This is 1986 Tyson only. meaning from his debut all the way to the last fight in '86. that is the supposed unbeatable "prime" Mike we hear about.
here are the list of opponents:
Hector Mercedes
Trent Singleton
Don Halpin
Ricardo Spain
John Alderson
Larry Sims
Lorenzo Canady
Michael Johnson
Donnie Long
Robert Colay
Sterling Benjamin
Eddie Richardson
Conroy Nelson
Sammy Scaff
Mark Young
David Jaco
Mike Jameson
Jesse Ferguson
Steve Zouski
James Tillis
Mitch Green
Reggie Gross
William Hosea
Lorenzo Byrd
Marvis Frazier
Jose Ribalta
Alonzo Ratliff
Trevor Berbick
Red = all would be called bums today.
Green = meh. C level at best. still bums by today's standards.
~~~ now lets be real. you match up Wilder with everybody on this list and he most likely beats all by KO. is this the resume of an unbeatable monster? yet people call Wilder a hypejob. if we're being consistent isn't 1986 Tyson a hypejob as well?
during the broadcast for Tyson's fight with Mitch Green there was a short segment explaining the careful selective process of picking opponents for Mike to look good (in other words, cherry picking.) The architects behind the creation of Tyson's aura were Jim Jacobs and Bill Cayton.
here's a link > https://youtu.be/s549QWexlUo (go to 3:40 and listen real close the whole segment. the segment ends at 9:14)
here are direct quotes from that segment:
"our chief responsibility has been to pick the opponents for Mike Tyson."
"the strategy was to pick opponents he would not only beat, he would beat devastatingly."
"Bill and I are scrupulously careful in determining who he fights and the style of the fighter."
"the 100% A1 strategy was to go after the non sports fan, to capture the fringe sports fan, and certainly the fringe boxing fan."
~~~ again lets be real what would we call this today? cherry picking is the answer. the art of cherry picking has been utilized all throughout boxing history to pad records and build the profile of a fighter so this isn't in no way an attemtp to sh*t on Mike but its just to kill the myth that he was facing elite competition. he wasn't. and do you think a segment like that gets aired in this social media era? not a chance. Tyson would've got his credibility shredded.
and again if you line up all these guys to face Wilder we would all call him a bum beater. a tomato can destroyer. yet the same resume gives Mike an "unbeatable" reputation? the marketing strategy of Jacobs and Cayton obviously worked to perfection.
https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/fr/cp0/e15/q65/28165226_2051819725101757_7442146387102153498_o.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9&oh=e7aeaed7731136c0cb28f92ad1a0c616&oe=5B0CF394
in this picture the only thing you have to change is age. 1986 Tyson (age 20) vs 2018 Wilder (age 32). but the height and reach is accurate.
why is it so impossible for Wilder to KO a much smaller opponent? people say he's never faced anybody like Mike. and that goes both ways. Tyson never faced anybody like Wilder. what opponent in that list possesses the right hand, height, reach and awkwardness Wilder brings? answer is none.
my point is that 1986 Tyson was very much the creation of brilliant matchmaking and promotion. there's nothing about 1986 Mike that suggests Wilder would be easy for him.
Tyson came in an era where the heavyweight division was on life support. he brought back excitement and interest in boxing in general. he's the reason my father became a boxing fan. I still have all the VHS footage my pops recorded on Mike. the guy was a big deal. but this is strictly sizing them up stylistically and based on styles its very much possible for Wilder to KO Tyson.
It’s difficult to pinpoint which version of Wilder for Tyson to fight doe. Probably this version of Wilder (After 9 years and 40 fights) would stand a better chance at the 1986 version of Tyson. But the 1986 version of Tyson came with a reputation which puts fear into his opponents before they even step in the ring.
A light heavy who beat Larry Holmes twice.
Holmes was past his best and got robbed.
The 2nd fight was a disgrace. Holmes won so by a very wide margin.
Mike tyson is so overrated is beggers belief.
Post-prison Tyson, maybe. Pre-prison? Nope, he'd get inside, land one good hook and goodbye, Wlad. Corrie Sanders did it for crying out loud.
Your description pretty much sums it up. As I said before, back in those days, the first solid shot Tyson landed tended to end the fight. Wlad didn’t have the chin nor the heart to stand up to the wrecking machine that was prime Tyson. Once he got inside, and he would, it would be over.
Wladmir would jab Tyson's head off and discourage him and he'd give up.
Post-prison Tyson, maybe. Pre-prison? Nope, he'd get inside, land one good hook and goodbye, Wlad. Corrie Sanders did it for crying out loud.
shout out to Sotgoda for this post:
~~
Tyson's 1st set of opponents are listed below:
1. Hector Mercedes: final record of 1 win 10 losses (0-3 record before Tyson)
2. Trent Singleton 1 - 4 final record (1-3 record before Tyson)
Tyson outweighed his 1st 2 opponents by about 15 pounds, FYI...
