How Close Did Mike Tyson Come To Achieving Ali Status?

[Tatabanya]

In the end Tyson was a flash in the pan, today mostly remembered for threatening to eat people's children and ****; he became a parody of himself.

Excluding the haters, the average Joes who don't know shìt about boxing do remember Tyson for that, plus the ear bite and other assorted trivia.

The cognoscenti immediately realized, and to this day maintain, that Tyson - with all the "coulda, woulda, shoulda" one can possibly throw in - was a special kind of fighter.

Let's put it this way: Ali, in general, was much smarter than Tyson. This is indisputable. But this did not prevent him from being exploited as well, in the end. An exploitation he paid dearly - with Parkinson's.

You can easily figure out who the exploiting entity was, in both cases.

[QueensburyRules]

Let's put it this way: Ali, in general, was much smarter than Tyson. This is indisputable. But this did not prevent him from being exploited as well, in the end. An exploitation he paid dearly - with Parkinson's.

- -Tyson as a young man was extraordinarily schooled and well conversant on boxing history thanks to his HOF trifecta who early recognized the need to fill his grossly neglected upbringing to tap into his undeveloped intelligence to complete their perfect fighter.

Ali belonging to a responsible working class family was given a pass in high school though he failed most of the courses because the school honchos understood he was never made to succeed in school, instead having as yet untapped gifts. He failed the minimal draft exam that he could barely read that gave him his initial 4F deferral. He could spout nonsensical doggeral all day, but incapable of holding a knowledgable adult conversation until he was much older and wiser.

The IQ test was never meant rate these two, so an notion of intellectual superiority never existed.

[Tatabanya]

- -Tyson as a young man was extraordinarily schooled and well conversant on boxing history thanks to his HOF trifecta who early recognized the need to fill his grossly neglected upbringing to tap into his undeveloped intelligence to complete their perfect fighter.

Ali belonging to a responsible working class family was given a pass in high school though he failed most of the courses because the school honchos understood he was never made to succeed in school, instead having as yet untapped gifts. He failed the minimal draft exam that he could barely read that gave him his initial 4F deferral. He could spout nonsensical doggeral all day, but incapable of holding a knowledgable adult conversation until he was much older and wiser.

The IQ test was never meant rate these two, so an notion of intellectual superiority never existed.

I know much about Tyson, have been studying his life since the very beginning. He's a deep and intelligent being, contrarily to what many idiots say.

I meant to say that Ali was smarter than Tyson in dealing with the media and, in general, in keeping his "secret activities" less visible. This is what caused the media establishment to have a crush on him. Tyson never played that game. He was too pure for his own good.

Indeed it was Mike himself who, in an interview, described his path in life as "old too soon, smart too late". You can't deny that Tyson ruined himself, especially when fùcking Don King entered the picture.

[Willie Pep 229]

Project 100,000 or how Ali got screwed.

Although initiated November 1965 the program was reto, not only lowing the standards for new recruits, but reevaluating former 1-Y exemptions as well; Ali's classification was changed to 1-A in February 1966.


The Lodi News-Sentinel - Feb 10, 1966 Clay May be Put in 1-A Class Today!

[Dariusz]

Pretty close, and in some point in time he surpassed Ali in popularity.

[HOUDINI563]

A comeback win to defeat his very best opposition is the main issue. Along with this instead of trying harder to win losing fights he generally became a more sedate fighter. These are Tyson’s issues when trying to rate him alongside other ATG fighters who exhibited these attributes.

[Anthony342]

Oh yea of course I was just being super optimistic on him beating all the guys mentioned. He definitely coulda lost to a couple of them & still gotten much closer to Ali's level. Hell I imagine a L to one or two of them, not unlike Ali's L's to Frazier & Norton, likely builds those guys up to make them bigger & a rematch & trilogy fight more impactful for both guys.

If not for the Douglas loss Tyson vs Holyfield was scheduled to take place June 1990. I thought it was late 90 but apparently it was mid/summer 90.

I think that stuff only happens if Tyson sticks with Rooney. I could see Tyson destroying Bowe with either trainer though and swapping wins with Lewis, like when Lewis got stopped by McCall and came back stronger in the rematch. Lewis usually has a better game plan in rematches. I could also see Mike going 1-1 with Holyfield on two close 12 round UD wars with a deciding third fight ending in a late stoppage by one or the other with the losing fighter being beaten against the ropes by TKO.

[Anthony342]

I just don't see it.

It is true, when Mike Tyson appeared we all believed we were witnessing a transcendental event, that prize fighting would never be the same, but just as the nation was settling into that belief it got counted-out in Tokyo.

After that it all quickly became exploitation.

All media sensations don't necessarily transcend their callings. In the end Tyson was a flash in the pan, today mostly remembered for threatening to eat people's children and ****; he became a parody of himself.

P.S. If Mike Tyson chooses to continue his career with another exploitation of his name, I am all in. I will gladly throw in my nickle to fill his coffers. I see no reason why any fighter shouldn't grab whatever he can, and there is no reason Tyson's golden years be one of poverty. That has happened too many damn times in this game. If Tyson wrestles a bear I'm in, but to call him a transcendental figure of prize fighting, never!

Well, he has already appeared on the AEW pro wrestling promotion, which was kind of fun. So kind of nice he was able to make some money and not have to hurt himself, but do a staged event. Hopefully he can bank some more money with the storyline feud they have him involved in now, so he doesn't have to hurt anyone for real or get hurt himself. I hear they pay pretty well. Plus he does the Mike Tyson Mysteries TV show, so he can't be hurting that much for money. It's animated, on the Cartoon Network Adult Swim lineup, had a guy playing the ghost of the Marquess of Queensbury that he calls Marcus, has an adopted Asian daughter and a pigeon sidekick played by comedian Norm McDonald. I liked it when Tyson sung "ain't no time for bird sex" lol.

[PRINCEKOOL]

I think that stuff only happens if Tyson sticks with Rooney. I could see Tyson destroying Bowe with either trainer though and swapping wins with Lewis, like when Lewis got stopped by McCall and came back stronger in the rematch. Lewis usually has a better game plan in rematches. I could also see Mike going 1-1 with Holyfield on two close 12 round UD wars with a deciding third fight ending in a late stoppage by one or the other with the losing fighter being beaten against the ropes by TKO.

Mike Tyson was still a fearsome fighter under Richie Giachetti, in fact? His form and win against Alex Stewart was exceptional.

I would back Mike Tyson in the early 1990's to possibly beat Evander Holyfield and Rid**** Bowe 'Bowe would be a easier fight than Holyfield'.

I even thought Tyson looked great vs Holyfield in their second fight for as long as it lasted 'Both guys weighing in at 218 pounds, that fight should of been one of the greatest heavyweight fights in history'.

[QueensburyRules]

I know much about Tyson, have been studying his life since the very beginning. He's a deep and intelligent being, contrarily to what many idiots say.

I meant to say that Ali was smarter than Tyson in dealing with the media and, in general, in keeping his "secret activities" less visible. This is what caused the media establishment to have a crush on him. Tyson never played that game. He was too pure for his own good.

Indeed it was Mike himself who, in an interview, described his path in life as "old too soon, smart too late". You can't deny that Tyson ruined himself, especially when fùcking Don King entered the picture.

- -Thought I made clear Tyson far more popular as a young man.

NOI was like a death sentence to Ali at gates and Venues, but for tabloid media fodder he was pure Gold and one of the top American icons of the 60s.

Tyson quickly became both and while I believe in holding mentallyill folk responsible for their actions, there is no doubt he was exploited by a master sociopath who sent young Foreman into premature retirement just to save himself.