What if.......

[ceboxer15]

Tyson wasn't beaten by Douglas, what would've happened next for Tyson and the heavyweight divison?

[BKM-]

Things would have gone very diffirently. I think Tyson would have fought Holyfield and probably would have lost at that stage, it would be a great trioligy between those 2. So many great fights could have been made if Tyson was in the game in the early to mid 90s.

[butterfly1964]

Holyfield was the mandatory challnger, so they would have fought both in their primes. What a fight that would have been!

[Brassangel]

There was a thread posted a while back in which K-DOGG posted a great reply concerning the heavyweight division in the 90's had Tyson not gone to prison. While I don't agree with everything in there, it is interesting to ponder. Given the circumstances surrounding Mike Tyson at the time, I think his loss to Douglas would actually have been better for his career, this topic, and the division. Here's my hypothetical take on it:

After beating Tillman, Stewart, Ruddock 1 & 2, Mike may have been given a rematch against Douglas, whereby Douglas shows up 15-20 pounds overweight (like he did against Holyfield), and Tyson crushes him in the first three rounds. People would notice that Douglas was no longer motivated to fight at the top of the division, so there likely wouldn't be any interest in a rubbermatch. There would also be a spark in the fans to cheer for Mike again, as they see he's motivated to get his title back, and he showed heart by overcome a tough opponent twice (Ruddock), and avenging a loss (Douglas).

The table is set for one of the biggest draws in the heavyweight division in many years as Evander Holyfield prepares to defend the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship against Mike Tyson. Likely taking place in May/June 1992 instead of fighting Larry Holmes, both fighters receive a colossal payday. I think that Tyson shows up looking a little like his old self (he is only 24-25 years old at this point), and takes back the title. Holyfield throws a lot of punches early, getting a little winded before settling into a cruising comfort zone, and Tyson does what he did in round 3 of their second fight (before the bite) and outclasses Holyfield by simply throwing combos. He catches Evander in the mid rounds, and gets a TKO or stoppage in round 7. Mike is almost completely forgiven by the boxing media and the general public for his loss to Douglas, and he resumes a lengthy reign as champion.

Holyfield, eager for a rematch, is forced to face up-and-comer Rid**** Bowe, while Tyson gets a (money) match with George Foreman. Foreman is game, but I think that Tyson's ability to fight mid range and beat George to almost every punch gives him the advantage, and he wins a 12 round decision. The big man was very difficult to knock out, so I think that he goes down once, but Mike doesn't completely put him away. Holyfield loses to Bowe, however, much as he did in actuality, setting up Tyson vs. Bowe in March/April 1993.

Bowe is a little timid, but he works behind the jab early on, while Mike goes a little eagerly for a KO. I think Tyson catches Bowe and gets one of those random Tyson KO wins, though lackluster in his performance. Tyson and Holyfield fight a rematch around October of 1993, whereby Tyson looks a little lazy and Holyfield looks a little sharper. Even so, I think that the fight is fairly slow paced, and Tyson may even be gifted a decision, or split decision. This fight would almost remind me of Tyson vs. Tillis. This sets up a match between Tyson and another up-and-comer you may have heard of named Lennox Lewis.

Meanwhile, Holyfield and Bowe go at it again and make their trilogy just as interesting as it was in reality.

When Tyson was younger, I simply cannot see him losing to Lennox Lewis. As skilled as Lewis was, and as great as his size and jab were, he had a relatively soft chin. A Tyson in his twenties lands a good deal of punches against the flat-top sporting Lewis, as he was accustomed to consistently fighting taller men, and "TIMBER!" is shouted from the balcony. What round is irrelevant, and even though Mike wins their first meeting, it wouldn't be their last, and Lewis would certainly remain around the top of the division.

Eventually, after reaching about 50-1, Mike eventually loses to Lewis or Bowe in a rematch down the road, as determination begins to falter once more, and age catches up to his style. He probably gets in 8-9 successful defenses as champ the second time around, and I imagine he retires around the year 2002 with some dignity, and a respectable record of 56-4 or so, losing some late money fights and random title shots.

Okay, so I could go on and on and on about this. Point being, I think that the 1990's become a "golden age 2" or a "silver age" for the heavyweights by Mike Tyson simply NOT going to prison. Whether he wins or loses to Douglas is probably irrelevant, though I think that the loss would have been better for him no matter what. The Top 10 all-time list would likely change as well. It would probably look a bit more like this:

1. Joe Louis/Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis/Muhammad Ali
3. Mike Tyson
4. Larry Holmes
5. Rocky Marciano
6. Sonny Liston
7. Lennox Lewis
8. George Foreman
9. Joe Frazier
10. Jack Dempsey

Foreman's stock falls greatly, as I don't believe he wins the title again with Tyson around. I also believe that, while Holyfield would still be considered an all-time great, he wouldn't have quite the run (like he actually had) if he fought Mike earlier on. Since Tyson would have avenged his loss and held the title for a good length of time on two separate occassions, he would probably be placed much higher up there on the list. Lennox Lewis would also be higher as I think he eventually ends Mike's run, defeats Bowe and Holyfield, and dominates the end of the 90's, beginning of the 00's when the others bow out and retire.

But then, I could be completely wrong.

[BKM-]

Good ****.

