Here's a theory: Tyson's problem was purely confidence issues.

**Dye** · 01-10-2007, 10:08 PM

Originally posted by Kid Achilles

Here's a stab at the Tyson enigma. I've seen the fights, observed how he faced adversity in the ring and out, and heard the things he's said throughout his life.

I propose this: It wasn't a lack of heart or grit, nor a technical deficiency or glaring weakness in his style. It wasn't his shorter stature, or even the people he chose to surround himself with (the #1 target most people pin the blame on). Tyson's trouble all stemmed from a lack of confidence, an inferiority complex.

With Cus around to keep his confidence built up, he did very well for himself, but things soon fell apart when Cus passed on as Cus had built him up to a certain level and only he knew how to really keep him there. The thing is, even with Cus around there were cracks in the foundation of Tyson's tower of confidence. It's been said by Atlas and others who trained him that Tyson was on the verge of quitting in fights as early on as his amateur career when he had trouble exerting his will on opponents. There is footage of Tyson crying before an amateur fight and Teddy Atlas consoling him. The truth is, Cus could only help Tyson so much when he was alive, because Tyson's problem was internal, and deeply rooted unfortunately.

Self confidence is the single most important attribute a fighter can possess. It is in this category that Tyson is the most lacking when compared to the other great heavyweights. That Tyson went as far as he did while not really believing in himself or his worth as a person shows you how strong he really was mentally.

The question is, assuming this theory is correct, why did Tyson lack this belief in himself? Was it background, or genetic? Tyson experts, what do you think?

i love your sig

**GEOFFHAYES** · 01-10-2007, 10:12 PM

He simply gave up on life in 1988, before the Spinks fight even.

Put yourself in his position - your 21 years old, you've wiped out the HW division (apart from Spinks), boxing is all you know, where's the motivation? Then you've got the Givens bitches screwing with your head, Don King screwing with your head, father figure Cus not around anymore and the guy who Cus said was the only guy he could trust fully in boxing Jimmy Jacobs not around anymore, he just gave up on life. He had barely any vices before all this ****, and was the nicest, most approachable sportsman about. But then all of a sudden, he goes back to the street.. because that's all he knew before boxing, and acts like a prick because he's given up on life, can't trust anybody and the buzz of boxing has gone. I mean, the guy attempted suicide in Oct '88 FFS.

**realheavyhands** · 01-10-2007, 10:13 PM

it was genetic and from his backround , he never even knew his father.. traits fo this sort are very common among types of genuis and perfectionists,he lived a hoepless childhood, cus did a good job of building tyson up .. tyson did reach a point where he thought he was invincable.. after he lost to douglass that perfectionism was ruined and he self destructed

**brownpimp88** · 01-10-2007, 10:22 PM

Tyson had the potential to surpass ali, most ali fans wont admit it but its true. Tyson had the potential to be the best, its as simple as that. I think there is a reason as to why he's the biggest draw ever in boxing.

**�ringer** · 01-10-2007, 10:47 PM

I believe it was a lethal combination of both the people surrounding Tyson and Tyson's own inferiority complex that ultimately led to his demise within the sport. Cus was the only man on the planet who could've kept Tyson going, and who knows what Tyson's legacy would've been had Cus lived a few more years than he did.

After Cus died it was obvious Tyson had lost any confidence he ever had in himself, I think he believed he needed Cus around to be great, and without him, there was no hope. I've seen interviews with trainers of Tyson who touched on his inferiority complex many times. It manifested itself in various ways, both in and out of the ring. Be it the look on his face mid-fight when he'd given up, or the numerous times he'd openly state that he thought he was ugly.

I think it was on the "Beyond the Glory" about Mike Tyson in which he referred to himself as a "big dumb ugly ******". Kinda gives you some insight into the mental state of Tyson after Cus' death.

Be it as it may, Tyson is a truly tragic story within the sport. I can never think about Tyson, watch a Tyson fight, or hear about Tyson without dwelling on his emotional state for a bit. And everytime I do, I always think of what could've been....Sad, truly sad. I'll always carry a weight for Tyson. If he'd only been more confident and surrounded himself with better people, he could've been something far greater than the sum of his parts.

**Kid Achilles** · 01-10-2007, 10:50 PM

I agree 100%. If Tyson had Ali's or Marciano's confidence in himself he would have been unbeaten probably until around now, as he's turned 40. Actually...considering the weak division...

**Verstyle** · 01-10-2007, 10:57 PM

im not going to lie. im not a very confident person myself.ahaha. when i get hit like 10times a round its disappointing and i think of what the **** i did and can i improve.and it seems like my parents dont give a **** about me in boxing, but when i tell them to go to a meet they go but they dont give me advice in training and stuff like that.but they r supportive but i dunno i dont feel to confident really.

but for tyson it maybe that no1 believed in him until he started punching and ppl saw what he had.but when ppl started using him and telling him lies and knowingly feeding his ego he started realizing.Tyson was only confident with ppl he could trust and feel comfortable with as in telling them things in my opinion.

**�ringer** · 01-10-2007, 10:57 PM

Originally posted by Kid Achilles

I agree 100%. If Tyson had Ali's or Marciano's confidence in himself he would have been unbeaten probably until around now, as he's turned 40. Actually...considering the weak division...

Yeah, scratch that, he'd still be undefeated. Klitschko, Toney, Briggs, Peter, and even Valuev would get a swift ass-kicking from Mike.

**Kid Achilles** · 01-10-2007, 10:59 PM

Makes you wish we could bring him back, doesn't it? Even physically Tyson today has the goods I believe, he just has no fire left at all.

Here's a theory: Tyson's problem was purely confidence issues.