3. Don Halpin 10 - 23 final record (10 - 18 record before Tyson)
4. Ricardo Spain 2 - 23 final record (1 - 0 record before Tyson); outweighed by 30+ pounds by Tyson.
5. John Alderson 6 -1 final record (3 - 0 before Tyson); he outweighed Tyson.
6. Larry Sims 3 - 19 final record (3 - 16 before Tyson)..
I could go on but it is not necessary. Check out boxrec and see the details yourself.
Ultimately, these are the people he fought. If Wilder fights these same guys - you call him a bum beater. But Tyson's opponents were worse. He outweighed over half of them too (I counted 20 or so out of his 1st 32 opponents) and their combined records until about mid 1985 or so.
Now, no one on Tyson's record has the height and reach of Wilder; neither the foot speed and agility. Don't write back stupid stuff before performing your analysis. The closest to Wilder's physical dimensions were:
Tony Tucker (6'5" and 82 inches) - went to UD;
Mitch Green (6'5" and 82 inches) - also went to UD;
These are the facts. They are not made up or opinions. Numbers don't lie. Based on these facts, my inference is that he will struggle with taller, rangier fighters.
Also, for this world beater 'Tyson' compare his records and the people he fought too against those that Wilder fought. Was Tyson also a bum-beater?
Most heavyweights of those days will be cruiserweights at best in this era. So, enough with the crap talk about Tyson demolishing Wilder. I expect some stupid responses as well from non-objective folks. Provide data to back up your assertion - not BS.
~~~
well written and facts only. no level of fanboyism can dispute these truths.
if stiverne was able to land on wilder which he did in the 1st fight then tyson will and much sooner
Back in those days, the first solid shot Tyson landed usually ended the fight. Most men were defeated before they even entered the ring. Wilder would be no different. All his physical advantages would amount to nothing when the moment of truth arrived.
I have no idea what point you're trying to make here. In 1986, Tyson was a 20 year old who was boxing professionally for 2 years. You're comparing Apples and Cell phones.
As for the head to head, Wilder's jab is too inconsistent to dominate Tyson like Lewis did, and Wilder's defense is average at best. Those long arms aren't gonna help Wilder at all.
If my life was on the line, I would go with Mike Tyson KO in 2nd round and not look back.
No boxer is in their prime when their 20...people only say that because he didn't lose to Buster Douglas. This is boxing not gymnastics.
Call it what you want, his prime, his peak, etc. The thing is, his best was around that time, after that his negligence started to kick in and he turned in a slower head-hunter version of himself, and this version would get KOed by Wilder
True. Last HW who would stand a chance is Vitali because of the iron chin he had and huge size advantage like Lennox. With Wilder and Joshua both having shown susceptibility to shots from less than fearsome punchers, they would be ripe for young Iron Mike.
Wladmir would jab Tyson's head off and discourage him and he'd give up.
Prime Tyson (86-88) is the only version to have a chance, if, and only if, he had a good gameplan. Go for the body and try reach Wilder's head later on. The size disparity plus Wilder ability to control the head of the opponent (shoulder and forearm control) give him the advantage
No boxer is in their prime when their 20...people only say that because he didn't lose to Buster Douglas. This is boxing not gymnastics.
Razor Ruddock is miles better than anyone Wilder has faced. Tyson's best win was easily Spinks, even more miles better than anyone Wilder has faced.
Razor Ruddock would have knocked Spinks out. Spinks was a light heavyweight dude.
Prime Tyson KOs prime Wilder in a few rounds in my opinion. Wilder is too sloppy and he leaves too many openings for a quick handed accurate bomber like Tyson and Wilder has an average chin. If Molina can go 9 rounds with him and rock him several times then Tyson stops him early.
none of the current hw would survive a prime mike tyson imo, none
True. Last HW who would stand a chance is Vitali because of the iron chin he had and huge size advantage like Lennox. With Wilder and Joshua both having shown susceptibility to shots from less than fearsome punchers, they would be ripe for young Iron Mike.
97 98% of people on boxing forums don't know anything about boxing. People are excitied about tyson because of how he ACTED. That's why Holyfield and Lewis were better fighters then Tyson, but Tyson always gets talked about. Because they didn't act like him.
Tyson's best win was Razor Fking Ruddock. I would favor Wilder over Tyson.
Razor Ruddock is miles better than anyone Wilder has faced. Tyson's best win was easily Spinks, even more miles better than anyone Wilder has faced.