Replace 86–88 Tyson with post prison Tyson, how does he do?

He could have won all of the fights but he probably wouldn't have. One of the hallmarks of greatness is consistency and Tyson was not great post-prison. So, while he could have beaten them because he was still very good for a couple of years, the chances are he would have had an off night here and there and lost a couple of times.

All of this being said, Spinks still would have lost badly. I do give Holmes a small chance and guys like Thomas and Tucker better chances.

 

Tucker may have pulled off a decision win. Veteran Holmes lasts a few rounds longer but still loses. James Tillis sneaks a points win.

 

Quick Tillis probally would have got the W

 

Loses to Biggs, Tucker, Holmes and Williams on points.

 

Thomas and Tubbs would be caught up with I believe. And Spinks a little too frail.

 

If Cus wouldn't of died do you think Tyson would have stayed on the straight and narrow? How long do you think Tyson would have stayed prime and undefeated if Cus stayed alive?

 

he was still pretty fire in his first fight against Holyfield, imo that was his post prison peak and he should have retired 45-2, I think if he fought like he did that night he would still win, the Tyson that fought Lewis is another story

 

Tillis and Tucker win. Holmes loses a far from disgracefully fought UD. Thomas loses a clear UD but troubles the hell out of Mike, Biggs makes it an extra few rounds. Spinks makes it into the 7th round, as does Berbick. Bruno loses a round or two later. Tubbs loses a majority decision.

 

This could be a thread

 

I think Tyson might lose to a handful of guys in the 80's. Tillis, Ribalta, Thomas, Tucker, possibly Holmes and who knows. If Mike had real trainers out of the prison gates he could've come close to the 1991 version if he stayed in shape.

Post prison Tyson looked a lot like the Tyson who first fought Bruno in 1989 - static, slower, off balance and less fluid.

 

Agree with @BoB Box that this would be a good thread on its own.

I think it would have played out much the same way. Tyson was going to rebel regardless, I think — he was a grown man, not a little kid, with untold money and fame. He got married and that will introduce a new dynamic to all of his professional relationships.

He wasn’t going to stay an impressionable kid studying at the feet of his master … he was going to go out and enjoy his fame and demand his independence regardless. Cus wanted complete control of his fighters’ lives and that wasn’t going to continue to be the case.

Remember, Floyd Patterson fired Cus after his second loss to Sonny Liston and was already pulling away from D’Amato before that. No reason to think Tyson was going to stay with him forever, and probably right around the time of the Spinks fight (as it happened with Mike leaving Rooney and Bill Cayton), Mike was feeling his oats enough to be ready to strike out on his own and call his own shots.

 

The jabber and grabbers would do better against him. Biggs too. This isn't just about Tyson's power, but on how he delivered his power. After prison the delivery technique had deteriorated even though the power was still there, and arguably even better.

 

He chews a lot of ears.

 

Mike might lose to Holmes. He really didn’t look like a conqueror in that one but old legs don’t dance the way you want them to.