Who's the best fighter that Prime Mike Tyson can beat?

I think the best Heavyweight Mike Tyson could beat most times is Joe Frazier.

 

Foreman stops him in 2, Holmes in 10, 60s Ali TKO in 12, early 70s Ali in 10, Louis in 10, FOTC Frazier in 12, Liston UD if 12 rounds, KO 13 if scheduled for 15.

 

Marciano.

 

Joe Louis,

 

He's even money or better against any heavyweight who ever lived.

 

Prime 60s Ali an early 80s Holmes are the only ones I would put money on to beat 88 Tyson

 

Prime Tyson could beat Ali.

 

Would beat or could beat? Those are two different lists.

On the could beat list is literally everybody. It's the same list for every serious puncher.

 

Lyle went 5 rounds but Mike only lasts 2?

 

No he's not.

That's nonsense.

He's nowhere near even money to beat Foreman, Lewis or Ali. Not even close.

 

While I don’t think Foreman would put Tyson away in 2, the Foreman who fought Lyle was noticeably different than he was pre-Ali. I don’t think Lyle would’ve feared nearly as well against that version.

 

Lyle went 5 with psychologically damaged Foreman.

Plus, do you really think Lyle fought similarly to Iron Mike?

 

Refer to what Foreman did to (especially) Smokin' Joe twice and Ken Norton.

That's what happens to Tyson. Smaller guys who have to get inside are dinner for George. Tyson caves after walking into his first bomb.

 

To throw the proverbial cat amongst Mike’s pigeons: -

If you remove all the over-qualifications and excuses, Mike failed to fulfil several, emphatic destruct and destroy H2H prophecies during his actual career.

He seems to be taking more credit into the fantasy realm than he materially earned in his actual career.

If ‘88 was Mike at his absolute best we can certainly muster up more than a few, far better ATGs in their prime than the opposition (as they presented) that Mike did prevail over in that year.

Like I have to say it (sarcasm) but I will - NO, I’m not a hater, far from it. I like Mikey T.

 

100% this.

I love Tyson and he is an all time great. But he isn't this unbeatable, unstoppable force that plenty make him out to be. He was magnificent in his absolute prime but then so was every one of the top 10-15 heavyweights of all time. His CV is good but it ain't elite and he really beat nobody who would be considered a legitimately great heavyweight save for a very much washed Holmes. He's got some good names on his list but when you dig a bit deeper it really is no better than good.