pitiful Tyson’s resume is. Not his fault the division stunk, but it did.

And it is his fault that he was past time at 30yo. He had a chance to get a great win over Holyfield and came up short x 2.

 

It's still much better than most Heavyweights. I'd argue the 80s has more innate talent compared to a lot of 90s contenders had it not been for drugs

 

Excellent stuff, Rummy. Only thing I'd say is that Pink might belong in a top 5, but I'm not married to it and you make persuasive cases for your lineup.