When exactly was Tyson's prime?

I kind of feel because of Tyson's style and height, he needed to be matched a bit carefully earlier on as well? He had been outboxed in the amatuers. It was important for him to become better against the more savvy boxers and not lose. Contrast that to Lewis and Holyfield, who were already fairly savvy boxers themselves. Lets not forget Tyson had a very raw style for a professional fighter, that later seemed to become more refined in on itself as he was a pro.
The TV networks and contracts were definitely just as huge of a factor and really the first of their kind. Cayton was a savvy businessman he wanted Tyson to be the highest grossing fighter ever, and he knew he had the kid with the right style to do it. What was a couple extra easy paydays that produced an exciting knockout? That was certainly acceptable to HBO and their audience....

 

It's pretty difficult to pin point Tyson prime but I would go with the years 86-88, to be his absolute best. I have actually been reading a book that was written back in 1989 about Tyson's life and it's very interesting some of the stuff that I've learned about during that period of his career. The Bruno fight was rescheduled like 3 or 4 times due to things that had gone on in Tyson's life. He was actually said to have weighed up to 250 pounds before going back into the gym and training for that fight...Meaning he hadn't been training for awhile and was fiercely caught up in personal problems, car accident, divorce with Robin, Don King..aka trying to get rid of Bill Cayton as manager due to Kings propaganda/brainwashing. In Short I wouldn't consider the Bruno fight his prime, he was quite a mess before that fight actually occurred.

The reason I say 86-88 is because he was a lot more strict with his training habits and focused during those years (plus he was with Kevin Rooney). It wasn't until all his personal problems came into the forefront that he started slacking off because his mind was on other things. It's pretty obvious too when you look at his weight coming into the fights after the Spinks one, well at least he was heavier against Bruno and Douglas...was lighter for Carl Williams. In the 90's he was much heavier, looked ripped but his hand speed might have suffered a little, even though he was still pretty fast but his movement wasn't quite the same.

Even with that, two of my favorite fights to watch with Tyson are the two bouts with Razor Ruddock because he showed how great of a chin Tyson had and it was just fun to watch two big brawlers go at it.


As for the Spinks fear thing, yeah I think he was scared but you know what, so was Tyson...Tyson always had fear going into the ring, he's said it himself several times. Also in the book I am reading it talks about how Tyson had a dream before the Spinks fight that he lost the fight against Spinks. Overall I'm not sure how much that factored into the fight, Spinks did look bewildered in the fight that's for sure but I think he may just have been in shock over Tyson's speed and power.

 

Tyson was always going to a nightmare,stylewise for Spinks.

 

I thought Michael Spinks had that fearful look on his face both times he fought Holmes too, to be honest. And in other fights, he often looked anxious before a fight. So, I think it got a little bit over-stated in several post-fight analyses of the Tyson fight .....

Spinks' own take on the matter is that he lost his cool after he felt Tyson's power and completely forgot his strategy, got angry and desperate and got himself knocked out. Maybe some truth in that too.

 

good post

 

I believe Mike Tyson's prime years were from the 22nd of November 1986 tothe 27th of June 1988

 

spot on

 

I actually think that even a prime Tyson was a terribly overrated fighter.

Really.

 

Pretty much from my conception ('82) to my balls dropping. :yep

 

Yep, I've noticed that as well. In Spinks' other fights, he has the same look on his face. So I think the Spinks fear thing is way overblown in the Tyson fight.

Spinks said after the fight that he felt "light headed" after the body shot/8 count. That was a brutal shot to the ribs.

 

"terribly overrated"?

That's a strong statement. Care to elaborate?

 

Pre-Douglas.

 

well, you can think so, but that version tyson gives any heavyweight a tough fight. but some people do overhype a prime tyson.

 

87-88

 

86-91