Mike Tyson Was NOT An Inside Fighter

[Southpaw Stinger]

It's no secret he was a mid range fighter. He needed space to throw his combos. His style was also physically demanding so he was likely glad of the rest when his opponents went in for the clinch. Cept for Holy who went in for the clinch and the head clash.

LOL at the Tyson fans getting offended by the thread though. It's not a knock at Tyson saying he wasn't an inside fighter, it's merely pointing out his style. Like saying Lennox Lewis wasn't a swarmer.

[Southpaw Stinger]

Naw he was a mid-range fighter.He didn't do anything when inside because he rested; reason for the clinching and starting the clinch. As much as he did he needed a rest. Throwing power punches more then half the time is very exhausting especially the power punches that you're trying to knock someone out with.

You beat me to it, Vers.

[StarshipTrooper]

Now you see someone Win the HW Championship at 20 years old and knockout someone in 8 seconds then we can talk....apart from that **** off

Is there something we can help you with? This is an adult conversation about a fighter and you're coming into it acting like a juvenile twat. Seriously: Were you born an azzhole or have you just worked real hard to get that way?

Poet

[Benny Leonard]

He was a mid-range fighter....pretty well known.

He could work on the inside if he wanted but he wasn't an "inside fighter" like say, Frazier.

His body attacks were brutal though and he still had to be inside to throw his famous right-hook to the body, followed up with the right-uppercut...which I hear he got from Duran so it's not like he ****** on the inside...as well as other combinations he would throw. He just wasn't great like Frazier who could keep ****ing to the body to wear you down through the course of the fight if need be. Tyson picked his shots and moments to unload with full force on key points to the body. Against bigger fighters, going to the body might not be as effective because they are so thick and strong...so you take out the head. I'm not sure how many HW bouts with fighters that weigh over 200+ pounds of mass have ended with body-shots like the lower weight divisions.

You can see him destroy the body early on his career before fighters really started to take advantage of their size both in height and weight over the smaller Tyson and started to clinch him. At this point, Tyson may have ditched just ****ing to the body with consistency and decided to rest.

He liked to counter actually. You throw, you miss, he hits. Saves energy...very effective because the opponent is left open and vulnerable.


I think Tyson could have learned whatever the teacher wanted him to.

Even with his punches, it was Richie Giachetti that pointed out how he got Mike to throw the straight-right (down the middle) for his match with Razor Ruddock. He had his moments in the first fight but by the second, he was throwing it more consistently.

Tyson liked to loop his punches before that.

[Kiid Dynamite]

Mike Tyson of 1985 - 1988 was a inside fighter, during that time period he was also a bit of a mid range fighter but after 88' he wasnt the same.

I decided to watch your video, you show only small parts of Tyson during those 3 great years when he was with Rooney.

Watch the Mitch Green fight, see if Mike worked inside..
Watch the Jose Ribalta fight, see if Mike worked inside..
Watch the Jesse Ferguson fight, see if Mike worked inside..

Many more examples, like the Ferguson fight or even Steve Zouski

[Benny Leonard]

Mike Tyson of 1985 - 1988 was a inside fighter, during that time period he was also a bit of a mid range fighter but after 88' he wasnt the same.

I decided to watch your video, you show only small parts of Tyson during those 3 great years when he was with Rooney.

Watch the Mitch Green fight, see if Mike worked inside..
Watch the Jose Ribalta fight, see if Mike worked inside..
Watch the Jesse Ferguson fight, see if Mike worked inside..

Many more examples, like the Ferguson fight or even Steve Zouski

Something I was thinking about that I mentioned in my previous post....is why did Mike start to change?

Maybe it was just simple adaption.

Going to the body later on against guys that can take it, might not have been as effective as just sticking to mid-range. On the inside, those taller, heavier, strong guys may be able to take it better because they are thicker...as well as them being able to clinch you up...so why not take advantage of it and rest instead of trying to wrestle out and waist more energy. Head-shots would probably be more effective against such HWs than going to the body.
It's not like Tyson was going up agaisnt low 200 pound or under type fighters.

More KO's by body-shots in lower weight divisions than the 200+ pounders.


Pick your shots...have meaning to them...and have a plan.

[GJC]

Just to throw my two penneth in as has been stated Tyson was a mid range fighter, a fight that hasn't been mentioned is the Bonecrusher fight. Bonecrusher, a fairly limited fighter, tied Tyson up continuously. Had he have tried that against Frazier he would have probably needed an internal organ transplant.
It has been mentioned that Tyson beat people to the jab then moved in, this is true, but this was against fighters who were intimidated before they started. Simple physics tells you that a fighter shouldn't give away ten inches in reach and consistantly beat the other guy to the jab.
Unfortunately it was all a bit too easy early days for Tyson and he never developed the inside skills he needed to, given his frame.
When Douglas controlled the centre of the ring and used his jab effectively Tyson was in trouble, ok Tyson wasn't in great condition but even if he was he was always going to struggle against a fighter with the attributes to use that game plan.
This is not a criticism of Tyson just an acknowledgement of his physique, the fact he had the success he had is a testament to him.
Had he have developed his inside game he would have had more success, if you look at Frazier he always gained momentum the longer a fight went on. This is because he got on the other fighters chest and inflicted fearful body shots on the inside which slowed down the other fighter in the later rounds.
Like I said not a criticism of Tyson just simple A-Z boxing really.