[me2007]

Tyson had the shortest prime i can ever remember of anyone...he was a man at the age of 13..

[ceboxer15]

Holyfield was the mandatory challnger, so they would have fought both in their primes. What a fight that would have been!

that would've been a great fight, who do you think would've won?

[Brassangel]

Read book posted above. ^

[dahowl]

mike never beat a top quality fighter in his division,loss to douglas was just a preview of the future.

[IronNick]

There was a thread posted a while back in which K-DOGG posted a great reply concerning the heavyweight division in the 90's had Tyson not gone to prison. While I don't agree with everything in there, it is interesting to ponder. Given the circumstances surrounding Mike Tyson at the time, I think his loss to Douglas would actually have been better for his career, this topic, and the division. Here's my hypothetical take on it:

After beating Tillman, Stewart, Ruddock 1 & 2, Mike may have been given a rematch against Douglas, whereby Douglas shows up 15-20 pounds overweight (like he did against Holyfield), and Tyson crushes him in the first three rounds. People would notice that Douglas was no longer motivated to fight at the top of the division, so there likely wouldn't be any interest in a rubbermatch. There would also be a spark in the fans to cheer for Mike again, as they see he's motivated to get his title back, and he showed heart by overcome a tough opponent twice (Ruddock), and avenging a loss (Douglas).

The table is set for one of the biggest draws in the heavyweight division in many years as Evander Holyfield prepares to defend the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship against Mike Tyson. Likely taking place in May/June 1992 instead of fighting Larry Holmes, both fighters receive a colossal payday. I think that Tyson shows up looking a little like his old self (he is only 24-25 years old at this point), and takes back the title. Holyfield throws a lot of punches early, getting a little winded before settling into a cruising comfort zone, and Tyson does what he did in round 3 of their second fight (before the bite) and outclasses Holyfield by simply throwing combos. He catches Evander in the mid rounds, and gets a TKO or stoppage in round 7. Mike is almost completely forgiven by the boxing media and the general public for his loss to Douglas, and he resumes a lengthy reign as champion.

Holyfield, eager for a rematch, is forced to face up-and-comer Rid**** Bowe, while Tyson gets a (money) match with George Foreman. Foreman is game, but I think that Tyson's ability to fight mid range and beat George to almost every punch gives him the advantage, and he wins a 12 round decision. The big man was very difficult to knock out, so I think that he goes down once, but Mike doesn't completely put him away. Holyfield loses to Bowe, however, much as he did in actuality, setting up Tyson vs. Bowe in March/April 1993.

Bowe is a little timid, but he works behind the jab early on, while Mike goes a little eagerly for a KO. I think Tyson catches Bowe and gets one of those random Tyson KO wins, though lackluster in his performance. Tyson and Holyfield fight a rematch around October of 1993, whereby Tyson looks a little lazy and Holyfield looks a little sharper. Even so, I think that the fight is fairly slow paced, and Tyson may even be gifted a decision, or split decision. This fight would almost remind me of Tyson vs. Tillis. This sets up a match between Tyson and another up-and-comer you may have heard of named Lennox Lewis.

Meanwhile, Holyfield and Bowe go at it again and make their trilogy just as interesting as it was in reality.

When Tyson was younger, I simply cannot see him losing to Lennox Lewis. As skilled as Lewis was, and as great as his size and jab were, he had a relatively soft chin. A Tyson in his twenties lands a good deal of punches against the flat-top sporting Lewis, as he was accustomed to consistently fighting taller men, and "TIMBER!" is shouted from the balcony. What round is irrelevant, and even though Mike wins their first meeting, it wouldn't be their last, and Lewis would certainly remain around the top of the division.

Eventually, after reaching about 50-1, Mike eventually loses to Lewis or Bowe in a rematch down the road, as determination begins to falter once more, and age catches up to his style. He probably gets in 8-9 successful defenses as champ the second time around, and I imagine he retires around the year 2002 with some dignity, and a respectable record of 56-4 or so, losing some late money fights and random title shots.

Okay, so I could go on and on and on about this. Point being, I think that the 1990's become a "golden age 2" or a "silver age" for the heavyweights by Mike Tyson simply NOT going to prison. Whether he wins or loses to Douglas is probably irrelevant, though I think that the loss would have been better for him no matter what. The Top 10 all-time list would likely change as well. It would probably look a bit more like this:

1. Joe Louis/Muhammad Ali
2. Joe Louis/Muhammad Ali
3. Mike Tyson
4. Larry Holmes
5. Rocky Marciano
6. Sonny Liston
7. Lennox Lewis
8. George Foreman
9. Joe Frazier
10. Jack Dempsey

Foreman's stock falls greatly, as I don't believe he wins the title again with Tyson around. I also believe that, while Holyfield would still be considered an all-time great, he wouldn't have quite the run (like he actually had) if he fought Mike earlier on. Since Tyson would have avenged his loss and held the title for a good length of time on two separate occassions, he would probably be placed much higher up there on the list. Lennox Lewis would also be higher as I think he eventually ends Mike's run, defeats Bowe and Holyfield, and dominates the end of the 90's, beginning of the 00's when the others bow out and retire.

But then, I could be completely wrong.

I agree with this. That match was a major downfall of tyson's career.