What if Rooney had stayed as Tyson`s trainer after the Spinks fight?

Tyson was nothing but a kid with the body of an athlete with great responsibility

 

The only one that might have beaten him was Bowe. He would have destroyed Holyfield in 91 and Lewis wasn't good enough to beat him until he teamed up with Manny Steward.

 

He would have retired undefeated around 95-96, with around 50 wins and he would have gone down as the greatest HW of all time.

 

True, they would have gotten tougher, but he would have beat Douglas and Holyfield.
The first real test and potential loss would have been a 92 Bowe.

 

How exactly does he destroy them if prime Tyson never fought an elite heavyweight? We’re just gonna assume he does because of your myth that prime Tyson beats everyone right?

 

Who here thinks Tyson would never have become champion if Rooney hadn’t trained him to begin with? Would he have been a journeyman? Contender? Tomato can?

 

I’m not even 100% sold on the idea that he would have made it to Riddick Bowe before losing to someone else. I’m not discounting the possibility that he might have beaten Douglas and Holyfield but it’s hardly something I’m sure about anymore.

 

He would have made it for sure. He'd beat Douglas and Holyfield.

 

That gives things a new perspective.

The usual allegory, is that he was hyper motivated until the Spinks fight, and then he had reached the summit of his personal Everest.

 

If Rooney was the trainer whose absence made such a difference, where are all the other contenders desperate to hire such knowledge ?
Rooney's presence or absence is entirely immaterial. The bloke was a towel swinger who couldn't train a fish to swim.

 

He would at least have needed a good trainer!

 

Cause very few are suited to take up the peek a boo style.

 

That is pretty close to reality.

 

A one trick pony.

 

Right. But if he could function with Kevin Rooney and ONLY Kevin Rooney, then Tyson wasn’t that good to begin with. And the boxing world is filled with capable trainers.