What was your first impression of Mike Tyson?

Yes. The first time I saw him, on the television in 1986, I thought he was the future Heavyweight Champion. He reminded me of films I had seen before of Jack Dempsey.

 

I had read about this phenomenon on Ring Magazine and Boxing illustrated and KO, before he fought Sammy Scaff. Scaff was a good club fighter who had gone 4 rounds with former champion Tim Witherspoon and made himself some fans that night in London (on the Nelson-Cowdell program). When I heard Tyson beat Scaff in one round, i was impressed.

Then I saw him fight against Jesse Ferguson live on Puerto Rican TV. I was impressed at how hard he hoit, how he skipped punches and how fast his hands were. He had everything, From that day on i was convinced that no matter which champ, whenever they gave him a shot he would win the title.

 

That was the first fight I saw him in, also. Jesse Ferguson!

 

Believe it or not…when I was a kid …I had the biggest crush on Robin Givens …I thought she was the prettiest girl I had ever seen…and then I read in a magazine that she was dating a boxer named Mike Tyson…..but the first time I saw him was the Tyrell Biggs fight …and I was hooked…he was like a pit bull

 

I saw him as an amatuer. He was highly touted and the rare breed to have a former pro trainer working with him as an amatuer. Rarely ever hear of that sort of thing---not the money to be made.

Was very very surprised when he did not win olympic gold. He was groomed for it & in a 3 round fight, not too many of the highly touted and backed guys lose decisions in those high profile bouts. What a great job they did and we didn't see this much amatuer push again maybe until Breland or certainly De La Hoya.

But that strong team behind him sure did come out of that well and turned pro quick. And then Jacobs sending those highlight reel ko's to tv stations to jumpstart his career at a time when the division was fading.

 

Perhaps your finest post Mark.

 

Breland actually turned pro before Tyson. He was an incredible amateur i remember watching him during the 84 Games.

 

Having the Mercado KO in mind sorta goes against being so impressed with Holmes outboxing him too. The KO loss was more than half a decade closer to Holmes than it was to Tyson. Here was Tyson pole axing a guy that took Holmes 15 and tho Holmes dominated on the cards Berbick had plenty of good moments and got inside on Holmes many many many times. He landed plenty of flush punches too. Berbick is a tough strong fighter tho and Holmes showed he could grit it out and match or exceed him trading blows (and this happened plenty as despite folklore that Holmes whipped around and thoroughly outboxed him there were loads of exchanges) which was a good feat. Tyson however made him look like an amateur with more losses than victories and scattered his brain. One of those wins was undoubtedly miles more impressive than the other.

Thomas had a top run before he ran out of steam. Tough life was his. His win over Witherspoon was easily one of the most impressive of the era. Thomas outboxed and outpunched a Witherspoon who had given Holmes all sorts of hell. Thomas was never stunned or even remotely hurt. Excellent win over Weaver too.

Berbick was on his game vs Page that's for sure. Smartest I've seen him fight. Page broke his right thumb in the early rounds but he still landed some big blows some even being left hooks. Berbick was hardly moved. Berbick would have always given Page trouble in this form as my man Greg struggled a bit with pressure if you could get past his hard right hand. He could get lazy and uninspired chest to chest.

You're no elitist mate it's all opinion and conversation. I just can't get my head around how one can be so immensely impressed with Holmes win and totally glaze over Tyson's is all.

 

I clearly remember when Tyson was coming up the ranks. I thought he was the most exciting young fighter in boxing--like a hungry pit bull!! Anybody that saw him in those years knew he was headed for the big time!!