Mike Tyson, Top Ten Worthy?

youngest heavyweight champ ever
one of the only fighters to ever hear the words undefeated undisputed heavyweight champion of the world
KNOCKED OUT larry holmes (who was never stopped) and michael spinks who was never knocked down) in less than 5 rounds of boxing.
two time title holder.
competed for the heavyweight title a third time 14 years or so from his prime.


i think he qualifies

 

Holmes was also vulnerable when it came to fighters who could put pressure on him so lets not pretend this would be one sided

 

I think Ruddock, Bruno, Tucker, and Thomas were the best heavies that Tyson beat.

The trouble with Tyson in the top ten is he lost his legacy fights badly to Lewis and Holyfield, and was upset by Douglas. Had Tyson been more competitive in either of his legacy fights, or showed more mental fortitude without fouling or quitting when the going was rough, he would be in my top ten.

Tyson could KO anyone in theory, but put him in there with a skilled guy who not going to fold under Tyson's early round pressure and things were different for Tyson.

 

I think you could also say that Tim Witherpsoon defeated some of the same guys before Tyson did. Tyson's team never made a match with Witherpsoon. Too bad, Witherpsoon was likely still in his prime in 1986, and 1987, and IMO was better than anyone ( omit the old Holmes ) Tyson beat in the 1980's.

 

8th or 9th in my book.

 

1 Muhammad Ali
2 Rocky Marciano
3 Joe Louis
4 Larry Holmes
5 Floyd Patterson
6 Jack Johnson
7 Joe Frazier
8 Sonny Liston
9 Ezzard Charles
10 Lennox Lewis
11 Mike Tyson

I was being generous to give Mike the 11 spot. he should really be at 12 or maybe even 13. Of course these rankings are IMO. This ranking reflects Tyson's career as a whole. Now if you want me to rank the Tyson of 1986-88,89 then he easily breaks the top ten and I probably would have him sitting at 5 right after Holmes. Although that is debatable as well , Im not sure Tyson could have handled a prime Holmes but at the same time Im not sure that a prime Holmes could handle the untamed 86-89 version of Tyson . As of this point though Ive got to let the records speak for themselves.

 

Patterson 5th???? C'mon. :huh

 

He fought quality competion throughout his 20 year career 55 wins (40 kos) 8 losses
Won the vacant world heavyweight title with a 5th-round KO of Archie Moore. At the age of 21, Patterson was the youngest ever world heavyweight champion. His record was surpassed by Mike Tyson, who won the WBC heavyweight title at age 20 in 1986.
Was the first person to regain the world heavyweight title. He lost it twice, defended it successfully seven times, and failed to regain it three times

 

that's why. like i said imo

 

Tyson will definitely go down as an all time great and top tenner. He is the youngest heavyweight champion, and still the last to unify the titles in three separate fights. His competition consisted of a good solid pedigree of boxers, most who held the title for more than one fight like the fighters of the 90's. How do you say Spinks was scared shitless? He didnt try and fight? He tried, he was just no match for Tyson who was at his best that night. Guys like Tubbs, Tucker, Ferguson, Ribalta, Berbick, Thomas, Biggs, Bruno, Green, were all solid fighers when Tyson faced them. I remember many boxing experts thought Biggs would easily outbox Tyson, they also picked Spinks to beat him. If Tyson wouldnt have completely dominated them the way he did, people wouldnt say they were scared shitless like they do today. Fact is Tyson was super fast and he was very good at taking away a boxers advantage, and forcing them to fight. They either held on to survive or got knocked out.
People say his prime was short, but he had a lot of fights in that short period of time, about the same as Holyfield and Lewis had over 10+ years.

 

even though it was a vacant title, it was against archie moore and that is one one hell of an accomplishment for a 21 year old no matter what era your'e fighting in. hell that record stood for what; 30 years. well, who would you put there?

 

I can see Biggs beating Bonavena easily and Tubbs could have beaten Machen.

I hope your suggesting that Bonavena or Machen would have beaten Tyson.

 

He has an excellent case for the top10 and makes mine.