[Kiid Dynamite]

Something I was thinking about that I mentioned in my previous post....is why did Mike start to change?

Maybe it was just simple adaption.

Going to the body later on against guys that can take it, might not have been as effective as just sticking to mid-range. On the inside, those taller, heavier, strong guys may be able to take it better because they are thicker...as well as them being able to clinch you up...so why not take advantage of it and rest instead of trying to wrestle out and waist more energy. Head-shots would probably be more effective against such HWs than going to the body.
It's not like Tyson was going up agaisnt low 200 pound or under type fighters.

More KO's by body-shots in lower weight divisions than the 200+ pounders.


Pick your shots...have meaning to them...and have a plan.

Well sir, theres something called body and head.. you got to mix it up

Body punches break fighters down, no matter what division

[Benny Leonard]

Well sir, theres something called body and head.. you got to mix it up

Body punches break fighters down, no matter what division

Not what I'm saying. I never said Tyson totally abandoned the body attack because he didn't.

Instead of just continually attacking the body with volume shots, you make sure every punch counts by using pin-point accuracy and trying to hit the open target.

For example: body punchers can continue to attack his opponent even if the opponent covers up that area. While someone like Tyson can make an opening by going to the head which can raise those hands, then attack the body when it is left open...then the opponents hands drop to protect the body, then Tyson goes back up stairs to the open area.

If he needs to make an opening by forcing the opening, he can punch closer to the kidney area or just behind the elbow of the opponent when he is covering his body.
You can see Tyson always looking carefull to the exposed area instead of just slamming away non-stop.
Every punch will be with full force or have an intention.

In a way, he may have had to because of his size compared to the opponents.

And yes, he did go to the body...he had to. He needed to wear down the opponent who was bigger than him just in case he couldn't score the early KO. At least by the mid-late point if the opponent is still there, they wouldn't be the same.


Quick example: Tyson goes to the body and head but each one has meaning. He is always looking...always planning...and just not throwing for the sake of breaking down his opponent with volume.

[Benny Leonard]

Just to throw my two penneth in as has been stated Tyson was a mid range fighter, a fight that hasn't been mentioned is the Bonecrusher fight. Bonecrusher, a fairly limited fighter, tied Tyson up continuously. Had he have tried that against Frazier he would have probably needed an internal organ transplant.
It has been mentioned that Tyson beat people to the jab then moved in, this is true, but this was against fighters who were intimidated before they started. Simple physics tells you that a fighter shouldn't give away ten inches in reach and consistantly beat the other guy to the jab.
Unfortunately it was all a bit too easy early days for Tyson and he never developed the inside skills he needed to, given his frame.
When Douglas controlled the centre of the ring and used his jab effectively Tyson was in trouble, ok Tyson wasn't in great condition but even if he was he was always going to struggle against a fighter with the attributes to use that game plan.
This is not a criticism of Tyson just an acknowledgement of his physique, the fact he had the success he had is a testament to him.
Had he have developed his inside game he would have had more success, if you look at Frazier he always gained momentum the longer a fight went on. This is because he got on the other fighters chest and inflicted fearful body shots on the inside which slowed down the other fighter in the later rounds.
Like I said not a criticism of Tyson just simple A-Z boxing really.

Jabbing: Tyson said it still about Timing. I think even Floyd Jr. said that at one point.

Tucker, 6'5, and a 80+ inch reach, still had a healthy left hand to jab yet Tyson was landing his jabs on him.

So take this for example: Tucker could throw that long jab to Tyson's head...but Tyson, with his speed and agility, would make him miss by going to the left with his head and slightly with his body, and springing forward with his own jab. Or just throw it before Tucker could get his off. Tyson had speed overall...something that started to slightly decline without the proper training...as well as his timing.

For Douglas: Being in shape for someone like Tyson is everything. Out of shape and your legs have no spring to them as well as no endurance overall. That's how Tyson got in close so fast...his leg speed...as well as him bobbing-weaving to avoid punches.
By that point, you can see Tyson's timing was off as well which is another factor he lost.
Other guys like Frazier and Marciano didn't have the leg speed like Tyson did so they would be at a disadvantage for certain opponents, like a Tall fighter with a long jab.