I don't pretend to know anything about the professional boxing scene, but i have seen many of the greats. Regardless of Tyson's personal life, the only way you left the ring with that guy was on your back. Tyson made rumble in the jungle look like a couple of pussycats fighting. I respected the other fighters more and Tyson wasn't the biggest, but in him you not only had a fighter but a fooking animal a dangerous and ruthless combination.
Joe Louis had his “bum of the month” club. Ali, who imo thoroughly deserves to be called the greatest, nonetheless fought some absolute no hopers (though he also fought at least half a dozen genuinely great heavyweights, in an era of outstanding quality).
Tyson was ultimately beaten by Tyson. I remember his thanking lennox for the chance to make money and it said everything about the man. He was like a dog that has been castrated Ali was similar to Tyson in that in his latter years he lost but we now know of underlying issues.
he didn't just beat them though, he absolutely destroyed them. Personally I think 80's Tyson would've smashed Ali all around the ring.
Ali had some of his best years taken from him because of his principled stance on Vietnam. The only fighter whose influence genuinely transcends the sport; people forget what a period of radical social upheaval the sixties were - Ali was a part of all that, an icon like John Lennon for example, whose own influence went way beyond music.
Absolutely spot on mate.. I think Ali killed the gangsta connection to boxing, made it look so sweet but the time in prison sort of killed something unique.. The same for Tyson too in my eyes, he never recovered from the prison sentence. the sad thing is, there's a hell of a lot more to it than what was released to the media due to money men guiding the light to how boxing needs to work, lining their grubby pockets and setting a man up for a big fall.. The whole boxing world has been corrupted for years, it got better when DK backed away but I'm sure Tyson would rectify his existence on the planet, he literally destroyed one of the greatest fighters ever by his deceit, greed, control but worst of all his big set-up. Larry Holmes was great in his day, one of my favourite heavyweights, I know who Tyson fought and I also know why they were put in front of him, seeing an ageing Larry Holmes against him was quite sad. To all those who said he fought nuggets, Pinkleton (Pinky) Thomas was one hell of a boxer in every respect, he was set up as the guy that would unite the titles, very good in a Ken Norton similarity.. That fight was Tyson's best in my eyes, google it, it is worth seeing again, maybe google the Tony Tubbs fight as well, you will see delayed action on the KO.. I have been there, all in the past now but some great memories..
Tyson was a brutal,street fighting animal.Just the "look" was enough to beat most of his victims. Add to that the bloke was serious box office something the sport lacks now.The other fighter i loved to watch was Hagler who for me was right up there with the greatest.Would've been my dream fight him and Tyson in the same ring.
Hagler would have needed to feed a month on Maccy D's and Tyson would have needed to eaten Cherries for a month.. Different weights mate..
I know that,,,,,but still my dream fight.Also think Frazier would have given Tyson a better fight than Ali.
Do you think he'd have been able to handle the power? His two fights with Foreman didn't go well, though he's a very different prospect to Tyson. Not sure who was comparable from Frazier's era.
Frasier was an orthodox fighter, similar to Tyson boxing off a big left. Tyson was a 2 handed fighter, Southpaw and Orthodox and he did fight Joe's son Marvis who fought a similar fight to his father Joe. Here's the fight here..
Frazier was a great fighter too; and tough as nails. Having said that, I still remember what Foreman did to him,
