Who "Wouldn't" Mike Tyson defeat as a Challenger ?

You're not the first person to posit that idea, but I'm afraid I've never bought into that. If someone is prime & motivated it doesn't matter whether they are entering a contest as champ or challenger; whatever psychological edge may exist is negligible and probably not going to affect the outcome.

 

@Intentional Butt


I think it does. boxing is in large part mental.
Tyson looked gun-shy and then bit holyfields ear because he had already experienced losing to him.

Holyfield was much better when he was an underdog challenger than he was when he was champ.
When he was champ he got overconfident l, brawled and looked bad vs Bert cooper and holmes, kept trying to knock Bowe out and push him back, said that God told him he would knock Lewis out in the 3rd round, looked like **** vs underdog moorer.

Holyfield did great when he was being underestimated and/or he respected his opponent in Bowe 2, Tyson 1, Lewis 2 etc...


Tyson, Liston, Foreman even Lewis also got content, fat and overconfident when in the role of a heavy favorite.
It's an easy trap to fall into as a big puncher.
A guy like Ali or even Frazier knew he had to be in shape for tough rounds because they hadn't been spoiled by first round blowouts.

 

I think late 90s/2000 Lewis would beat Tyson, if that's the version being talked about.

I think he'd probably beat the others, but some would be difficult.

 

I look at it like this..... Tyson required that you nail him with 1000 or so flush punches before he went anywhere. Sure, Foreman would land something, but it's far fetched to assume that Tyson would be badly hurt early. Plus, Tyson in his prime was one of the most skilled heavies defensively of all time..... Foreman not so much.

Plus, we see lesser fighters, whether measured in skill or chin, who was hit directly and flush by prime Foreman and they didn't just fall over dead. On the other hand, Foreman was hurt early and he wasn't particularly difficult to hit. Add to that Tyson's ATG finishing ability and it's a wrap. I think Tyson stops Foreman 5-7 rounds

Tyson would decision Ali with effective aggression. Ali would have a difficult time getting Tyson's respect and this would embolden Tyson who would even more relentlessly pursue. Ali would be forced to either retreat or stand toe to toe. If he retreats, he gives away rounds on the score cards, if he stands toe to toe, he may end up being stopped. Tyson was a much more accurate and faster puncher than Foreman or Shavers along with ATG punching power.

Dempsey/Marciano/Frazier..... Tyson ends it early against all 3. Coming forward to trade punches with a bigger, iron chinned Tyson would be them walking into a death trap. If by some miracle, they make it late into the fight, they could win. But I'd bet your money on that outcome.

Lennox Lewis would have a reasonable chance.... but Tyson was very aggressive and refer to what I said about his chin. Washed up Tyson ate punches from Lewis like they were going out of style. And Lewis was stopped 2x by single shots. The right hand Tyson knocked Holmes over with would have seen Lewis counted out and prime Tyson had the correct tools to make it happen.


Joe Louis could make it happen against Tyson. He had the boxing skilland punching power. My question is his chin and how it would hold up.

I'll speak on the rest later on.

 

That's different, though. You're then asking "would a post-losses Tyson beat the following?" - which is a different question than "would he beat him as the challenger (which could include when he was a ferocious unbeaten massively confident teenager)?"

Very different question.

I'd wager a post-Tokyo version of Tyson would lose to a lot of guys he would've ripped through in the eighties. The difference-making variable would be having seen his invincibility bubble punctured, however. That would be far more informative than whether or not he was the one that happened to be walking in 1st, or 2nd with the belt already strapped around his waist.

 

Gawd Tyson is so overrated, everybody decent knocked him out! Even in his immortal prime he got way layed by a barely Top twenty Buster Douglas,! Douglas proved his level his next fight, goodness Evander & Lewis beats him every time! Here we go who did he beat?? Trevor Berbick?

Tyson was on his back more than Edy Wlliams . And unlike Tommy Morrison, EAT YOUR BET TICKET, HE'S NOT GETTING UP!

 

Jesus what a trash predictions

 

I think Joshua's combination of size and skills could prove too much. Tyson is unproven against skilled super heavies.

 

LOL, thanks for your contribution tough guy.

 

Who do you believe was the best fighter Tyson beat? Not just during his reign, but during his career.

 

Spinks was probably the most legit skilled fighter. But guys like Tucker, Tubbs, Thomas were solid, world level skilled men . Guys like Stewart, Bruno and Williams as well. Bruno was relatively slow and mechanical but he had a good jab and good technical skills. His punching power spoke for itself. Ruddock was a big, strong SHW puncher with arguably ATG punching power.

Like all fighters, they had flaws, but any of the above would certainly be formidable in any HW era and with their size advantage may have beaten all but the very best in earlier era's.