Looking at his record leading up to his challenge for the title. He never fought the usual type of stepping stones..ie, guys who had been champions or guys who had been in for the title or even guys who were ranked. Ferguson Green Tillis Ribalta look about the best names on his record. Just wondered how come he never fought against some 'names' or top ten fighters on his way up ? Maybe people wouldn't fight him ? But fights normally happen if the money is right ? He took a big jump from the level of his opposition to then go for the title.Just seems unusual. He would've won against anybody around at the time so just wondered why he didn't face a few 'names' pre title,you normally have to beat such guys to get your shot ?
Another Tyson thread, get the popcorn ready. Err maybe because Jimmy Jacobs and crew wanted the smoothest journey possible to get a title shot, there intent from the start was to break Floyd Patterson's long standing record.
Ribalta and Green had alphabet rankings when Tyson fought them. I believe also Ribalta sneaked into a few of the magazines top 10s. Frazier was a name; and Tillis was very well known. That said, the Berbick fight was considered a step up. The bookies had it pick-em leading up to the last week, before money on Tyson led to him being a warm favourite. I was only 12, but the ol' man gave Berbick a chance, and he (seemingly ) knew his boxing.
Jimmy Jacobs fed him stiffs to bolster his image as a destroyer and as a previous poster mentioned get him in the position to become the youngest HW champ.
A few journeymen like Sammy Scaff and David Jaco were to be found on many propect's records. It was almost a right of passage for an up-n'-comer to have either one or the other in the W column. Donnie Long was considered decent at the time and a NY favourite. Alfonso Rattliff was a former WBC cruiserweight champion and had lost to the likes of Withersoon and Thomas in the heavier division. T Booze has already named the better guys, so no point doing it twice. All in all, his early record is probably about par for the course I'd say. One could argue that it lacks one or two faded ex-champ types but I don't think it's bad per se.
Agreed. Beating Ribalta, Green, Tillis, Frazier and a few of the guys Fist mentioned was more than a lot of guys in the 80's did to get a shot at an alphabet strap.
Who was former heavyweight world-champion by the big(WBC,WBA,IBF) organizations in Lennox Lewis' case before his Tucker fight ? The 40 years old Weaver.Weaver's record was 35-15-1 before the Lewis fight. And Lewis was much more older pro-beginner and experienced than Tyson. For example M.Frazier beat Tillis in 1985,Ribalta in 1985 and James Smith 1986. Tyson destroyed him in 1986.Now-after Tyson's carrier- the "wise" guys can say Tyson beat weak fighters.It's easy now.Because everybody knows Tyson was an ATG fighter. But M. Frazier,Ferguson,Tillis,Ribalta,Green were very dangerous for every other 19-20 years old fighter.Considering Ross Puritty destroyed wladimir klitschko( maybe the strongest man on the earth by his some fans' opinion) . These 5 fighters were better than Puritty. Seemingly every decent fighter could beat Puritty.But the fantastic wladimir and the overrated movie star Morrison couldn't.
I think part of what worked out for Tyson is that Berbick was seen as a weak champion, so Mike could get a title without taking a huge step up.
As mentioned before Green and Ribalta were both ranked when Tyson fought them and if you ask me were good challenges for a young fighter. Tillis was a veteran who had fought for a world title a few times and been one of the top contenders just a few years back he showed up ready to go when he took on Tyson and it ended up being a good fight and learning experience for Tyson. Marvis Frazier had only lost to Larry Holmes and had beaten a few good fighters and Tyson annihilated him. Throw in a few more legit pros who Tyson quickly destroyed along the way it was clear he was ready for a title shot.
My question was clear enough... I guess he did not have any cancellations before his title fight unless anyone can shed new light
I seem to remember Tyson saying on TV after one of his early fights (1986?), any time his handlers felt he could beat the champ, he was sure he could also. I guess by late 86, with Holy starting to clean up the cruisers after only a dozen bouts, and no dominant heavy there was no reason to hold him back. If memory serves the public at large ( and proably sponsors too) were beginning to buy into Tyson and expected him to be in championship fights. Maybe the timing was just right.