When I say early, I mean before Tyson made it big and got his shot against Trevor Berbick. Now, people always say that all his opponents from that time were nobody's, but of all them, which do you think is the best fighter. IMO, Jesse Furguson is the best. I believe he lasted the longest against of all those opponents, but I don't remember. Anyway, Furguson was a good fighter, he had a good jab, and decent power. He lasted until the 6th when he was DQed for execessive holding of Tyson's arms, however, the fight is listed as a 6th round TKO win for Tyson, but nontheless, he's still the best of all them, IMO.

He beat guys like marvis frazier,james tillis, alfonso ratliff and ferguson. I say that is good enough to get a shot at an abc title holder.

vs. tillis. some ppl had him bearly winning that fight,and so did I. official scores were. 6-4,6-4,8-2. the ribalta fight was also a great fight cause ribalta came to fight and did that and had tyson confused for awhile

When I say early, I mean before Tyson made it big and got his shot against Trevor Berbick. Now, people always say that all his opponents from that time were nobody's, but of all them, which do you think is the best fighter. IMO, Jesse Furguson is the best. I believe he lasted the longest against of all those opponents, but I don't remember. Anyway, Furguson was a good fighter, he had a good jab, and decent power. He lasted until the 6th when he was DQed for execessive holding of Tyson's arms, however, the fight is listed as a 6th round TKO win for Tyson, but nontheless, he's still the best of all them, IMO.

I'd say either Tillis or Mitch Green.

pinklon thomas

(only seen brief highlights of his fights but anyone with a name like pinklon must be tough)

Tyson referred to Tillis before as his toughest opponent.

Hmm...there's little to choose from between each of them, but I'd probably rank Tyson's five "best" pre-Berbick opponents something like this;

1. Jose Ribalta
2. Marvis Frazier
3. Mitch Green
4. James Tillis
5. Jesse Ferguson

Tyson referred to Tillis before as his toughest opponent.

tillis was a spoiler thats why tyson didn't like him. i remeber tyson commentatin g at the bruno/tillis fight where bruno destroyed his face!

Id say Frazier or Ribalta, Mike were the best but hardest for TYSON was Tillis, slippery ****er but bare in mind this was a VERY young fighter in Tyson on the way up with much to learn, this fight did him the world of good!

Id also say Tillis.
I dont know much about him, but i believe he was a experienced veteran who gave Tyson his 1st or 2nd fight to the distance.

bruno hurt tyson a couple of times if only he had a better chin! :sigh:

Bruno was after Mike became champ and stopped being the perpetual buzzsaw we grew to enjoy.

I think Yogi's list is just about perfect. Tillis was a good fight for a young Tyson who had a lot to learn about ring and time management.

bruno hurt tyson a couple of times if only he had a better chin! :sigh:

Bruno needed more than a great chin to beat Tyson.
In their second fight he needed a nappy and a white flag.

Tillis.....................

Thanks for the Hagler clip.Great music!

James Tillis was because he established the blueprint used to beat him four years later. And if James was the Tillis of '81 or '82, Tyson would've lost.