Is Mike Tyson The Most Popular Boxer Ever?

Dice17y ago

I used to think Ali was the most popular but now I really think its Mike. In my opinion a lot of people love Ali's confidence and trash talk but wether we admit it or not, we are humans that are attracted to violence and the way Mike would wreck opponents makes everyone love him. Its not a race issue like today where some spanish fans cant get behind Floyd or Williams cuz of a race thing, its seems every race either knows or just simply loves Tyson regardless of the rape issues, the stupid sh!t he says, and his obvious decline, those late 80's knockouts just stay fresh in our heads. Out of Forbes Mag's Top 10 highest PPV matches, Tyson was involved in six of them and in all six he's the clear bigger draw (Tyson-Lewis,Holyfield,McNeely), and he would be a bigger draw then Oscar period if he didnt decline cuz of a lack of focus. What do you guys think?

Comments (14)

DIESEL

I would think Ali is by far the most popular among mainstream fans and people in general. Tyson is probably just as popular with the hardcore fight fans. I don't know, to be honest. Ali is the most well-known boxer. Period. I was never a big Ali fan, although he was the one who drew me towards this sport way back in the 70's when I was a tiny kid. I'd much rather watch Tyson fight. goddamn...why don't more asians got tits like that

17y ago

crold1

Most popular ever? F to the NO! Tyson's popularity doesn't sniff Ali (70 MILLION tuned in for the Lyle fight alone) and Louis and Dempsey were bigger as well. Of the bunch, Louis was probably the biggest for the longest time, most popular in his prime, and most culturally impactful in both Boxing and sports general. No Louis=No Jackie Robinson; Robinson himself acknowledged as much. Nothing seems as big from distance as it does in the time it's lived, but when Jesse Jackson delivers your eulogy and your funeral is treated like head of state stuff in the news, you KNOW you were big.

17y ago

Dice

I guess thats a better way to reword, famous or known as opposed to popular cuz I know people who know who Mike is and cant stand him

17y ago

them_apples

Tyson is the most famous boxer, everyone - especailly the younger generation knows who he is. Most women even know who he is..I know the odd person who doesn't know who Ali is.

17y ago

Sin_City

Tyson is the most infamous. Ali is the most famous. Just think about it this way, who is most likely to be put in a history book? That's from the view of our era though. Tell me when did Ali ever make the whole U.S. of A stop what they where doing and watch him fight? Joe Louis did that in his rematch vs Max Schmelling. Joe Louis was more of a civil rights leader, though he didn't try to be, then Ali was too. He had done what hadn't been possible since Jack Johnson so he had all of black America on his side too. If you talk about this generation then the name Tyson is far more recognizable of course.. but that doesn't make him the most popular of "all time".

17y ago

Dice

Tyson is the most infamous. Ali is the most famous. Just think about it this way, who is most likely to be put in a history book? You got a point there but I just call it like I see it. When Ali comes up, "Yea man Ali was great, smooth", when Tyson comes up" YO HE WAS SUCH A BEAST" they just get excited over Tyson. But you made a good point, him and Ali are the polar opposite but at the same time, Ali was just as infamous for his muslim beliefs and his refusal to go to war

17y ago

2501

Tyson is the most infamous. Ali is the most famous. Just think about it this way, who is most likely to be put in a history book?

17y ago

Sin_City

You are viewing it from the perspective of our own era.. If you look at it from their own respective era then I would say Joe Louis was the most popular in his time. After that, Ali.

17y ago

S_A_M_U_R_A_I

I think that it would be a generation split, the older ones like Ali more, the younger ones like Tyson more. I feel Tyson is still the most popular due to the Vitali Klitchko fight. They had all these holograms of great HW's, you got Joe Frazier, Lennox Lewis, Foreman, guys who you could argue had better resumes, but when Tyson showed his face, in Germany at that, the crowd went nuts and he got the loudest ovation. Good points. 100% free webcam site! | Awesome chicks and it is absolutely free! | Watch free live sex cam - easy as 1-2-3

17y ago

number6

Not the most popular but behind Ali the most recognizable fighter ever. Everybody has heard of both fighters but Tyson has had the advantage of a bigger tv,internet and media audience to aid him. Non boxing fans are familiar with these two, they are both household names The gap between these two and the rest of the boxing world past and present is huge

17y ago

Golden_Boy_360

Yeah i seen that list too....overall in all ppv buys De La Hoya >>>>holyfield>>tyson

17y ago

SLASHEh

also, Tyson was in the news a lot due to his batshitcrazy antics, so people when they think boxing think tyson

17y ago

Dice

17y ago

S_A_M_U_R_A_I

17y ago