Tyson at his prime- could any boxer in history beat him?

Roy Jones jr

No idea. But I’m sure he could beat them over 100m.

In the heavy weight division, years ago I would have said yes but I'm not sure he could be beat big guys like the Klitschkos or Fury, their reach is too long.

There were lighter boxers who clearly have better records.

Tyson was still at his peak in 1990 and looked physically good for that fight. Unfortunately for him Buster had the fight of his life... and don’t give me all the same tired excuses. Tyson should have won that fight, but that night was Buster’s night.

Subway Surfers wrote:

In the heavy weight division, years ago I would have said yes but I'm not sure he could be beat big guys like the Klitschkos or Fury, their reach is too long.

There were lighter boxers who clearly have better records.

Big guys with big reach like the Klitschko were never a problem for Tyson. He would get in there and boom

The following four would have beaten Tyson four out of five: Ali, Foreman, Frazier and Larry Holmes. Tyson did not fight great athletes. In the 1970's NFL did not pay well. There were better athletes in the heavy weight division than today prior to 1980's. Tyson, when Cus was alive was angry and fit. Tyson was never as skilled as Ali,, Frazier or Larry Holmes. George Foreman loved to brawl toe to toe. No one could successfully brawl toe to toe with George Foreman. Frazier tried to brawl toe to toe with George Foreman. Frazier lost.

What are you saying??? wrote:

The following four would have beaten Tyson four out of five: Ali, Foreman, Frazier and Larry Holmes. Tyson did not fight great athletes. In the 1970's NFL did not pay well. There were better athletes in the heavy weight division than today prior to 1980's. Tyson, when Cus was alive was angry and fit. Tyson was never as skilled as Ali,, Frazier or Larry Holmes. George Foreman loved to brawl toe to toe. No one could successfully brawl toe to toe with George Foreman. Frazier tried to brawl toe to toe with George Foreman. Frazier lost.

?

He would beat those four in the same night. Faster, stronger and can take more than them

Sweet Ray wrote:

Roy Jones jr

Don't be daft!

I've told this story here and on many other sites but it always fits this myth of early Tyson invincibility.

The first time I saw Mike Tyson in person was late summer 1988 at the Sands casino in Las Vegas. I was standing near the sportsbook when there was a commotion behind me. I turned and there was Mike Tyson, walking in the center of a ring fans, and coming straight toward us. My mouth opened in disbelief. Mike Tyson was so short he was like a mini human being. It was difficult not to fall over in a seizure of laughter.

And I was hardly the only one with that impression. There was a British couple standing next to me. The husband saw Tyson first and said to his wife, "Lookee there, it's Mike Tyson."

If I live forever I'll never forget her immediate response: "Why...he can't be more than 5 feet tall."

I erupted in laughter and smiled at her. I told her she had the right idea but he's definitely more than 5 feet tall. The three of us agreed on 5 foot 6.

I was working at the Horseshoe sportsbook late the next year and told the story. None of them wanted to believe it until we were again at the Sands, this time for a Christmas function involving sportsbook employees all over town. I was again standing near the sportsbook when Mike Tyson approached. But this time I had our sportsbook manager Tommy George alongside. Like myself a year earlier, Tommy's jaw was wide in shock as Tyson approached. "Okay, I said to him, how tall is he?"

Tommy turned to me wide eyed. "5-6. You were right all along. He's 5-6. Unbelievable."

Then we talked a bit and agreed on maybe 5-7. But Tommy emphasized. "Tops...absolute tops."

At Little Caesar's casino in the same time frame I met a former boxer who was now the working odds jobs at Johnny Tocco's gym in Las Vegas. When he heard the topic he immediately interrupted me. "You're not telling me anything I don't know. Mike is 5 foot 7. It's common knowledge at the gym. Everybody knows it."

Now, a year or so later a friend of mine nicknamed Boxing Mike said we were wrong. He said he knew we were wrong because he was 5-7 himself and he has stood next to Tyson at several weigh ins. Boxing Mike loved to attend weigh ins.

But Boxing Mike agreed that Tyson was much shorter than listed. "He's got me by an inch...maybe 3/4 of an inch."

Regardless, once I saw how tiny he was I immediately lost any belief that Mike Tyson was invincible or even an all time great. From that point forth I was never surprised at how his career unfolded, included being effortlessly shoved backwards by a bloated light heavyweight in Evander Holyfield. Other famous heavyweights like Muhammad Ali are huge human beings. Mike Tyson is a comparative shrimp.

After seeing him the second time I made a wager with a friend that Tyson would lose in the ring within 2 full years. I was getting massacred on college basketball wagers on the February Saturday that Tyson lost to Douglas, so I stupidly left the Horseshoe without taking the 38/1 on Douglass across the street at the Golden Nugget, as intended and announced to friends. I still am annoyed at that. But at least I collected on that 2-year wager.

It would be difficult for Mike Tyson to be more overrated.

