ESPN Classic Ringside: Mike Tyson

[Scott9945]

Yep and I remember when Bruno DID hurt Mike in the first fight but all it did was piss him off and he came out like an animal the next round.

Tyson was taught well, how to stay calm, especially when youre hurt.

The Douglas fight...Tyson was in bad shape, (130lbs I think?) so much so that his sparring partner knocked him down and he STILL took a monster beating from Buster before going out.

I think Tysons chin is underrated. Holyfield and Lewis beat the sense out of him too. Mike took some big punches (and headbutts) in those fights.


So, who couldve gotten to him before he knocked em out?

Im a big Foreman fan but I think Mike had a good enough 1-2 to get inside on George and I dont see him taking Tysons body to head combos for too long.

Assuming that was a typo and you meant 230, it still is incorrect. Tyson weighed 220 1/2 for the Douglas fight, only 1-2 lbs more than his previous three fights.

[Heavybag Champ]

Assuming that was a typo and you meant 230, it still is incorrect. Tyson weighed 220 1/2 for the Douglas fight, only 1-2 lbs more than his previous three fights.

230 was what I meant and im sure youre right, sorry. I was thinking about the Lenox Lewis fight. Mike was over 230 for that fight and it showed.

Against Douglas, he wasnt dipping and moving like he used to and his corner men were out of control...using a rubber glove filled with water on his eye.

[Scott9945]

230 was what I meant and im sure youre right, sorry. I was thinking about the Lenox Lewis fight. Mike was over 230 for that fight and it showed.

Against Douglas, he wasnt dipping and moving like he used to and his corner men were out of control...using a rubber glove filled with water on his eye.

Watching that fight on live TV, I noticed right away that Tyson seemed very listless.

[Sugar Adam Ali]

I feel tyson lost all passion for the sport after the spinks KO.. He had dominated and conquored the division, became a worldwide celebrity and ****** rich..

Like hagler said "Its hard to get up and train in the morning when your sleeping in silk pajamas and sheets

[Heavybag Champ]

I feel tyson lost all passion for the sport after the spinks KO.. He had dominated and conquored the division, became a worldwide celebrity and ****** rich..

Like hagler said "Its hard to get up and train in the morning when your sleeping in silk pajamas and sheets

Thats a great quote and so true.

[Dynamite76]

You have NEVER seen a heavyweight with that type of speed/power/technique and never will again. I know the guy was a punk and his reign didnt last long at all but for the love of God...


Cant we all just pretend that Tyson died in a plane crash instead of getting sent to prison for **** and give the man his due credit?

Its sickening to read through these lists and not see Tyson at or near the top when you all know, damn well, in his prime, Tyson was unbeatable.

The guy was getting into trouble before he even won the title.Could've been a great one had he kept his head on straight.And, by the way, Page,Dokes, Tubbs, and Ali were at least every bit as fast as he was.

[Heavybag Champ]

The guy was getting into trouble before he even won the title.Could've been a great one had he kept his head on straight.And, by the way, Page,Dokes, Tubbs, and Ali were at least every bit as fast as he was.

He was a teenager that ate, drank and slept boxing. Cus completely changed his life but cmon, anyone would have hit some bumps traveling the road that Mike traveled. It was after Cus died, after Jacobs died and after he fired his trainers when Mike started walking toward the cliff he eventually fell off.


Did any of the fighters you named have Mikes power? Honest question because I cant say ive seen any of them fight aside from Ali.

Sure, Ali was fast and smooth as hell but did Ali have KO power?Ali had to wear down his opponents to have any shot at a KO. Mike wasnt so much fast as he was incredibly quick, compact and powerful.

[Heavybag Champ]

And...couldve been a great one?

Are you joking?

37-0
youngest heavyweight champ ever

What does it take to be considered "great" ?

Marciano was 49 - 0 and fought a lot of bums along the way ...if he had kept on fighting after losing his fire and lost his next two fights , would he not have been considered great anymore?

[Joe Beamish]

The guy was getting into trouble before he even won the title.Could've been a great one had he kept his head on straight.And, by the way, Page,Dokes, Tubbs, and Ali were at least every bit as fast as he was.

But not fast in the same way. Tyson brought a new kind of movement to the division.

But anyway, every fighter has his shelf life. Tyson's was short. You can't keep moving like that for decades. And his brain/personality was never fully developed outside the ring. Losing Cus, he was able to keep enough of that structure and momentum going to win the title. Then he broke up with Rooney, then the ridiculous celebrity world soaked him for good as a great fighter.

Tyson was absolutely great...for a short explosive moment. I'm not sure he ever could have defeated Lewis (for example.) But I cant think of any fighter in the HW division who could have beat everybody historically. Somebody's always got somebody else's number.

Except for WW division robinson

[Wuckoo]

He wasn't unbeatable but he would give anybody trouble. But I can't give someone credit for such a short prime. I mean who the hell is out of prime by their mid 20s!? Granted cus dying and don king's greed were unfortunate circumstances but he didn't dominate for a very long time