What did they think of Iron Mike?

Ali said he was the "Greatest." on a talk show with SRL back in the late 80's. Said Tyson would beat him in a match if they fought. Unless he moved and didn't get hit. Ali was being nice to the new dominating kid on the block, obviously. Ali thought Tyson hit harder than Shavers, but Tyson disagreed with that.

Archie Moore said Foreman was the hardest hitting fighter around in the 90's. Nobody had more power, not Tyson or anybody.

Patterson was shy, but obviously knew of Mike's background and ability as he been a Cus fighter, and they met before Tyson was doing anything significant in the division.

 

Archie Moore said that he was the greatest heavyweight of all time:

"And I should know because I fought some of them".

Max Schmeling rated him among the greatest fighters of all time in any weight class.

 

It should be noted that Tyson is verry friendly towards the old timers.

He is as absorbed by boxing history as anybody on this board.

The old timers got free tickets to all his fights.

 

I think dad knew son was going to get his ass handed to him but figured the money his son got was worth it and he should get while the getting was good. I'm not knocking Frazier for that, though I wouldn't have had my kid go in against Tyson at that stage, but I do think Frazier knew that was likely and figured it was just smart money for the kid to put in the bank.

 

Yes i remember this interview it was on the Arsenio Hall show and both were being humble to eachother Ali said "He hit to hard" Tyson was humble and responded that Ali was too fast for him.

Larry Holmes stated that Shavers hit harder than Tyson,but that Tyson was the sharper puncher.

 

No, if you look at Joe's face after what Larry Holmes did to Marvis you can tell he was stunned. I think Frazier really thought Marvis could beat Tyson.

 

Chuvalo liked his style of fighting, but he felt that if Tyson would adjust his infighting he could get better leverage when someone tried to back him up.

 

I have no recollection of Joe in that fight so I have to take your lead on that. But I seem to recall some comments Joe made regarding those who questioned his handling of Marvis's career and there was a very pragmatic tone to his answer. But that doesn't mean he wouldn't be surprised that Marvis got a shellacking in the first round, of course. But it seemed like he'd been... more than braced for a loss, okay? I mean, Marvis wasn't a killer like Joe but he was a solid young fighter. Why would you think Holmes would starch him in the first round. It's not like Larry was known for that. I don't doubt if that particular thing surprised him. Just, I think he had realistic assumptions regarding Marvis's chances for an upset.

Edit: Pardon me on that, it's late, I could've sworn you were addressing the Holmes fight. Different answer altogether there, isn't it?

 

Slava Malamud from Philadelphia interviews Smokin' Joe:

SM: Let me ask you a question. You are at your best against Tyson at his best. Who would win?
FRAZIER: I would guzzle him. I would guzzle him for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I would disassemble him. See, the majority of guys were simply afraid of him. As I already said, the psychology does not work with me. I would have no problems with Mike.
SM: What was the essence of your tactics? How in particular you would defeat, say, Tyson?
FRAZIER: Start the close combat. Shatter his torso. And that’s it. Torso is the most important thing. There are people who can easily live without their heads, but there is nobody who can live without his/her torso. The same is with the Butterfly. He had an average blow, but he moved better than anybody else. But fighting me in the last rounds he already could not move. Because I shattered his torso.
SM: So first torso, then your left hook.
FRAZIER: Well, the right one was not bad at all (laughing). Fighting Ali I had another tactic: to hammer his arms, especially his elbows. He liked to plunge into total defense, to run around, nestle up to the ropes. And when for ten rounds you are being beaten on your elbows it becomes so painful to block the blows that it is better to let them through.
http://english.sport-express.ru/articles/9_11/



Don't recall a source, but I seem to remember Smokin' Joe expressing pride that son Marvis went out fighting against Tyson.



And, before the Spinks fight, Jake LaMotta gave this opinion on Tyson: "[He] is gonna go down as one of the greatest fighters of all times, and he's gonna break all records, and he's gonna be around a long, long time, and he's gonna make over $100 million. I could be wrong, but that's my opinion."
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,967765-8,00.html

 

Frazier wasnt scared of Foreman either and his tactics would be about as effective as that fight

 

As much as I respect and admire Smokin' Joe, I would have to agree that his plan doesn't sound plausible. He mapped an identical strategy for son Marvis, with calamitous results.

Tyson would land the bombs first, with both hands, in blistering combination, and particularly a huge uppercut, well before Frazier could begin to fully warm-up to cause attrition to the Tyson torso. Mike would even have even the better chin.

Though unquestionably superior in the heart department, Joe is using math that doesn't add up and, sadly, I see a stoppage of him.

 

I brought up the Holmes fight because I think it shows that Joe really thought Marvis could take guys like Holmes and even Tyson.

 

Joe was upset after Tyson almost took Marvis's head off. I remember something about Joe almost wanting to go after Tyson after the knockout.