Tyson in the 70's.

I think his high work rate fighting style meant for a shorter career. His entire style was dependent on reflexes and speed which is why he was able to compete against taller bigger fighters and without it he was dead meat. The likes of marciano and frazier all faded when they reached 30, anyone with an iota of knowledge will admit that the Tyson who Lewis beat was a horribly shot fighter and Lewis should get no credit for that victory.

The likes of Lewis and holyfield had styles which allowed them to have longer careers.

 

I must be drunk or on lsd, but wow, first time I have seen you post a pro Tyson post and have to agree with this post.

Let me also add, Lewis had a **** chin, he cannot take Tysons combinations to the face, yes he used his height, strength, reach to great advantage but Tysons footwork, hand speed is the defining factor. Lewis has a good upper cut but it took Lewis 168 jabs, punches, right hands to finally floor him so there is clear evidence that Tyson could take Lewis punches and he is one of the hardest punchers around, can Lewis take Tyson's combinations, strongly doubt it.

To holyfields credit, he had the chin, heart and tremendous counter punching ability to frustrate any version of Tyson so I will give him that.

Lewis has to acknowledge that his most formidable opponents in holyfield and Tyson were shot when he got to them and ofcourse he ran away like a girl rather than face klits in the rematch and got a lucky decision in the only match

 

Holyfield beats tyson any day in any place, he had his number, Lewis is another thing

 

Tyson has stated that holyfield was the best counter puncher he ever faced. If more than anything, holyfields style really puzzled and confused him where holyfield kept peppering tysons body the moment Tyson launched or attempted to throw something. He fought the perfect fight that night, it was clear this was a man who had been obsessed with the idea of beating Tyson, had spent his entire life planning for this moment, he researched everything about his opponent and predicted every time when Tyson would use his Jab or use the right hand.

I don't think Tyson in his Rooney years apart from tillis faced an opponent who gave him a totally different style.

 

Lol. Tyson really trained hard for the 97 rematch, I think it was the hardest he ever trained post Rooney and came in the best shape post Rooney. It was his rivalry with holyfield, he knew Evander would really give him problems at any stage of his fighting career and form. He got frustrated at being out bullied. I think if he had taken the second loss like a man, it would have been a lot better for his reputation.

 

Granted the Tyson of 95-97 was not the same fighter, he started missing a lot, his timing was awful, he struggled with body shots and he admits all this in his book. He had no choice but to come back to boxing because his bank account was empty. Then the drugs, booze, babes made it to good to leave.

But in patches he showed glimpses of his past brilliance for eg the combination which brutalized Bruno. I would complain he didn't take tough fights but then again he was coming back after a 4 year gap and wanted to ease himself in.

Regardless the 95-97 Tyson still had the natural speed in his hands, maybe not so much in his legs compared to the ghost we saw from 1999-2005. I think holyfield would have given Mike trouble at any stage. It was as if the almighty sent holyfield for Tyson, they have a huge rivalry starting from the Olympics where holyfield was the only to stand up successfully against him in sparring every time he got knocked out or in a snooker battle. Tyson was always intimidated by holyfields lack of fear and having a response with interest to everything.

 

I think 86-88 Tyson beats hoylfield and kevin rooney strongly thinks it Tyson was not the same fighter he did take Bruno out with a great combo but even in the fight tyson was just a slow moving brawler.


also tyson is 5 feet 11 could even say 5 feet 10 by the 89 tyson abandoned the peek a boo and stopped using head movement that and the jab and throwing punches in combos that is why in 96 evander was easily able to counter him tyson had zero head movement defense was not the same.

i think Evander at his best puts up a very good fight but i think by round 6 to 7 Tyson gets him out of there

i dont think tyson is the GOAT but at his best he was a better fighter than Evander he is a boxing textbook machine

 

Lewis and Holyfield hadn't longer carrier.
Tyson had 58 fights
Holyfield had 57 (including lots lower divison fight)
Lewis had 44 fights.
And Lewis or Holyfield hadn't every opponent ATG.
The 40+ years old Holyfield wasn't a good fighter at all.

 

Sparring... By a Milligan's opinion (Tyson destroyed this fighter
in amateur). Holyfield wasn't so good like the Tyson .
I think Milligan outclassed Holyfield in sparring when they were amateurs.
Tyson's Holyfield fear is a ****ing myth.
The young Holyfield was a skinny guy.He didn't look like a dangerous unstoppable monster.
But i think Holyfield was in fear when Tyson bit him he jumped
like a chicken.The brave warrior...
Lots of average Joe could fight in a war in blood and pain without
hopes but this overrated Holyfield jumped like an idiota
because he had a small(bite) injury.