Mike Tyson vs. David Tua.

The best Tua would beat Mike any time after prison, and maybe an 89-91 Mike.

I don't think he beats any version of peaked-out Mike with Rooney.

He wouldn't get knocked out, but he would be outfought and outwitted by a smarter and more versatile and greater physical specimen, whose one-shot power equaled his own and whose peekaboo and movement would limit Tua from getting through with much of his own.

 

Yeah Tyson can land 5 punches before Tua lands 1. :rofl

 

What's their to laugh about? Tysons speed and combinations better than anything Tua has in his arsenal.

 

Even the 95-97 Tyson challenges Tua strongly, tuas best chance is against a post 99 Tyson

 

I don't know - I'm thinking even against Ruddock, Douglas, and even as early as Bruno the ship was leaky enough for Tua's hooks to perhaps bust up the hull...

 

One of Tua's shots is about equal to four of Tyson's.

 

Um, more like 1:1.

 

But Tyson could still take good punches, that didn't change through out his career. Even when he went down I suspect it was more a case of **** it, I don't want to fight any more rather than really being knocked out and wobbly.

Apart from his declining defense, he still had his natural speed and power which would have given Tua big trouble. He still had stamina to go 12 rounds.

The only reason I favor Tua after 1999 is because of Tysons crap stamina and lack of desire to engage in a full fledged boxing match.

 

That's ridiculous, this isn't the matrix.

 

with all due respect but who did Tua beat?

i think Tua is vastly overrated.

glass chinned, past his prime Michael Moorer, Fres oquendo, David Izon, Maskaev who was kod in one round by mcall previously and catching John Ruiz cold. Its hardly the murderers row.

His whole gameplan seems to be to land this left hook and hopefully get Tyson out of there i dont see it happening myself.

Tyson gives Tua a beatdown and most likely knocks him out within 6 rounds

 

Yeah, Tua will get hit more often than not...and I mean A LOT more often. Don't forget the controversial Rahman win. Highlight of Tua's career, wouldn't you say?

 

...Been thinking about this one lately, since there seems to be sustained discussion on it.

I believe that in fights like this where you have two guys that have great chins and similar styles, it's the one that can impose his will on the other and get off first that usually wins.

Power schmower. Punching power is such an overrated quality especially against opponents with good chins. Suffice to say both hit like trucks but it's not that relevant in this discussion.

More relevant is how that power is applied and used. Who beats who to the punch? Who is better able to time their man? Who is able to set up the power shots by creating openings? Who is going to get hit the least?

If we talk about applying power, Tyson is several levels above Tua. He is an elite class puncher because of his speed, ability to time opponents and judge distance, using his vastly underrated jab to create openings, counterpunching and combination punching are all from the top shelf.

Tua was a heavy-handed fighter with a tremendous left hook and good right hand, but he is more what you'd expect for a man of his style...a more plodding, less dynamic fighter who relies on a great chin and big punch, his two outstanding assets. Beyond that, there is nothing special about him at all.
He is fairly predictable.

Honestly, the more I think on it, the more I think this will be a cruel beatdown for Tua. He just cannot match Tyson's reactions or hand speed, and Tyson will almost inevitably be the one getting off first.
Tua never had to deal with the type of firestorm that would be coming his way. I believe he'd be game enough, but just outclassed in areas where it really matters.

Tua might see out the distance, but I can just as easily see a stoppage win here for Tyson.

Tua is (as he almost always was) going to be relying on that one big punch to end things, and he'd be looking all night for something that's not there, much like Ruddock did.

 

The difference between them is this.

Tyson was a great fighter, while Tua had a few of the ingredients to make a great fighter, and conspicuously lacked others.

 

To add to this, Tua I observe does not have the ring or boxing intelligence of Tyson especially in his prime ie the use of angles to create punching, combination opportunities out of nowhere.

For eg the pinklon thomas ko, I doubt Tua can ever do that. Thomas was known for having a very solid chin. Can Tua handle a 5-10 punch combination to the face with Tysons speed and power?

One thing I can guarantee you, he would not like to face Tyson again after that.

 

One point that hasnt been mentioned is, Tyson (at least at his best) had a very good jab when he wanted to use it.

That jab would then set up a whole volley of torpedos (which will be detonating on tuas chin)

If Tyson could outjab guys like Lewis, Holyfield (admittedly in spurts) and guys like Tucker.

I think hed have a field day with Tua, who probably didnt even know what a jab was.

Infact Tyson probably lost more as he regressed than Tua ever had.

Although Mathis gave Tyson lots of problems in the first couple of rounds (probably more due to ring rust) we saw what happened once he found the mark to his bobbing and weaving. And Mathis too had never been knocked out before (not even Riddick Bowe kod him)

Im not sure what Tua was like with uppercuts, but i think hes going to be walking in to quite a few against Tyson.

Also, although im not 100% sure on the measurements, i think Tyson was bigger than Tua. Against Lewis Tua looked like a complete midget, Tyson looked much bigger. Normally Tyson demolished guys quickly if he had a size advantage over them Frazier, Spinks etc

I feel Tuas chin and power (slightly) is overrated. There i said it. Tuas chin is mainly based on his war with Ike, but really how good was Ike? he was more unproven than anything (in terms of power). He has the highlight KO of Byrd and not much other than that.

And his power, most of his big victories are over guys who had already been knocked out before (and quicker by someone else). Mcall knocked out Maskaev quicker than Tua did. MUCH Quicker.

Tyson is proven, tried and tested, Tua is a whole load of what ifs, coulda, woulda, shoulda