Tyson would have declined even with Cus or Rooney.

Regarding the title of this thread, it must be noted that Tyson's downfall was due to many factors, not just due to his split with Rooney.

First of all, he had already achieved what he set out to do: he became the youngest world champion, he unified all the belts and thus, he was on top of the boxing world. It's very hard to keep being motivated after that, especially considering the fact that boxing wasn't exactly his childhood dream. He took it up while in correction school and later on, he wanted to please his addoptive father figure Cus D'Amato.

Second of all, Tyson achieved immense succes at a very young age. Having all the fame and money at such a young age, he wasn't ready nor did he knew how to handle that. After all, he was just a teenager who wanted to enjoy his life and new found wealth. He had no education and a background of coming from the ghetto.
It's hard to keep your discipline.

Another issue is his personal turmoils. He had a rough childhood, his mother was a hooker and his father a pimp. He lost his sister around 1990.
He had a ruined marriage with an ex wife that embarrased him in front of the whole world.
He turned to alcohol, drugs and hookers.

Lastly, but probably the most important, the leeches that surrounded him, the most notable being Don King.

Now, if we assume Tyson would have never split with Rooney and Cayton, and had he somehow managed to live a stable life, away from tentations, stay focused on boxing and trained hard, I reckon he could have had an incredible career, up until 95-96, when he would have retired, possibly even undefeated.
Bowe is the only one I reckon might have beaten him. Holyfield wasn't that big yet in the early 90s, probably took less steroids then, so I see Tyson beating him. And Lewis was too vulnerable to punchers pre Steward, so I don't see him beating Tyson either.
If this would have happened, Tyson would automatically be top 3 all time at HW, perhaps even no. 1, in front of Louis and Ali.
But this is just hypothetical. As things stand, Tyson self sabotagged his career due to poor life choices.
IMO, he's still among the top 10 HWs ever, but not top 3. Which is kinda sad, given his immense potential. It's even sadder that some don't even have him in their top 10.

 

Perhaps but his statement "He threw terrific shots with both hands and with bad intentions." tells us he was sure as hell no powder puff puncher i reckon.

 

I agree, he was definitely no weak puncher, but like I already said, he ain't no Foreman either.

 

Very difficult to judge. Tyson's style, for a relatively unscathed man of his age in '89/'90, still had some legs left in it.

However, I think even a cleaning-living, on song and focused Tyson might well have tasted defeat in the early 90s, at which point we might have seen a subsequent fall in form, anyway.

 

I don't believe you mentioned Foreman but at the end of the day who is. Faded or not Holyfield had more than enough power to have Tyson out on his feet and Tyson took a pretty good at various stages of his career.

 

I would agree.

 

Even if he would have lost (for example to someone like say Bowe), he would have had a far better career and legacy.

 

Maybe - although, that would depend on when and how badly he lost, as well as on his reaction to the first loss. He might well go on to suffer more than just the one defeat.