Usyk vs Mike Tyson

[uncle ben]

What if the best version of Usyk met Mike Tyson in the ring in 1988? Let's say we swap out Spinks for Usyk. How does that fight go?

[Tatabanya]

Usyk would not be as scared as Spinks was, that's for sure. I see him giving Tyson problems for a while, but THAT Tyson would still win within four-to-six rounds.

Contrary to what supposed "experts" keep saying, what many people don't remember is that YOUNG Tyson was quite patient. When an opponent used tactics in an attempt to dilute his ferocity, Mike would spend entire rounds finding alternative ways to hurt him. And, generally speaking, he would eventually succeed. Or else, he would win on points.

[QueensburyRules]

What if the best version of Usyk met Mike Tyson in the ring in 1988? Let's say we swap out Spinks for Usyk. How does that fight go?

- -How 'bout we swap Uncle Ben for Aunt Jemima...

[Tatabanya]

- -How 'bout we swap Uncle Ben for Aunt Jemima...

There you go:

[billeau2]

What if the best version of Usyk met Mike Tyson in the ring in 1988? Let's say we swap out Spinks for Usyk. How does that fight go?

We have to keep a few things straight to do this right:

Somehow we have to recreate how scary Tyson was. Spinks was no shrinking violet... He grew up in the Loo (St Louis) and was used to verbal and psychological intimidation. How does Usyk deal with Tyson's whole presentation? I mean lets generalize... how does usyk deal with guys like Foreman? or liston? all guys with a presence. We can't poo poo this... Floyd Patterson was a tough kid. Liston had him beat before the bell rang. Usyk has no real way of understanding/dealing with this level of intimidation given his experiences. Boxing is a game to him. Going to work, listening to his corner and sticking to the plan.

Does Usyk have something like Ali had? a truly placid heart, an ability to see past the level of aggression and psych warfare that a true bad a s s brings? Chisora is a tough guy and even he, nowhere as near the level of a foreman, or a Tyson, had Usyk a little psyched. Listen to how Usyk talks about Chisora, he gives Derrick a lot of credit for being tough. By comparison he does no such thing with Joshua... this tells me that Usyk is at least self aware about this issue.

To me Tyson might simply be too aggressive and too scary for Usyk. Tyson has foot speed and studied the master (Dempsey) when it comes to pressing an opponent. Its not a question of size either... Usyk has to find a way to survive Tyson's onslaught, especially the initial one.

Personally? I don't think Usyk does... If they fight two times, the first time Tyson wins, the second time Usyk may adapt, but Tyson is unlike any opponent usyk has ever fought. Similar to Spinks... actually Spinks and Usyk are comprable cruisers imo, both top ten, maybe top five.

[Get em up]

We have to keep a few things straight to do this right:

Somehow we have to recreate how scary Tyson was. Spinks was no shrinking violet... He grew up in the Loo (St Louis) and was used to verbal and psychological intimidation. How does Usyk deal with Tyson's whole presentation? I mean lets generalize... how does usyk deal with guys like Foreman? or liston? all guys with a presence. We can't poo poo this... Floyd Patterson was a tough kid. Liston had him beat before the bell rang. Usyk has no real way of understanding/dealing with this level of intimidation given his experiences. Boxing is a game to him. Going to work, listening to his corner and sticking to the plan.

Does Usyk have something like Ali had? a truly placid heart, an ability to see past the level of aggression and psych warfare that a true bad a s s brings? Chisora is a tough guy and even he, nowhere as near the level of a foreman, or a Tyson, had Usyk a little psyched. Listen to how Usyk talks about Chisora, he gives Derrick a lot of credit for being tough. By comparison he does no such thing with Joshua... this tells me that Usyk is at least self aware about this issue.

To me Tyson might simply be too aggressive and too scary for Usyk. Tyson has foot speed and studied the master (Dempsey) when it comes to pressing an opponent. Its not a question of size either... Usyk has to find a way to survive Tyson's onslaught, especially the initial one.

Personally? I don't think Usyk does... If they fight two times, the first time Tyson wins, the second time Usyk may adapt, but Tyson is unlike any opponent usyk has ever fought. Similar to Spinks... actually Spinks and Usyk are comprable cruisers imo, both top ten, maybe top five.

