Prime Dempsey vs Prime Tyson

[louis54]

The savage fighter Tyson always wanted t o be KOs Tyson in 2.

Wouldnt doubt it

[Rusty Tromboni]

Wouldnt doubt it

Whoever KO'd Tyson in 2?


I love Dempsey. He's a much more talented fighter than Tyson, and mentally he was the sun, and Tyson was the moon.

But Dempsey at his best was closer to Marvin Hagler in size than he was Tyson. I don't doubt that most of that had to do w/ steroids and advances in strength training. But the point is, you put a 182lb. Dempsey in the ring with a 225lb. Tyson, you're matching men 40 pounds apart. What's the closest we can get them? 20 pounds apart?

Again, if Dempsey came of age today, with a trainer like Bernstein or Lomachenko (can they speak Cowboy?), I am sure you have a 210 lb. monster who can devour pretty much anyone you put in front of him - I'd only favor Vitali and Fury. Tyson would be out of his league against that hypothetical Dempsey.

But the guy we have to work with is too small for Tyson, who even at his worst, had a SOLID chin.

[louis54]

I've met both, tysons frame smaller than dempseys....just because tyson wasnt as good as dempsey is no disgrace...tyson was good enough.... "...dempsey never had an equal on this earth as a fighter." Hype igoe who saw jeffries fight sharkey, fitz, johnson 10 times, louis etc.

[billeau2]

I wrote something earlier that I wound up not posting. So many of these comparisons are subject to the interpretation of the conditions. We have to consider, different gloves, rounds, training goals, etc. Here are some considerations at least...

Liston mentored Foreman. George got many of the smarts from Sonny, but a simple thing like Sonny's half step was never quite attained in Foreman... I bring this up because Tyson studied Dempsey and took on many of his tools, like a pivot step, the low posture bob and weave, the attempt to punch through the opponent, etc. Did Tyson surpass the master, any more than Foreman did? Rhetorical question really.

I don't believe Tyson ever fought a fighter near as good as Tunney. But neither Tyson, nor Dempsey fought the greatest competition.

I don't know guys have to really think about this one beyond the above comments.

[louis54]

Tyson is overrated anyway....hes not even the best of his time.... One of the reasonguys like Duran and dempsey were as great as can be was because of the tremendous boxing gifts they had; which allowed almost unparelled versatillity.

[uncle ben]

Tyson is overrated anyway....hes not even the best of his time.... One of the reasonguys like Duran and dempsey were as great as can be was because of the tremendous boxing gifts they had; which allowed almost unparelled versatillity.

I doubt it would end well for the 190 pound Dempsey clashing with a 218 pound Tyson at ring center. And it's not just size. Tyson was a 218 pound fighter with a solid chin, ATG 2 fisted punching power along with ATG hand speed and accuracy, all likely superior to Dempsey's. A prime Tyson is one of the worst bigger men a smaller man could face.

[uncle ben]

I don't believe Tyson ever fought a fighter near as good as Tunney. But neither Tyson, nor Dempsey fought the greatest competition.

I don't know guys have to really think about this one beyond the above comments.

None may have had the pure skill of Tunney, but he did fight and beat men who may have been more formidable heavyweight's H2H than Tunney.

[louis54]

I doubt it would end well for the 190 pound Dempsey clashing with a 218 pound Tyson at ring center. And it's not just size. Tyson was a 218 pound fighter with a solid chin, ATG 2 fisted punching power along with ATG hand speed and accuracy, all likely superior to Dempsey's. A prime Tyson is one of the worst bigger men a smaller man could face.

Dempsey could fight inside back up tyson....and ko him

[uncle ben]

Dempsey could fight inside back up tyson....and ko him

Yeah and what's he doing while Tyson is landing combinations on the 190 pound Dempsey at will?