1980's Tony tucker article. 26-0.

[Yogi]

Remember those cards? I miss those old 80's Don King promoted Las Vegas heavyweight promotions. Usually featured 6 underachieving Ali wannabe retreads squaring off in a showdown leading up to a title fight for either a splinter WBA or WBC belt. The sun was alway bright and hot when the cards started and dark as the main event was about to start. I'm getting weepy and nostalgic just thinking about it.

I do remember those cards and like you, I also miss them quite a bit. It obviously wasn't one of the greatest times in heavyweight history, but at least we had frequent opportunities to see some of the top rated guys fighting it out on all one show, thanks to Don King...

Like you say, it was pretty normal to see one or even two alphabet title fights at heavyweight, maybe one or two other matchups involving another couple of top ten rated heavyweights (often for the NABF or USBA titles), and then we'd usually see a top ten guy fighting a tune-up fight or possibly a one of King's young heavyweight prospects...If it weren't for the amount of underachievers around at that time at heavyweight and some of the horrible heavyweight matchups that we saw, you'd almost call us spoiled with all those HBO cards of King's along with all the heavyweight action featured on network television during that time.

[SABBATH]

I do remember those cards and like you, I also miss them quite a bit. It obviously wasn't one of the greatest times in heavyweight history, but at least we had frequent opportunities to see some of the top rated guys fighting it out on all one show, thanks to Don King...

Like you say, it was pretty normal to see one or even two alphabet title fights at heavyweight, maybe one or two other matchups involving another couple of top ten rated heavyweights (often for the NABF or USBA titles), and then we'd usually see a top ten guy fighting a tune-up fight or possibly a one of King's young heavyweight prospects...If it weren't for the amount of underachievers around at that time at heavyweight and some of the horrible heavyweight matchups that we saw, you'd almost call us spoiled with all those HBO cards of King's along with all the heavyweight action featured on network television during that time.

Dokes-Weaver II
Page-Snipes
Holmes-Witherspoon

All on the same card. Those were the days my friend......

[brownpimp88]

I'll grant that Tucker was a decent 80's heavyweight, however calling him a "damn fine very underrated fighter" is a stretch.

Tucker's record is padded and littered with nobodies and trial horses. His most notable win against a ranked fighter was the Douglas fight which was even on the scorecards at the time of the stoppage, a dubious Douglas performance that labelled Douglas a quitter. This was Tucker's only stoppage win against a ranked fighter. Split decision wins over Oliver McCall and Orlin Norris and a decision win against James Broad rounds out his resume and that's it for wins against respectable ranked fighters in an 18 year 58 fight career.

Tucker's resume doesn't suggest that he should be rated anywhere other than where he should be. Nothing more than a decent 80's era heavyweight.

Tucker had legit skills man, put him against carnera, willard or braddock and i guarantee he would have whooped them all.

[hemichromis]

Tucker is one of the most underrated Hw's ever. He is the most skilled fighter Tyson ever beat. Tucker was unbeaten untill he met Tyson and lost for the second time in his career against Lennox Lewis. but i do not believe he was the same fighter against Lewis. He was stopped for the first time in his career when he was 37, wich is when he was CLEARLY past his prime and the stoppage was on CUTS. He lost speed, relfexes etc. Thats what he relied on early in his career. He was KO'd for the first time in his career when he was almost 40 years old(39 to be exact). Dont have to tell you he was past his prime.

Tucker is also the proof that 86/88 Tyson would've beaten Douglass because Tyson beat Tucker and Tucker beat Douglass.

that logicv rarely ever works in boxing

[Mike Tyson77]

The "fact" is Tucker had a well publicized drug problem around that time, which cost him a couple of years of pro boxing. The "fact" is Tucker had a well publicized and documented managerial & promotional problems (you can find specifics on that by doing some reading/research and you'll see that those problems were most prevailant in July of 87...JUST before the fight). The "fact" is Tucker was in court on the eve of his fight with Tyson, in a dispute with a former manager, Dennis Rappaport.

The "fact" is Tyson had a well publicized drinking problem around that time, he came into the Douglas fight hung over. The "fact" is Tyson had to lose 20 pounds 2 weeks before the Douglas fight. The "fact" is Tyson had 3 morons with a rubber glove full of water during the Douglas fight. The "fact" is Douglas got to sit on the canvas for 11 seconds during the fight. The "fact" is Tucker beat Douglas and Tyson beat Tucker.

[K-DOGG]

Tucker had legit skills man, put him against carnera, willard or braddock and i guarantee he would have whooped them all.

Tucker was never hungry enough to "whoop" anybody. He might beat them, he might not; but I guarantee you the audience wouldn't be awake at the end because of hiim.

[brownpimp88]

The "fact" is Tyson had a well publicized drinking problem around that time, he came into the Douglas fight hung over. The "fact" is Tyson had to lose 20 pounds 2 weeks before the Douglas fight. The "fact" is Tyson had 3 morons with a rubber glove full of water during the Douglas fight. The "fact" is Douglas got to sit on the canvas for 11 seconds during the fight. The "fact" is Tucker beat Douglas and Tyson beat Tucker.

You tell him pal, tyson is the ****in best ever. No way is some punk champ for the prehistoric days kickin his ass. Praise be to Allah!

[brownpimp88]

Tucker was never hungry enough to "whoop" anybody. He might beat them, he might not; but I guarantee you the audience wouldn't be awake at the end because of hiim.

Carnera was the least skilled champ i've ever seen, no talent at all.

[K-DOGG]

Carnera was the least skilled champ i've ever seen, no talent at all.

No arguement really; but Tucker was missing in the "stomache" department. He had a good chin, good skills, good speed, and decent power; but he lacked that "umph" that you look for in a fighter that drives him to the top. If any modern heavyweight could find a way to lose to Carnera, Tucker would be one of them.

Incidentally, Buster Douglas was whoopin' his ass in 1987 before he ran out of gas and quit in the 10th. Tucker was nothing special, really. He won more "controversial" decisions than any heavy in recent history outside of John Ruiz.

[brownpimp88]

No arguement really; but Tucker was missing in the "stomache" department. He had a good chin, good skills, good speed, and decent power; but he lacked that "umph" that you look for in a fighter that drives him to the top. If any modern heavyweight could find a way to lose to Carnera, Tucker would be one of them.

Incidentally, Buster Douglas was whoopin' his ass in 1987 before he ran out of gas and quit in the 10th. Tucker was nothing special, really. He won more "controversial" decisions than any heavy in recent history outside of John Ruiz.

You know all those short term champs from 1900-1959, i dont really hold them in a high regard. If they were in the 70's, they would be nothing more than contenders. If you put them in the 80's, they would have just been short term abc champs like bonecrusher, tim witherspoon, berbick, etc. Rocky, dempsey, johnson and patterson are the only champs during that time frame that are great/good. Gene Tunney has no right to be called a great heavyweight, he falls in the same boat as ezzard charles. The guy was great at 175, to say he is one of the elites at heavyweight is insane. He could have had an actual title run but, the guy just decided to quit. You really shouldn't say he was a better heavyweight champ than joe frazier, it makes no sense at all.