Tyson's rating in the 90's

Well He couldnt fight Morrison because by the time a fight could have came off Morrison was diagnosed with HIV. Otherwise the fight was set in stone.

Foreman was irrelevant. The fight would have been nothing more than a novelty.

Bowe didnt want the fight.

Moorer and Mercer - not sure about those, they would have been pretty good fights.

Tyson losing to Holyfield halted what could have been Tyson Lewis.

I disagree with your rankings. While Mike was in prison, I have no idea what Lewis, Bowe, Holyfield, "Foreman", Morrison, Mercer and Moorer were doing because when Tyson came out he fought 2 quickies and then he fought two Champions; Bruno and Seldon. Tyson can't control:

Lewis getting Ko'd by his former sparring partner and therefore losing the belt that would have all but gauranteed a fight
Moorer losing the belt to a middle aged man in the retirement redzone.
Bowe not have a belt around his waist.
Morrison having HIV.


The rankings can be for the 90s only accomplishments:

1. Lewis
2. Holyfield
3. Bowe
4. Tyson
5. Moorer
6. Foreman

 

Lets make it clear these decisions are made by Don King.

After McNeeley and Mathis he fought

-Bruno WBC strap around his waist.
-Seldon WBA strap around his waist.
-Holyfield. And judging by the PPV numbers its clear the public wanted the fight.

Lewis didnt have much leverage in a sense that he was still not as popular in America and Tyson's chosen route was more marketable than squeezing in a Tyson Lewis bout. Its not Tyson's fault that Lewis couldnt mangage to keep the WBC title around his waist for more than few minutes.

Step aside money is what Maskaev offered Peter to clear the way for a Maskaev Klitschko fight. From what I recall everyone seemed to be happy with that arrangement except for the Peter and his management. Some critisized Peter for not taking the money and letting the more profitable fight take place.

Don King knowing he would not be able to get options on Lewis preferred Holyfield over Lewis and the titlist (Seldon) over the non titlist (Lewis).

It was all business. Plus a Tyson Lewis fight would have been a better sell with titles on the line.


BTW, Tyson Lewis only became that popular in 2002 when Lewis was in the American Public eye more and more, after he beat Holyfield that is when his stock moved up big time, Not to mention the Golota, Grant and Briggs fights.

 

Not only is this alarmingly exaggerated, but essentially you're saying that Tyson vs Bruno II was seen as a better, bigger fight than Tyson vs Lewis...?

You can most certainly point the finger of blame at King over why Tyson didn't fight Lewis in '96, I know I do, but why then turn around and back up King's stance by rubbishing Lewis's claims to a title fight?

 

If we're talking about the whole 90s decade, it is clear that Holyfield and Lewis were the top 2 fighters in the period 1990-1999.

Beneath them the pecking order is not at all clear cut.

Tyson's a MAJOR candidate.

 

Not trying to back it up but just showing perspective.

 

On the other hand, Tyson beat Razor Ruddock twice and dispatched Alex Stewart in ridiculously easy fashion. This was before Alex Stewart made Foreman look like an advert for boxing abolition.

 

Moorer?
Simply for beating holyfield he is not top ten of the 90's

 

Tyson can't be rated above Moorer or Foreman. Foreman's win over Moorer was better than anything Tyson did in the 90's, what's more, Foreman went the distance with a prime 1991 version of Holyfield whereas, Tyson was dusted badly by a decling 1996 rendering of Holyfiels. What's more, Foreman's record in the 90's was 12-3, and Tyson's was 9-3. Sure you can say that Foreman fought a few fringes, journey's and tomato's, but Tyosn's wins over Tillman, Mcneeley and Mathis weren't much better if even at all.

Moorer defeated Holyfield who beat Tyson twice, and was undefeated 35-0 up until 1994.[/quote]

Tyson beat

-Bruno at the time WBC Champ
-Seldon at the time WBA Champ
-Botha former IBF Champ
-Ruddock - 2X division's biggest puncher after Mike and ranked #2 after Tyson.
-Stewart who gave Foreman a new face and gave Holyfield a test.

Tyson's layoff is what prevented a fight with:

Holyfield in 1991
Bowe in 1992/3
Lewis in 1993
Moorer in 1994
Morrison in 1992
Mercer in 1993

Foreman stopped a chinny Michael Moorer who was making a highlight reel for the first 9 rounds. Going the distance with Holyfield means nothing if you are getting beat up in the process. Moorer is the only quality opponent that Foreman beat.

 

That's a polite and generous response. Far too diplomatic, IMO.

I'd say Bruce Seldon was a bum, the ultimate paper champion courtesy of Don King and rigged ratings, and Frank Bruno let himself down badly, he wasn't past his prime, he just punked out, overcome with fear.

Peter McNeeley actually put up a better fight than those two "champs" and it was his corner - not himself - who pulled him out of there. McNeeley, a talentless clubfighter, actually had a go.

It's fair to say beating up Frank "very scared of Tyson" Bruno was the best win there for Tyson, the other two were completely meaningless.
Bruce Seldon might as well have showed up to award the WBA belt to Tyson, because he sure didn't even look like a fighter defending himself let alone a "championship".