Tyson wanted to retire after the Spinks fight

Great stuff, will read later. Not trying to sound like a jerk but I found it obvious his love for boxing was dying and personal problems were getting to him at that time. Apart from Ruddock and maybe Botha, he just never showed that competitive fire again that he did 85-88.

Like I said, will read source and thanks for it. Love doing Tyson research the man's life was quite interesting and I hope he makes a book breaking down boxing techniques/strategies/preparations/etc I would def get it.

 

Tyson had respect for Ruddock because he knew Ruddock could hurt him.

 

Most great fighters toy with the idea of retirment at their hiatus.

Joe Louis considered retiring after the second Max Schmeling fight.

In both cases there was just too much money in it for them to do it.

 

You might want to look up hiatus.

Otherwise, you're right.

 

I've always maintained that Tyson would be No 1 HW ATG if he'd retired pre-Douglas but then I'm something of a fanboy of his, he's the sole reason I got into boxing. It does raise the question of 'what if?' though. We would never have seen his premature decline and all we would know is that he unified the titles in devastating fashion and lit up the division in a way not seen before or since in modern times.

 

Mike was discovering that those closest to him were hiding things behind his back. He had nobody to turn to for advice while Givens and King were his closest and most trusted allies. Yeah, go figure. Cayton really dropped the ball. Unbelievable how events unfolded. We've all heard the story a thousand times over.

If Tyson retired he'd probably be locked in that most coveted #3 spot. Cases could be made being the GOAT but longevity would be held against him. So yeah, if he retired after Spinks he'd be #3 no doubt.

 

Yeah its already been stated but he would be number 3 all time and probably the uncontested number 1 head to head all time. No doubt.

I'm not trying to be a jerk but I think Sal Sanchez' tragic passing shows just what an early exit can do for a fighter's legacy. If you're not beaten multiple time, dethroned, or beaten up passed your prime it does miracles for your legacy. I think it really disproves Sugar Ray Leonard's axiom that its better to retire one fight to late than one too early. In boxing its best to let questions linger I think at least.

 

Sanchez actually fought and usually beat live opponents .
He also did a clean job .

Tyson's career was 1 big foul circus .

Tyson runs 4ward 2 land his vaunted left elbow in his opponent's face .
On a few rare occasions he even used a clean right hand or uppercuts .
But even then his opponent's concern of his licensed exclusively allowed cheating led 2 his success at even scoring with clean punches .

Tyson should have lost most of his big outings by DQ .
This is what his record really .

But when u allow some1 2 cheat while not allowing his opponents 2 do so , u cre8 a legend . A Tyson / Ali / Duran / Hopkins / Ward / Saddler / Alfonso Brown / Zivic type of a legend .

 

y , bikoz d truth does not fit your ignorant opinions / agenda about Tyson being like d 2nd / 3rd gr8est HW OAT ?

 

Write propely, this isnt a text message

 

Azzer knows ASAB , dis iz y hi ranx d inferior elbower ebav d superior 1 :yep .

Azzer sax s iven ez e nathager .

i wud hev put u on ignor ez wel , hed i did not ker 4 korekting u in favor of d riders .

hopefully dis wil privent as from arguing wiz ich ader d next taim after i korekt u .