Mike Tyson: GREAT whether you like it or not

[Truth]

Greatness is something thats earned, it doesnt last it needs constant topping up, Tyson was a great fighter never a great man. He is now a former champ and convicted sex offender if you choose to call him great thats your choice, but he isnt great in any decent humans mind........

semjasa not to cause trouble, but thats taking it to far. Your calling me a indecent person for saying Mike Tyson is a great fighter. How could you judge me if you don't know anything about me. Your bascially saying everyone who is a fan of a conroversial figure like Mike Tyson is a indecent human. I think that is not fair.

[Truth]

http://www.doghouseboxing.com/DHB/Goodrich101604.htm

[tracylee]

In the ring, he was awesome in the 80's. But you have to admit if he had tried in the least to treat other's better he would have been treated better by others. It's plain common sense. I know he's "down" right now, and he's had a hard life, etc. BUT, you tell me one person that hasnt had tough times at some point in their lives. It's a matter of rising above it; being better than that. If he would have been half as great outside the ring as he was in it during that period of time, I might could feel sorry for him. As it is, I cant help but think "what goes around, comes around". Do you know the real reason he and Teddy Atlas split? That story in itself tells me volums. And if it comes down to 'his story against mine' I have to go with Atlas; he hasnt made a name for being a 'bad boy', etc.. and I have to think he wouldnt make something like that up. Mike seem's to alwasy blame others for his problems, if he'd stand up and take some responsibility for his action's and his life as it now is, thing's might improve. Or atleast he'd be a better person for doing so.

[Dempsey_Roll02]

My short Take on Tyson.

When Tyson came on the scene, boxing just couldn't get enough of the Ali era (who incidentally lost to trevor berbick in his last fight)but most of the fighters that came along i.e. Pinklon Thomas, Tony tucker, Berbick, Bonecrusher Smith, Heck, throw in Tyrell Biggs too were not exactly household names. In that respect Tyson really brought boxing back to the pinnacle of sports in the world spotlight. I mean here was a deprived kid from the bronx who had to fight his way all of his life and along comes Cus D'amato and just takes that raw aggression and sharpens it like a samurai sword. Hence the excitement in Tyson's fighting style which is basically to come forward and lay it on some poor schmuck who happened to fight him in the ring. Tyson's physical gifts are not an issue; his ability to just land punch after punch in quick succession with that much power behind them is unheard of since well, Rocky Marciano and Jack Dempsey. He also studied old fights a whole lot which gave him knowledge in the ring which sadly didn't translate outside of it. In his prime Mike Tyson would probably run over most of the great Heavyweights save for those whose style negates Tyson's like Ali, Joe Louis, Archie Moore, and those who just love the sight of an opponent coming forward. I definitely think Joe Frazier would get KO'd. With George Foreman It would be dependent on who lasts longer as a prime Tyson would try to box and not wade in.
A lot of Tyson's style also depended on the way he intimidated his opponents. It's as much physical as it is psychological; credit that to Jim Jacobs who sadly passed away as well leaving just Bill Caton to ward off a cancerous influence named Don King. In the end King got his way. And I guess it was a combination of King, Robin Givens' Golddigging and Tyson's very extravagant lifestyle that did him in. By the time the Buster Douglas fight came around, Tyson was just a one-punch fighter, not bothering to search for openings with his weaving style, or bore to the body before going up top. I just want to clarify that Mike Tyson doesn't have a hard time fighting taller opponents; he just plain stopped looking for cracks and relied on his power. Buster Douglas exposed the *****s, and more importantly he wasn't scared of the "baddest man on the planet". We all know what happened next on February 11, 1990 in Tokyo Japan. In the end Tyson definitely had a lot more to go but wasted a whole lot of his life. If he only had a guiding fatherly influence to rein him in then who knows if I would be writing this reply differently. For a time, Tyson was good for boxing and he rightfully deserves a place among the elite but that top step is reserved, in my opinion, for one Cassius Marcellus Clay. Half a step behind is Joe Louis. Then 2 steps down is Rocky Marciano tied with Jack Dempsey. That's all. Thanks for letting me reply!!!

[tracylee]

When Tyson came on the scene, boxing just couldn't get enough of the Ali era (who incidentally lost to trevor berbick in his last fight)but most of the fighters that came along i.e. Pinklon Thomas, Tony tucker, Berbick, Bonecrusher Smith, Heck, throw in Tyrell Biggs too were not exactly household names. In that respect Tyson really brought boxing back to the pinnacle of sports in the world spotlight. I mean here was a deprived kid from the bronx who had to fight his way all of his life and along comes Cus D'amato and just takes that raw aggression and sharpens it like a samurai sword. Hence the excitement in Tyson's fighting style which is basically to come forward and lay it on some poor schmuck who happened to fight him in the ring. Tyson's physical gifts are not an issue; his ability to just land punch after punch in quick succession with that much power behind them is unheard of since well, Rocky Marciano and Jack Dempsey. He also studied old fights a whole lot which gave him knowledge in the ring which sadly didn't translate outside of it. In his prime Mike Tyson would probably run over most of the great Heavyweights save for those whose style negates Tyson's like Ali, Joe Louis, Archie Moore, and those who just love the sight of an opponent coming forward. I definitely think Joe Frazier would get KO'd. With George Foreman It would be dependent on who lasts longer as a prime Tyson would try to box and not wade in.
A lot of Tyson's style also depended on the way he intimidated his opponents. It's as much physical as it is psychological; credit that to Jim Jacobs who sadly passed away as well leaving just Bill Caton to ward off a cancerous influence named Don King. In the end King got his way. And I guess it was a combination of King, Robin Givens' Golddigging and Tyson's very extravagant lifestyle that did him in. By the time the Buster Douglas fight came around, Tyson was just a one-punch fighter, not bothering to search for openings with his weaving style, or bore to the body before going up top. I just want to clarify that Mike Tyson doesn't have a hard time fighting taller opponents; he just plain stopped looking for cracks and relied on his power. Buster Douglas exposed the *****s, and more importantly he wasn't scared of the "baddest man on the planet". We all know what happened next on February 11, 1990 in Tokyo Japan. In the end Tyson definitely had a lot more to go but wasted a whole lot of his life. If he only had a guiding fatherly influence to rein him in then who knows if I would be writing this reply differently. For a time, Tyson was good for boxing and he rightfully deserves a place among the elite but that top step is reserved, in my opinion, for one Cassius Marcellus Clay. Half a step behind is Joe Louis. Then 2 steps down is Rocky Marciano tied with Jack Dempsey. That's all. Thanks for letting me reply!!!

I read in a few different mag's that Tyson was not poor; that he had been raised in an upper middle class home. What gives??

[Silencer]

Tyson is really a great champ but definitely not a great person. The sport should really thank him as he brought it to a great heights during his best years. His impact to boxing is like the impact of MJ to basketball. But of course MJ is a much much greater person than MT.

[Eken]

Great post Dempsey_Roll02!

[Tyson_Bit_Holyfields_Ear]

What's with the Tyson bald patch?

[simeraksou]

I read in a few different mag's that Tyson was not poor; that he had been raised in an upper middle class home. What gives??

if they call brownsville middleclass i don't know what their perception of ****** class is

[rsl]

For me Tyson and Jones Jr., pretty much fall in the same category,which is awesome athletic ability, but as soon as someone put 'em up against the wall, they were done! So how is that great? Remember it can only be called a fight if both fighters are actually throwing punches.