That's one hell of a break down. Well played sir well played!

[markusmod]

We have to keep a few things straight to do this right:

Somehow we have to recreate how scary Tyson was. Spinks was no shrinking violet... He grew up in the Loo (St Louis) and was used to verbal and psychological intimidation. How does Usyk deal with Tyson's whole presentation? I mean lets generalize... how does usyk deal with guys like Foreman? or liston? all guys with a presence. We can't poo poo this... Floyd Patterson was a tough kid. Liston had him beat before the bell rang. Usyk has no real way of understanding/dealing with this level of intimidation given his experiences. Boxing is a game to him. Going to work, listening to his corner and sticking to the plan.

Does Usyk have something like Ali had? a truly placid heart, an ability to see past the level of aggression and psych warfare that a true bad a s s brings? Chisora is a tough guy and even he, nowhere as near the level of a foreman, or a Tyson, had Usyk a little psyched. Listen to how Usyk talks about Chisora, he gives Derrick a lot of credit for being tough. By comparison he does no such thing with Joshua... this tells me that Usyk is at least self aware about this issue.

To me Tyson might simply be too aggressive and too scary for Usyk. Tyson has foot speed and studied the master (Dempsey) when it comes to pressing an opponent. Its not a question of size either... Usyk has to find a way to survive Tyson's onslaught, especially the initial one.

Personally? I don't think Usyk does... If they fight two times, the first time Tyson wins, the second time Usyk may adapt, but Tyson is unlike any opponent usyk has ever fought. Similar to Spinks... actually Spinks and Usyk are comprable cruisers imo, both top ten, maybe top five.

Very nice sir.

[billeau2]

So its very flattering that people like the Mike Tyson post. Its one of those things... You get older... As a twenty year old you look at a trainer like Don Turner, and his take on Marciano being the best, and your like... "What?" Then you realize as you get older and wiser, whether Turner is right, or not, Don was there... in the gyms, all the way up through.. and has a valuable insight.

I feel old now saying this... In the eighties most of the time I was in college. I was teaching martial arts in a premier club, so being pegged a combat enthusiast of sorts, everyone wanted to discuss this kid from Brooklyn. The feeling was that the heavyweight division had never seen such a juggernaught. He was making every opponent do the stanky leg, if they did not just hit the floor like a plank.

Nobody ever thought Tyson would lose... It took a while for him to even go the distance. You would see guys in the ring, and they did not want to even look at Mike...

Well I got a little older and while in San Francisco, in grad school, had a paper due, used to have my neighbor, he was a big time coke dealer... so he of course grabs me to do a few lines, now I see that Rockin Robbin, the sports bar on Haight Street (no longer there) has the Tyson Douglas fight... Im feeling no pain, decide to grab a beer, wasn't far away, was feeling good. In those days you could see the fights in sports bars...

i will never forget that night... I should say "WE" all the people in that bar that evening... We watched the first rounds a little confused... now the fight is raging on, people are starting to believe Douglas might get this done... It was an incredible feeling to watch Tyson lose that fight... Its undescribable. Heres my point: It did not seem possible!

Thats my bias. Lol.

Edit: There were many good jabbing fighters who Tyson faced... Spinks not the least of them. Im thinking to myself... Usyk needs that jab, and unlike Hollyfield who is capable of taking a shot from mike to push him back... No way Usyk can so that. IMO Mike, at his best, walks through Usyk and Usyk fares about as well as Spinks.

[them_apples]

Usyk would not be as scared as Spinks was, that's for sure. I see him giving Tyson problems for a while, but THAT Tyson would still win within four-to-six rounds.

Contrary to what supposed "experts" keep saying, what many people don't remember is that YOUNG Tyson was quite patient. When an opponent used tactics in an attempt to dilute his ferocity, Mike would spend entire rounds finding alternative ways to hurt him. And, generally speaking, he would eventually succeed. Or else, he would win on points.

well for the record spinks was vastly superior to usyk. Spinks is prob the second greatest light heavy ever. Tyson would steam roll usyk. He wouldnt know what to do with Tysons style

[Tatabanya]

spinks was vastly superior to usyk.

Perhaps, but styles (and frames of mind) make fights. I just can't envision Usyk getting knocked out cold in the first like Spinks.