Let's say Mike Tyson does not go to prison. How great would his legacy be?

[Dr Z]

I think an early 90's KO's Foreman.

[DeeMoney]

I think a lot of people forget Tyson had several fights after the Tokyo loss but before prison. And during that time Douglas had already lost the title to Holyfield, so its not as if a Douglas fight would have been called for had there been no prison sentence.

A fight with Holyfield was all set, and then Tyson had to drop out with an injury. Then, a few months later, he was sentenced to prison.

Had there been no prison sentence, and he took on Holyfield sometime in 1992 id give Holyfield a 60-40 edge. Assuming Holyfield won, then Tyson wouldve took out Big George, who by then was too slow to take out Iron Mike. Then he matches up with Bowe, who wouldve just taken the belt from Holyfield, that wouldve been a hell of a fight. Had he beaten Holyfield, I think he ends up vs Bowe at the same time anyways, just he has the belts.

He also ends up getting a fight with Moorer somewhere along the line.

[BKM-]

I think a lot of people forget Tyson had several fights after the Tokyo loss but before prison. And during that time Douglas had already lost the title to Holyfield, so its not as if a Douglas fight would have been called for had there been no prison sentence.

A fight with Holyfield was all set, and then Tyson had to drop out with an injury. Then, a few months later, he was sentenced to prison.

Had there been no prison sentence, and he took on Holyfield sometime in 1992 id give Holyfield a 60-40 edge. Assuming Holyfield won, then Tyson wouldve took out Big George, who by then was too slow to take out Iron Mike. Then he matches up with Bowe, who wouldve just taken the belt from Holyfield, that wouldve been a hell of a fight. Had he beaten Holyfield, I think he ends up vs Bowe at the same time anyways, just he has the belts.

He also ends up getting a fight with Moorer somewhere along the line.

What was wrong with this guy anyway? To fall off the face of the planet like that. From what I remember he ballooned up to like 400 pounds and almost died. Years after that shed the blubber and made a little boxing comeback before retiring and making a nice living another way. But why Buster fell off like that after he won the title seems a mystery. What was it depression over the death of his mother still? Booze? Some other illness?

[DeeMoney]

What was wrong with this guy anyway? To fall off the face of the planet like that. From what I remember he ballooned up to like 400 pounds and almost died. Years after that shed the blubber and made a little boxing comeback before retiring and making a nice living another way. But why Buster fell off like that after he won the title seems a mystery. What was it depression over the death of his mother still? Booze? Some other illness?

I always figured it was similar to what would later happen to Andy Ruiz. He was enticed by fame and fortune that suddenly came upon him, for which he was unprepared.

He went from being an unknown to the first to beat Tyson, to being the undisputed champ of the world, to heck having a video game named after himself. Trappings proved to be too powerful

[BKM-]

I always figured it was similar to what would later happen to Andy Ruiz. He was enticed by fame and fortune that suddenly came upon him, for which he was unprepared.

He went from being an unknown to the first to beat Tyson, to being the undisputed champ of the world, to heck having a video game named after himself. Trappings proved to be too powerful

Lol I remember that video game, I loved it and played it all the time on my Sega console.

Another thing I remember is Douglas went on the Howard Stern show during that time and the trolls that they are, they were making fun of him and putting it into his head that his manager was screwing him over financially. Running the numbers and everything, and it really seemed to get to Buster.

[ShoulderRoll]

Once Mike left his original training team the skills they had honed in him gradually started to deteriorate more and more.

His legacy was always going to be less than what it should have been after that. Prison or no prison.

[Dr Z]

Once Mike left his original training team the skills they had honed in him gradually started to deteriorate more and more.

His legacy was always going to be less than what it should have been after that. Prison or no prison.

Yes, but the three year plus of in activity had as much or more to due with his decline. I think would have had enough to go 3-0 here, 2-1 at worst.

[QueensburyRules]

- - Don needed Tyson to go to jail in order to gain control over Tyson's $50 mil retirement annuity, so any fantasy fights ain't happening.

[The D3vil]

I hate to say this, but I think he dies, if he doesn't go to prison.

He was on a road for destruction

If he doesn't die, it's probably a lot worst for him, still, I hate to say because he's my guy.

The most likely scenario is that drugs & overall craziness probably continues to derail his life & career


But let's just say it doesn't for the sake of argument & he just sort of maintains the level he's at around 1991

I do think he had enough to beat an old Foreman, but I think he loses to Holyfield & maybe Mercer, too.

He catches a pre-Steward Lennox with a shot, just like his sparring partner Oliver McCall did, but loses in the rematch like McCall & later Rahman did.

Bowe goes on to fight Lennox & they have the epic trilogy that Bowe & Holyfield had throughout the mid-'90s with the winner going on to being the 90's most dominant champion

Beats Michael Moorer

He never fights Bowe, because they're homies from Brooklyn.

He knocks out Morrison & Golota

By that point, he's around 30 & I just can't see him having the energy to fight the next generation of guys like Tua, Ibeabuchi, & The Klitschkos.

Let's just say he quits around 32 after a loss to a 2nd loss to Holyfield.

[GhostofDempsey]

The problem with Tyson right before prison was that he was a lost soul. Too many bad influences and partying. He was self destructive. He still wins a rematch with Douglas by KO. Holyfield beats him at any time in his career. Foreman gets some good licks in but takes a lot of punishment too, Tyson by UD. I always wanted to see Tyson vs Mercer or Bowe.