If he was fighting a white guy, I would have thrown a clever quip about him being white, or something, but he isn't, so I can't. I've seen this fight before - interesting to see Stick n Move Tyson, quite excellent at slipping, but too short for it to be good long term. I hear he has a fight where is the boxer.. as a southpaw. Anyone?
Well that's it. Nice. I was quite surprised by the footage. I even went back further into his amateur career and his style was more or less the same as when he turned pro. To me this is really interesting. Bouncing up on his toes, staying outside for large portions of the fight. He didn't even look too bad doing it! I wonder why the shift from his regular style? What prompted it? Was it even a concious decision? It makes me wonder how he'd have done if he was 3 or 4 inches taller. I think it also shows he wasn't that one-dimensional but, as you say, he just didn't have the height to fight that way successfully. His progress was breathtaking though, eh? In two years after this footage was shot, he'd be the heavyweight champion. It's mind-boggling.
Two things - He's not always moving forward. He isn't really using the peekaboo defence like he did as a pro. In the first round, especially, he isn't holding his gloves high. As the fight goes on he starts to use it more, though. His opponent was going crazy in the first round, though. His right uppercuts were starting from all the way behind his back Talk about telegraphing! I don't think he bends his arm when he throws uppercuts.
Tyson guaridan was Cus 'Damato. 'Damato worked with Tyson as a teenager, and the two shared a home with Cus wife. Tyson and D'Amato always talked boxing. They also watched old films. When Tyson was close to being kicked out of high shcool, D'Amto bailed him out. If not for Cus and Jimmy Jacobs, Tyson probably ends up in prison. Tyson has enough speed and skill to be a stick and move amatuer back in those days, but he was simply to short, with limited reach to box that way and beat a good pro at heavy. This is why he switched styles.
