Would Mike Tyson have become the greatest heavyweight of all time without prison and his demons?

The rot had set in long before he went to prison.

 

He'd certainly catapult up in the rankings if that had happened. Especially if he beat them all in rematches as well. The late 80s to early 90s were a strong era. Completely dominating it would have made for an incredible legacy.

 

I think Tyson’s career would have panned out “better” had he not gone to prison and lost all that time. But as for being the greatest heavyweight of all time I think he was already damaged goods by 1991

 

Best ever? Not a chance!!!

 

He might have been one of he very few post 1980 fighters that it would have been mathematically possible for, because time was on his side.

Let's say that his mental focus had held up for five years, or seven years, after the Spinks fight.

 

Nope. He'd have beaten pre Steward Lewis with ease. That Lewis was more hittable.
Bowe is the biggest hurdle for a disciplined Tyson that was still with the Catskill team.
If he would have beat Bowe, Tyson would have retired undefeated circa 95 and went down as the clear boxing GOAT.

Even if he would have retired at the end of 92, that would be enough if he'd have Holyfield, Bowe and Lewis on his resume.
Nobody could match that.

He certainly would have beaten comeback Foreman, lesser boxers did it.

Hell no. He'd KO Holyfield. That Holyfield was not as big nor did he have the ring smarts of the 96 Holyfield. Not to mention he'd be facing the best version of Mike.

He'd be undisputed no. 1 had he beaten the names I mentioned.

 

you could still make a legitimate arguement, that he is!

h2h, the only real accurate way.

 

I've always thought Tyson beats Bowe, Bowe is far too hittable. And whilst Bowe has a ton of a heart, he never fought any real punchers at Heavyweight. And I think his team wisely chose not to due to Bowe's leaky defense.

The biggest hurdle for me is Holyfield, but the younger Holyfield liked to go to war. And if he's getting rocked by Stewart, Cooper, Dokes, then I'd say Tyson could do one better and finish the job.

 

You are one of few people on this forum with a brain. Brilliant response.

 

Another woulda, coulda, shoulda thread for Tyson.

The reality is before prison he was already on the slide, go and watch his rematch with Ruddock, he should have been disqualified as he had to resort to blatant low blows just to survive, he was on the verge of getting stopped in the closing rounds.

Say he then faces Holyfield or Bowe, he would have suffered a proper beating at the hands of those two in 92-93. I just don't see any way back for him at that point, greatest ever, that's a no from me.

 

Hey I remember you. You’re the Tyson hater that disappeared a few years back. Why you come back? Did you miss talking about Tyson? Ha ha

 

I'm the Tyson realist, are you the lad that had a breakdown after Tokyo? Get over it son, Douglas will always make the ten count. Hahaha.

 

You been gone too long son. There plenty of Tyson fanboys here but I ant never been one of them though I ain’t a Tyson hater like you either and yeah it was a great performance by Douglas. You just got outta prison ?

 

I don't know about the brain part but thank you.

 

My post clearly triggered you, are you ok hun? We all believe you're not a Tyson fanboy, honest. Hahaha