The Tyson who destroyed Spinks need not and should not have been the finished article

Yeah, the best Mike Tyson should have been somewhere between 1990-1993, when he was in his mid 20s, perhaps even up until 1996. Mike Tyson accomplished alot and beat alot of good fighters, but he could've done more. He's a big "what if". What if he stays focused, keeps Kevin Rooney and continues to improve until the early to mid 90s? What does this hypothetical Tyson do against Holyfield, Bowe, old Foreman and Lennox Lewis who he would have almost certainly fought during those years?

That said, a 1986-89 Mike Tyson could still hypothetically have defeated any heavyweight in history. Whether he would or not is another story, but a Tyson victory over anyone isn't off the table.

 

I also think his technical development was mostly stunted when he parted ways with Rooney.
However, Giachetti tweaked his style by adding a greater versatility to his right hand, jabbing more patiently and working in the clinches. The head movement was more economical but still there.
The 1990-1991 Tyson also had more experience.

 

Happily, turns out you were wrong.

 

He had regressed a lot my the time he got to Douglas. Carl Williams was the last time Tyson was Tyson.