Worst Pre-Title Fight Opposition- Tyson or Foreman?

Both met very credible opposition on their way up to becoming the Heavyweight Champion of the World. Foreman was fighting a Chuck Wepner within 2 months of turning pro; Tyson was fighting Jesse Ferguson within a year of being a pro.

Foreman also met Peralta (twice), Chuvalo and Kirkman before winning the Championship.

Tyson beat Tillis, Green, Berbick, Smith, Thomas, Tucker, Biggs, Holmes and Tubbs before winning the Championship, which compares well with any fighter before they won the Championship in my book.

 

What? That Tyson and Foreman fought virtually once a month (Mike, sometimes twice a month) whilst learning their trade; and because of their awesome power they quite often had early nights against fighters who would go on for longer against less powerful opposition?

 

Of course you can; name a fighter now a days who wins their first World Championship by building a resume that includes beating fighters that had previously won eight (WBA, WBC, IBF) titles and a further two who had previously challenged for a (WBA, WBC, IBF) title?

 

I think Green was the highest ranked Tyson opponent. Not that credible.

 

Mitch Green was borderline alphabet crap top 10 (I think in 85 he was ranked #6 by the IBF). From Berbick though to his Championship match up with Spinks, Tyson met top 10 fighters or borderline top 10 the entire way.

It is very lazy to suggest Tyson and Foreman had it easy pre title.

It is cliche and wrong.

 

I don't think any of the ones Tyson fought were rated Top 10 by the likes of KO and Ring, so I'd say he had it far easier than most.

 

Berbick, Smith, Tucker and Biggs were all top 10.

 

Foremans opp was (on the whole) weaker. If we're talking about pre-Tyson-Spinks unification fight then Tyson's opp until that point was reasonably good.

 

I think the bloke said earlier not to be a crashing bore. I know that's not easy for you, but...

 

I think it's obvious he meant before Berbick.

 

I wouldn't either mate. They know what you mean, just that they're obviously so far up Tyson's hoop they can't see daylight. TBooze even thinks that KO magazine actually invented their pound-for-pound ratings because of Tyson.