Just read that there is likely to be an exhibition match between Mike and Roy. My first thought was 'that's 25 years too late'. I vaguely remember mention of this matchup back in the mid-90s after Tyson had picked up his belts against Bruno and Seldon. So let's imagine that Tyson defends against Roy instead of Evander in 1996. Do you think Roy could have done what Holyfield did? EDIT: just seen that someone else had started a similar thread but that one is about the actual exhibition fight only and not a retro-fantasy fight.
This exhibition? 8 rounds? Will Tyson be going to the body? That is rough for Roy. I just don't think he is big enough for Mike. Why couldn't Mike fight someone bigger like Briggs? Roy is a legend and so is Mike, so they wanted to market that aspect. Briggs is not a legend nor is he close to it.
Tyson from Bruno and Holyfield fights would be too much for Roy. Even Tyson that beat Savarese and Golota would still be too much for Roy. I think Jones style would suited more against Holyfield, especially Holyfield from late 90s and onward. Remember that even in 2002, Lennox needs 100+ power punches to stop Mike and Lennox is a big dude. Roy would need sledge hammer to stop Mike from his track.
Jones and Tyson in 1996? I have no idea really. I would think Tyson would be too strong and he would go to the body and take Jones out early.
Do you have any proof of Roy having a glass chin other than the shell of his former shelf getting ko'd? If Roy had this terrible glass chin you're talking about there's no way he'd be able to compete with neutral heavyweight like Ruiz.
Tyson in 96 knocks out a whole host of fighters. You had to be great to beat him. You had to be his size to beat him. I can't picture Jones packing enough muscle to compete.
Roy would make it look interesting in the first round timing Tyson with his bolo lead rights and slipping ability. He'd take the 1st round based on defense. Tyson lands a few glancing body shots in the 2nd but is still having a hard time landing clean on the very elusive Roy. 3rd round and Roy is causing minor swelling on Tyson's right eye with his rapid hooks. Tyson suddenly explodes with a hook of his own and they trade hooks. Roy is caught, slipping his head at the last split second but goes down. He is up at 7 very wobbly but is saved by the bell. In the 4th, Tyson gives him no time to recover and goes downstairs with his trade mark hook to the body into uppercut. Roy's head snaps back and he looks at the ceiling before his eyes roll back and he collapses like a sack of potatoes. The ref stops counting at 3 and waves it off. Tyson KO round 4. Basically, Roy has the explosiveness, speed, counter punching, and ring IQ to frustrate Tyson but lacks the strength to keep Tyson off of him and the toughness to survive getting tagged by Tyson's bombs. If he was a natural heavyweight with a solid chin, he'd have a much better chance at winning.
