watched tyson v tucker today

bigcat was tyson under trained for the tucker fight?.

 

Tyson was well past his best when he faced Holyfield and Mathis Jr.

 

Norris was technically very good but neither much of a "name" nor simple enough to market to have made him a sensible fight for a prime Tyson. He was respected by boxing purists, but he fought in a manner that went against the grain of what was expected of men of his build. It's easier to sell a challenger like Frank Bruno, all muscle, long arms and power despite his shortcomings, or Carl Williams - again tall, slick, with a long jab to keep Tyson off (in theory) despite a suspect chin - rather than Norris, who could only really look attractive in the fight by at the same time making Tyson look bad.

I agree, Tyson probably finds short opponents awkward, and seemed to have no problem with tall ones from where I was sitting anyway. His style was built around dismantling bigger men.

 

Not really. When you look at any of the ko results guys, what you see is an opponent list of guys with a leaky defense. Norris, like Mathis even, didn't have a leaky defense but they didn't posess the firepower to prevent a Tyson from continuing to wing away. sooner or later something is going to get thru.

 

Tucker was a good win and Tony was a big skilled fighter. I remember a good uppercut Tucker landed early and it kept Mike honest for the rest of the fight but I thought Mike made a good adjustment and did what he had to do to win without taking too much risk..Mike had a good mindset and was headed in the right direction

 

You should write Tucker's first biography.

Some suggested titles:

"How i beat Douglas while trying to lose"

"Becoming mandatory challenger three times by beating Frankie Swindell"

"How the idea of a broken right hand and losing a decision to Tyson aroused me"

 

Tony Tucker was a good fighter but he wasnt great and he still gave Tyson problems. Beating Tucker doesnt prove anything Tyson, Tucker was hurt like you people said and he was a Don King controlled fighter so who knows if he let Tyson beat him or not. Bruce Seldon surely did.

 

Good points. I feel less confident picking Tyson over guys his height than against guys 6'4 or 6'5. Yeah, Tucker, Smith, Green went the distance but they were strong fighters with granite chins that fought to go the distance, it's near impossible to stop guys like that.

 

Yeah, this was due to Tyson's trademark black boots with no socks.

After this fight he wore socks, but ones that didn't come up over his boots so he could keep up the image

 

Agreed. Tucker never lived up to his true potential.

 

Tucker had it all physically. Tall fighter with a good reach, one of the best movers in history for his size, and could take a wallop. His power was nothing fantastic but he did get Tyson's attention with an uppercut so he could crack.

He just never had that IT. Motivation, drugs, bad luck etc. hampered what could of been a good career. Had Spinks fought Tucker I think we'd have seen a new champion.

 

not only that, they fought to survive, not win. had they fought tyson differently, they pobably would have been koed.

 

The fight of '87 is still boring after the first round. Tucker claims he hurt his hand, but Tucker always had an excuse for losing his big fights....
:deal

MR.BILL

 

11th Commandment: Thou shalt not bring up Sammy Scaff as if he were a legitimate opponent...for anyone.