Tysons decline, specifically his performances vs Ruddock are misunderstood.

Mike Tyson had a great amount of boxing knowledge. He watched tons of tape.

He didn't just "forget to move his head". He had just lost to douglas who jabbed his head off. So he knew what happened when he got lazy and didnt take his opponent seriously. he trained hard enough to be ripped to shreds vs Ruddock so why wouldnt he bother to try to be elusive against a big puncher like ruddock when even 10 years later when he was shot to **** he still tried to jab and move his head against Lennox Lewis and he did also in the Holyfield rematch in 97(with the same trainer he had vs Ruddock).

Lewis and Holyfield used snappy jabs. So Tyson moved his head to try to slip them.

Ruddock just stuck his left hand out and aimed a power punch to whatever side of his stretched out left hand Tyson's head bobbed so Tyson came straight in and fired a straight right when Ruddock exposed his chin by loading up the smash.

More specifically if Tyson slipped the outstretched ruddock left to the outside ruddock fired the hook, if he slipped it to the inside like he did vs Carl Williams then ruddock fired an uppercut. If Tyson's head stayed in place he threw a straight right.


Tysons decline had to do with a lack of dedication and desire. Showing up out of shape, loading up big shots without defense and a lack of combination punching is a symptom of lazyness and wanting instant gratification(post prison if his opponent put up a fight he would start misbehaving)

moving your head takes energy and concentration to keep doing he knew he had to do it to survive vs Holyfield(rematch), Lewis, golota and even in the exhibition he did after he retired he moved his head.
Ruddock was trying to set him up by holding out his left and baiting Tyson to weave or crouch into a bomb. Simple as that. Had ruddock boxed and snapped jabs out then Tyson, having a good boxing IQ, would have started moving his head.