Your Honest opinion Of Mike Tyson?

Heavyweight top 10 ....pound for pound top 100

 

I think the biggest strength of his legacy comes from the fact that he revived a heavyweight division that was in trouble. He brought a fresh kind of excitement to the game with his explosive performances and match ups against the best available opponents of his time. It had been years since casual fans had paid such close attention to heavyweight boxing and Tyson being so young, charismatic and fun to watch was just what the sport needed. Is he overrated ? By some yes. Is he underrated ? By some yes.

 

Prime vs prime, the best HW that ever lived !!!

 

Probably the most overrated fighter by casuals (I include in that posters on this board who rarely has anything to say about non-Tyson issues and nothing of value to say at all), but one of the most charismatic fighters ever and he did revitalise a stagnant HW scene like perhaps no one else.

Also a great fighter, of course, who combined speed, power and skill to a very high degree. I like him, but am bored by many of his fans, who brings nothing to the table but tired tropes.

 

Youngest HW champion ever.

 

Very very high ceiling which he never hit fully due to his outside the ring issues, partying, and lack of dedicated training throughout his career. Still even half assing he was more than enough for a lot of heavyweights. Captured the publics imagination in a way few do. His "peak" was probably the Berbick or Spinks fight.

As far as underrated and overrated.....it depends who you ask, as the answers are all over the place. At his very best he would of been a toughs night work for almost anyone.

 

Mike had some serious flaws. Usually, if he didn't get his man fairly early, he got in trouble, himself (excluding guys, who really weren't trying to win by inflicting damage on him...survival mode opponents). However, Many (if not most) Lineal Champions would find it extremely difficult to survive to the middle rounds of a fight with Mike. That fact makes him a real beast head to head for most.

 

Against HWs that by any measure was half assing it as much or more than Tyson.

I'd be able to enjoy what Tyson brought to boxing more if this discussion was more honest. Yes, he might well have lost commitment and discipline as well as becoming overconfident somewhere after beating Spinks, but he was also in the perhaps most underachieving HW division of all time. That refers to both some of the guys he beat as well as fighters that never mounted a clear challenge because they had fallen off because of their lack of dedication.

Yes, if Tyson continued with the dedication of his early years he'd probably be harder to beat, but if Thomas, Biggs, Tubbs, Page, Witherspoon, Dokes etc had been that dedicated as well, the division would have been a lot harder for him to conquer. Could even a peak Tyson lose against one of these guys on their very best night if he himself was in shape but just had a bit of an off night, as he had against Tillis? Probably, yes.

 

Top ten great ATG, might even be a top 5 h2h.

In the 80s Mike Tyson was in his own way as much a Boxing Miracle as the peak heavies before him. Nothing can take away how great he was in the latter part of that decade, he was even impressive in the wake of Larry Holmes' more than estimable achievements.

There are many theories regarding his 1990 downfall, for me the loss of Rooney was a big error. It didn't help that, by many accounts, he was getting extremely, adversely effected by his private life (that horrible marriage and ensuant partying).

But nothing can take away from the four years or so of his reign, terrific fighter. To me Teddy Atlas has some ridiculous grind to axe and who cares about his sour grapes? Grow up, Atlas.

 

Resume = Not ATG but probably HOF
H2H = ATG

 

Phenomenon.

Most of the above posts like most on this board are just nonsense really.

Top 30 ATG P4P H2H - none of it is real. It’s just letters and numbers.

Tyson taking out Spinks inside a round - his head bouncing off the canvas - to complete wiping out a strong division at age 21 was real.

 

One of the greatest things I’ve seen live in my life period

This content is protected

none can match Tyson really

 

Maybe after Ali the biggest most well known figure in boxing ever. Wish I was around when he was rising up to the top and in his prime. Cleaned out the division and beat the best of the era by the time he was early 20s. A top 5 h2h atg. He would have a chance against any man who ever boxed.

 

Overrated?

Yes, very
Under rated?

Yes, very

ATG?

Yes. Anywhere from 7-15 is reasonable.

Good for his time nothing else?

Good for anytime where people can put on gloves and punch each other.

Would have beaten most past and present champs?

He'd beat several, Idk about "most". He'd have more wins than losses for sure. Demolishes the vast majority of guys pre 60's.

Lost to Buster Douglas...!

A legitimate loss no matter how many people whine about it. Buster wasn't losing that fight unless you shot him.

Only man to ko Larry Holmes!

A very impressive accomplishment no one can take away from him.

Your opinion?

Hell of a fighter who didn't quite live up to his full potential, but still excellent overall in spite of that. People get mad if you praise him and they get mad if you criticize him. I try to remain neutral and look at the facts. The facts are that he was a superb fighter with a great resume and a top 10 h2h monster.

He was neither a demi-god who'd destroy a gorilla like his fanboys want to believe, nor was he a pathetic quitter with zero heart who fell apart like wet tissue if you stood up to him. Both extremes are unbalanced and I don't take anyone seriously if they go to either end.