Why did Tyson have such a short prime?

I personally think the peek a boo style is too limited for longevity, but why exactly do you think his style doesn’t last long

 

K

It really might have been a matter of too much too soon. All that money, Givens, dominating over the division's best...

Still, for a few years Mike was mostly sensational. If things all hadn't happened so fast, he would have held the title at least a couple of more years, and probably defended it several more times.

That said, I still think he would have had big trouble with Bowe and Holyfield around 92, and Lewis not long after.

 

Mike was almost fully developed from the very beginning of his career.

I think he stopped pushing himself because he was feasting on everyone put in his path. He was very young and everyone was scared of him.

It is impressive that he lost his title and then went to jail he came back and unified the titles immediately. After that he simply lost to better fighters.

In retrospect, Mike has 8 undisputed title defenses, was the youngest champion ever, unified the title a second time, one of the greatest punchers ever and had some of the fastest hand, and one of the best defensive styles ever in the HW division.

At this point, although we are all disappointed that he did not wipe the floor with Douglas, Holyfield and Lewis and retire undefeated after having reigned for 12 years like Joe Louis...we just have to accept Mike as he was.

 

Any heavyweight that is that short has to make up for their disadvantages with energy, handspeed, footspeed to get into range, headmovement and timing, big heavyweights don't need these things, because they have height and reach to fall back on, advantages like height and reach never diminish, but advantages like energy, handspeed, footspeed, headmovement and timing diminish with age and they don't have height and reach to fall back on like Lennox Lewis and the Klitschkos, they were still no1 in the division in their late 30s and Klitschkos in their early 40s

 

Thanks for saving me the time to write all that.

Holyfield noted the same in interviews and seemed perplexed that writers weren't calling out Tyson's lack of size, that they had a midget running the biggest division. It was a tightrope walk of speed, timing, mobility... Once a little age or rust sets in, the whole arrangement falls apart.

 

I agree with all but this last. After Mike went to jail for **** I was rooting for both Holyfield and Lewis to knock the hell out of him. I've been in prison many times and those guys aren't esteemed well, they either have to learn how to stick people...or get stuck (and on the latter, yeah I mean it that way). And it doesn't matter how big or bad you are in a real prison, mother****ers are happy to stab or pipe you from behind (and yeah, I mean in all senses). I had one ****** cleaning my room every week (though he most certainly wasn't Mike LOL!!!), all so he wouldn't have to check into PC (less privileges plus being basically a part of PunkVille). If they're young they have a particularly hard time from the lifers.

I still am glad Lewis and Holy beat the living yee-haw out of him, however my estimation of Mike overall as a fighter has risen significantly since some kind schooling here. I saw his heart during Douglas, Botha, Ruddock, and Lewis...not quite the heart of an Ali, Frazier, or Holyfield, but unquestionably Championship caliber.

And yeah, he was sensational in the 80s, amazing fighter. He and Holmes indisputably ruled the 80s imo.

 

It could be argued that happened to Frazier, though in his case going to the hospital for three weeks after Ali replaced age and ring rust.

 

He simply wasn't mentally equipped to deal with the fame, fortune and speed bumps that he confronted.

Going to jail has relevance too - it put paid to his best chances of rebounding.

 

Some truth to this I believe. Of all the heavyweight champ s he and Patterson seemed to have the most trouble going on upstairs. But Floyd seemed to conquer that to a degree as he aged. But Tyson s actions actually got worse as he went on. He came out looking better after the Lewis fight because he didn't actually do anything crazy! But of course, by then it was way to change to much about his boxing career.

 

I think that due respect for Mike was that he was not mature mentally to handle the personal issues that he encountered, an example being that he was used by Robin Givens, and her gold digger mother, Robin was an attractive female, but marrying someone that soon is not a mature move to the majority of us,and handling a professional boxing career, being a world champion at the same time. Mike was taken advantage of by others, leaving Kevin Rooney was just about the other worst thing that he did, Rooney looked out for him. Tyson had well documented Mental Issues, which can happen to any of us. People like the leeches out there saw these weaknesses, therefore taking advantage of him. I think in the years since his glory days have taught him a lot, like many of life's lessons have taught the rest of us.

 

Obvious answer prison.

I actually felt Ruddock 2 was one of his best fights for the fight all night stamina and chin...he was no longer as elusive or combo heavy...but that Tyson was the last time we saw a Tyson with desire and fire.

 

A combination of Mike’s fighting style and physical dimensions ( smallish, aggressive heavyweights don’t have long shelf lives ) along with his his mental demons and being imprisoned ensured his fall from grace.

Cheers All

 

Addiction, Don King, Rory Holloway, John Horne, a bunch of different women, etc.

 

I think both of those factors may have played a role