[Video] The man who kept Tyson from being a top 10 ATG.

EPIC FAIL!

 

Tyson makes my list of 10 Heavyweights.

 

I believe he makes most reasonable top 10 lists. He is on my 7-8 tier. I guess I could see top 12 if someone had a different criteria. But for the most part he is consensus 6-10 range already.

 

Tyson breaks my top 10 as well

 

Douglas impacted him more than Holyfield imo. He beat him in his prime irregardless of what condition Tyson was in.

If Tyson went to prison undefeated his fans would say he was never the same fighter post prison and nobody ever defeated him at his best. They would fob the losses off as they attempt to anyway. They would have a very defendable point too.

Unfortunately for Tyson and them he was soundly beaten by Douglas. Also hugely unfortunate is that he didn't get an immediate rematch. After his immense run he absolutely deserved it. Gotta love the politics of boxing.

 

7-10 is fair imo. After Louis and Ali it's open slather.

 

Always wondered why he never had an immediate rematch. Just something I never looked into.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/04/sports/boxing-trump-tells-of-a-deal-for-tyson-vs-douglas.html

 

I would look askance at any list that had him outside the top 10.

 

Tyson is a top 10 lock for me, along with, in no particular order, Louis, Ali, Holmes, Lennox, and Wlad.

At least a half dozen others have a case for the last four slots, so they're never really set for me.

 

I'm guessing certain people were concerned about Tyson taking an immediate rematch against Buster, even though you could say he was under prepared, its clear that Douglas presented some real stylistic problems. Its very possible Tyson could have lost again, which really would have killed the golden goose. Personally I think Douglas would have folded in the rematch.

Holyfield just exposed the fact the Tyson come back after prison was a con job. I'd agree it was really Douglas that derailed him, anything after prison has less meaning for me because Tyson was mentally and physically not the same.

 

Could be true. His whole career he did great when he rolled over guys and when he fought those guys who were just a little better he lost. But he was top 10. His list of title challengers in the 1980s was a whose who of champs in many ways. The only one I think they avoided was Tim Witherspoon.

 

Tyson and King chased an immediate rematch like there was no tomorrow. That was the way to get the Golden Goose flying again.

 

Witherspoon got belted by Smith which took him out of the equation in Tyson's unification battles. Smith fought Tyson next outing.