Mike Tyson was like a angry pitbull but more dangerous.. The danger of a angry pitbull is a fist is pretty much pointless when it comes to defending against one, they are so filled with rage/adrenaline..etc. in that moment that if you punch it that will just make it chew you apart more.. The reason Mike Tyson is even more dangerous than a pitbull because he was actually trained really well trained and focused in his prime, he had a great trainer that took him in and he trained harder than his competition, that is why he was so strong and so fast for his size. Fighting a 220 pitbull with your fist that trains every day with the sole purpose of destroying you just isn't a smart idea.

Tyson is an average height man. I agree with the gist of your night of entertainment. I know one of the medical personnel who worked on Tyson. Tyson is between 5'9" and 5'10". After a few adult beverages could you and your friends witnessed a different person?

WetMooseFart1 wrote:

Mike Tyson was like a angry pitbull but more dangerous.. The danger of a angry pitbull is a fist is pretty much pointless when it comes to defending against one, they are so filled with rage/adrenaline..etc. in that moment that if you punch it that will just make it chew you apart more..

But the chewing gets it DQ'd

Ridsock Bowe was a massive man and a great boxer. In an old interview he gave while in his prime he was asked about Mike Tyson. He went to the same high school as Mike Tyson. Bowe said that the one person he and everyone else was scared of was Mike Tyson. It’s odd that a massive 6 foot 5 giant of a man with amazing boxing skills was scared of Mike Tyson yet you found his appearance laughable. I believe Riddock Bowe’s version. Mike Tyson was mean as hell and best avoided.

What are you saying??? wrote:

The following four would have beaten Tyson four out of five: Ali, Foreman, Frazier and Larry Holmes. Tyson did not fight great athletes. In the 1970's NFL did not pay well. There were better athletes in the heavy weight division than today prior to 1980's. Tyson, when Cus was alive was angry and fit. Tyson was never as skilled as Ali,, Frazier or Larry Holmes. George Foreman loved to brawl toe to toe. No one could successfully brawl toe to toe with George Foreman. Frazier tried to brawl toe to toe with George Foreman. Frazier lost.

This

Holyfield from 89 on always has his number. Holyfield Tyson, basically the minute Holyfield moved up from cruiser, was the biggest money fight out there. There is a reason Tyson's team avoided him for 2 years.

Ali, Holmes are also sure bets, although Holmes was vulnerable to the right so Tyson has a punches chance. Foreman is 50/50.

Lennox Lewis is greater in historical terms and has the size and skill to win. But hard to see a guy who got knocked out twice lasting the distance.

Wlad Klitschko is in the same boat as Lewis, but his chin was worse. Vitali is an interesting matchup.

Tyson was great at his peak. Probably not top 10 heavy in all time terms due to longevity issues. He did have some high quality wins and brought life to the sport,

Jgfgh wrote:

What are you saying??? wrote:

The following four would have beaten Tyson four out of five: Ali, Foreman, Frazier and Larry Holmes. Tyson did not fight great athletes. In the 1970's NFL did not pay well. There were better athletes in the heavy weight division than today prior to 1980's. Tyson, when Cus was alive was angry and fit. Tyson was never as skilled as Ali,, Frazier or Larry Holmes. George Foreman loved to brawl toe to toe. No one could successfully brawl toe to toe with George Foreman. Frazier tried to brawl toe to toe with George Foreman. Frazier lost.

?

He would beat those four in the same night. Faster, stronger and can take more than them

It does not matter how skilled you think those guys are. When Mike tyson connects one of those haymakers. Thats it. There is no amount of training that one can do to be harder to knock out.

Hfdfghgf wrote:

Could any boxer in history beat Tyson when Tyson was at his prime. Tyson was both very fast (became heavy later in his career), and his punch was probably the strongest (I cannot remember any boxer managing to come back to the fight after a good blow from Tyson). He could also take punches and still fight.

That last sentence has too be one of the dumbest things ever written on here. Tyson never won a fight after he was hit. I was no fan of Ali but the guy could take a punch. He once came back after having his jaw broken by Norton. He laid on the ropes and let Foreman punch himself out. Tyson never beat a quality opponent. Most of his opponents were just looking to lay down somewhere. Buster Douglas exposed him for the overrated boxer he was. He could not beat Holyfield who was a light heavyweight. How could he have beaten a real heavyweight contender from boxing's glory years.

Ali, I think.

The chances for most of those mentioned would go way up if they could get through the first two or three rounds without getting severely hurt, but not many could do that. (I think that both of the Klitschkos would have been knocked down at least once, probably more, in the first two rounds, assuming that they lasted that long.) Ali, though, was big, had great defensive skills, and could take a tremendous beating. He would likely have survived the early rounds without too much damage, and the rest of the fight would increasingly become target practice for him. That, at least, is my guess.

I have less confidence in others. But Holmes and Foreman might have crushed him. Frazier and Joe Lewis might have discouraged and outlasted him. Some fascinating possibilities, from the days when the heavyweight boxing champion was still something very special.