Prime Mike Tyson vs Prime Wlad Klitschko

There are NO excuses.

They were factors.

If you have no sympathy, that's perfectly understandable.

But Mike went off the rails.

You can only be at your best, if you fully commit yourself, and give your all.

After 1989, Mike didn't do that.

He only spent the first 3-4 years of his career, training and fighting to his full capabilities.

He was like a walking boxing encyclopedia when he was young.

He studied his craft, and was a perfectionist.

But when Rooney and Cayton went, and the money, the women and the fame rolled in, boxing was no longer his number one priority.

He only continued to fight, to pay for his lifestyle and to massage his ego.

The versions of Mike from the 90's, are completely different to the versions between 85-89.

And the versions of him from the 00's, are completely unrecognisable.

 

Great post Herol.

It's just circumstances.

King came into Mike's life when he was young, and Mike went with him.

King tried to get Wlad and Vitali signed when they were younger, and after meeting him, they weren't interested.

Mike was mentally shot at 24.

 

Good post.

If you're evaluating Mike's career, his early burn out goes against him.

Wlad has had great longevity, and anyone who ranks Wlad over Mike, will get no real argument from me.

But this thread isn't asking who's had the better overall career.

It's asking who would win in a fight, with both guys being at their absolute best, fighting to their full capabilities.

I'd favour a 86-88 version of Mike, over any version of Wlad.

 

I agree with the school of thought that there were pretty much two Tyson’s, before and after prison. Before prison his mentality was different, he was less easily discouraged. You could see concern on his face every time he was hit post prison, almost as if surprised someone had the nerve to throw a punch at him. He lived through his reputation and when fighters were not affected by his aura he was done for.

Post prison was all a con act really, not a real fighter. But that’s where I have trouble with Tyson in terms of greatness. As said, prime for prime I rate him giving any all-time great a nightmare, beating many of them but his lack of coming back from adversity hurts him. You can say he was a formidable force capable of beating many greats but you cant say he had the ability to get over his problems and show what a real great he was by coming back. Its unfortunate because he had the ability to do more than he did but his personal problems took over.

 

thanks. yep based on prime for prime I definitely pick Tyson on this one :good

 

Another great post.

I actually believe that they were three versions of Mike.

The young, hungry version from 85-88.

The version from 88-91, where he was partying with King's money.

The post prison version of him, that deep down, didn't really want to fight.

I agree with everything you've written.

It's all 'ifs, buts and maybes' with Mike.

Under different circumstances, he could have dominated for a long time.

 

:good

 

cheers, yep that's the way it is with some fighters I guess, a lot of ifs. yeah that's true about the 88 to 91 Tyson, a version which in fact was still pretty formidable even though not at his very best. on a side note I'd actually give 91 Tyson a shot of beating Holyfield, which isn't really popular opinion. Against Ruddock he showed some toughness, he was getting tagged with big punches and didn't wilt like he would have post prison. his power, speed and durability at that time could have caused Holy serious issues.

 

A fight between Mike and Holy in 1991, would have been very interesting.

In a fight where both guys were at their best, fighting to their full capabilities, I can envisage Mike winning a decision.

:good

 

I do.

But I think he's both underrated and overrated.

 

I think people are remembering the Wlad that got knocked out by Sanders/Brewster/Purrity.


The modern day Wlad doesn't get touched by Tyson. I'm a big fan of Mike, but every time he stepped up to a prime legend, he was murdered. His best win is over Spinks who was good, but a blown up LHW. Holmes was faded. Bruno and Ruddock were good wins but not legends.

Wlad by 8th round TKO.

 

The modern day Wlad hasn't been fighting great fighters though.

Since his knockouts, it's made him ultra cautious.

It's not that he's a completely different fighter, just one who is much more defensive.

Mike's downfall was nothing to do with him stepping up.

His downfall was due to his erratic lifestyle and cutting corners in training. He began fighting, just for the cheque, instead of for the love of the game, and trying to be the best he could be.

How does a prime version of Mike, fighting to his full capabilities, not even touch today's Wlad?

 

I really always felt that bigger, better fighters comming into the division contributed to Mikes downfall as much as anything else

 

Man, you're overdoing it :nono

The whole past prime argument goes out of hand. Everyone can have circumstances working against them, and if you can't ovecome this then you're just not that god. Mike Tysons circumstances were not a big deal comparing to walk into a fight with injuries or coming back from a brutal loss.

James Douglas perhaps walked into that fight with a world of issues we know nothing about. And anyway, if a boxers "peak" or "prime" only last as long as the memory of a goldfish it gets impossible to beat the real thing unless fate helps out with the timing. Tyson was beat by a better boxer, and that's what there is to it.

From now on, I'll stubbornly claim that Wladimir Klitschkos peak was the later half of the second round when he KO'd Ray Austin in 2007. If he looked anything but goodlike ever after or before, well what can you expect by a boxer out of prime?

Considering the match up between Wlad and Tyson, it's not a question about who's on top of his game. It's a question of styles. Completly. If Tysons killer instinct, power, toughness and bodywork is enough to blast Wlad out of the water, he'll do it eleven times out of ten. If Wlads size, power, speed, footwork, octopus routine and general boxing skill is sufficient to hold Tyson down, he'll do so seven times out of ten.