When did Tyson's prime end?

Physically and style wise, Tyson should have performed to his potential along the same lines as other famous pressure high work rate fighters in history. If you take a look at the career's of Marciano, Joe Frazier, Henry Armstrong, these guys started showing decline by the age 27-28, were finished in boxing by 29-30 and retired by 31-32.

Getting rid of the catskills team was detrimental to Tyson's training and conditioning habits and his performances and decline in the ring reflect that. Prison, age and inactivity of 4 years took away his timing, accuracy, speed and reflexes.

When he lost to Douglas, for a brief moment it looked like the loss re-kindled a flame in him. When he lost the Holyfield fight in 1996, i actually thought that rekindled a flame big time, he trained really hard for the re-match and came in at 218 lbs his best shape after so many years and in the re-match he moved his head, displayed foot work, had some bounce in his legs, was using the jab but alas the fight ended in controversy.

After that you can clearly tell the guy was just fighting to earn a living, get rid of debts rather than for boxing glory, a pathetic post prison career really hurt his legacy big time.

Unfortunately unlike Larry Holmes, George Foreman and a few others, once Tyson's athletic skills eroded, his limited reach, limited height mean't he could no longer compete against bigger guys with bigger reaches and it was not possible for him to dance around, to stay on the ropes, to touch and run.

A squandered talent. Overall it is clear from 1988 onwards, the guy had made $60-70 million in the bank, became the undisputed world champion at the age of 21-22, was already a hall of famer with numerous title defences, was being mentioned alongside Ali on so many occasions. He had achieved what people are unable to achive throughout their whole fighting careers. He no longer had the drive for greatness and to fight for glory anymore. The likes of Holyfield and Lewis desperately tried to be respectable by beating Tyson and they still don't get the credit they wish they could get for it.

 

as soon as he went to jail

 

Looking at Tyson's post prison career, i am dissapointed that he never fought Tommy Morrison, David Tua, Shannon Briggs, Ray Mercer. He was very inactive and was not seeking out the best fighters out there like a warrior.

 

Spoon subs for Douglas in 1990 and yeah, he beats Mike. Any time from 86-88, maybe even 89, and Spoon loses in a tough bout, similar to Pink's demise. He's good and tough but Tyson is better. Would've been nice to see Spoon against Tucker or Ruddock even. Hell, Spoon-Holyfield, Spoon-Bowe or Spoon-Lewis would prove interesting.

Mercer stood his ground against Lennox but standing in front of a prime Tyson, who had a better defense and more speed than Lennox, would be suicide. I don't care how good your chin is, if Mike starts landing on a stationary target you can bet that target won't be standing in the end. Holyfield dropped Mercer with one solid left hook. I think a prime Tyson would do better.

 

Peak is not prime. It's a very very simple concept.

 

Morrison gassed against Mercer and Mercer knew Morrison would not be able to keep up his punching pace. Tyson will not run out of gas and if Mercer keeps getting hit and then realizes that the arsenal will be continuing throughout the fight, he will get discouraged big time.

 

Well that obviously will be the case as most for now haven't peaked at 40. This will change eventually or at least be more common.

The fact is 30 to 40 is prime years for a HW today , it depends on the individual. Had Joshua not been around Klitchko would be the number one HW at 41.

 

That's an opinion not a fact.

Its also a slim chance of that considering Fury won't be on anything and Klitchko has never lost twice in a row to someone or looked worse after a loss.

 

Theres a dictionary you know? Though I'm conversing with a known idiot .

 

On TWO scorecards it was a close fight . That is NOT dominating anything as a matter of fact many UK Sports writers had it close . Fury did nothing to dominate that fight that is a fact unless you consider the light body taps to Klitchko adding to points as relevant?

In reality nothing remotely suggests dominating with either in that fight.

You stated Fury WOULD still have dominated him? That is not a fact.

 

it was a shutout, dude, wlad had nothing in his arsenal to beat a taller opponent with some boxing nous. He was just trying to survive - even against a powderpuff guy like fury (i mean, fury can certainly hit hard, but he doesnt have the grace to land with it much in reality, he tends to need to wrestle someone/cheat in order to pin them with a powerpunch)

 

claiming a guy who got poleaxed in his absolute prime by nobides multiple times would be number 1 at 41 is pretty bold.

prime - na its 35 latest.

no way is a 40something prime, too many physical changes by then. That sounds like reverse logic attempt to justify some of the appallingly aged opponents of Kltischko defences.