What if Tyson was under Rooney in the 70's and was able to have him around his entire career,if he had been born sooner.
He'd have some tough challenges with Ali and Foreman. I'd confidently pick him to beat the rest but aren't sold on those two.
I don't think he would beat Ali or Foreman. The Tyson that beat Berbick would more than likely beat Frazier and would comfortably beat Ken Norton. I watched all of Larry Holmes's defences in the live, and most of his post-Spinks's fights, and I have to say that a prime Tyson would beat any era Holmes, including the version that beat Norton and Earnie Shavers.
The only arguments are Ali and Foreman. Tyson blasts Norton, Frazier, Lyle, Quarry, ect. Tyson vs Foreman is obviously the fight we ALLLLLLL wanted to see. It'd be a case of whether or not Foreman would prove too strong for Tyson and force him backwards, or would Tyson's speed prove too much for Foreman, who was often pretty wild and sloppy in his 70s prime. We'll never know the answer for sure, but my God it woulda been violent. As for Tyson vs Ali, I think Ali up the Rumble in the Jungle version beats Tyson. Just too mentally tough for Mike, would get inside Tyson's head, survive his onslaught, and beat him up for a late stoppage. Tyson would beat the Ali of the later 70s.
Forgot about Holmes. Personally, I think Tyson always stops Holmes, although if it's a prime Holmes it's a tougher fight. Overall, what I'm trying to say is - 87-88 Tyson was IMO the second best heavyweight that ever lived behind Ali. That doesn't mean he's top 2 in terms of accomplishments, but in that 2-year span I think only Ali could have beaten him.
very nice post,,, although, it would never surprise me if Tyson was fast enough to catch Ali when Tyson was prime. If its the 70's that is. I rank Ali's prime in the 60's as C Clay.
I don't see anyone beating a Tyson under Rooney,with cus he would have progressed a bit more and stayed better focused,foreman was to sloppy and had bad stamina to keep up with a Tyson,foreman himself admitted to being afraid of the aura of Frazier,imagine what Tyson would have done phycologically to him...ali is the only guy left and I don't think he wins,i don't see how he can vs a fast,two fisted fighter with a lethal left and uppercut that would go down the pike that rarly anyone hit him with.In the end take away Alis jab and hes done and Tyson was the master at slipping them,that alone should seal the deal here.
