Was Tyson's power overated?

[Likely_Lad]

I don't think Tyson's power was overrated, lets face it he could seriously punch.

Ok, many of the fighters he faced looking back probably weren't that great but he could hurt any of the big name heavies thats a fact.

The reason why his punches has less effect against his main rivals in Holyfield and Lewis was for a few reasons. He had lost a bit of snap also Holyfield was exceptionally durable and Lewis did not allow Tyson to land.

He was a great puncher.

[-CANE-]

I think people are misunderstanding what I'm trying to say.

HE IS A GREAT PUNCHER but NOT AS GREAT AS A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKE OUT.

I think some other heavyweights hit harder that's all.

[THe TRiNiTY]

Some people say he's the hardest puncher of all time, but there's no way to prove that, or disprove it. Besides that, most honest fans just rank him as a VERY HARD puncher, it's only the "worshippers" that claim he's more than human.

[Likely_Lad]

I think people are misunderstanding what I'm trying to say.

HE IS A GREAT PUNCHER but NOT AS GREAT AS A LOT OF PEOPLE MAKE OUT.

I think some other heavyweights hit harder that's all.

Cant argue with that. Tyson was a small heavyweight and did/could not hit with the force of say Lewis but his technique and speed made up for the shortfall in strength and his punches where equally effective.

He has still got to be in the top ten for punch power.

Shavers, Lyle, Bruno, Lewis, Foreman and a few others may have hit harder.

[Spirit]

Lol wtf, lower grade fighters??? Trevor Berbick, Pinklon Thomas, Michael Spinks, Frank Bruno, Andrew Golota and some weren't exactly low grade if you ask me. Michael Spinks was 31-0 when he fought Tyson, Andrew Golota arguably gave Bowe tougher fights than Holyfield did and the other guys had been title holders themselves.

It actually was the fact that he wasn't landing later on in his carreer, Tyson was short compared to Lewis (or most HWs for that matter) and couldn't get inside to nail him, though his punches did have impact in that fight. Lewis was a smart fighter who used his reach advantage to set up with his jab and when the occasion rose nail opponents with a power punch. Tyson used to be able to use his speed and agility to get inside and his power took over from there.

I agree Tyson wasn't the hardest punching HW of all time, but his power was dangerous enough to strike fear into his oppenents for over a decade and rightfully so. I think speed is the first thing to go in a fighter and Tyson was only a shell of himself speedwise when he fought Lewis (not to take anything away from Lewis, because both fighters in their prime would've been an incredible fight).

What you're doing is selectively picking fights to make Tyson look bad an Lewis look good, you for example failed to mention Tyson's knocked Bruno out earlier than Lewis did (twice in 3 and 5, before and after he fought Lewis), just to prove a point

[Likely_Lad]

Lol wtf, lower grade fighters??? Trevor Berbick, Pinklon Thomas, Michael Spinks, Frank Bruno, Andrew Golota and some weren't exactly low grade if you ask me. Michael Spinks was 31-0 when he fought Tyson, Andrew Golota arguably gave Bowe tougher fights than Holyfield did and the other guys had been title holders themselves.

It actually was the fact that he wasn't landing later on in his carreer, Tyson was short compared to Lewis (or most HWs for that matter) and couldn't get inside to nail him, though his punches did have impact in that fight. Lewis was a smart fighter who used his reach advantage to set up with his jab and when the occasion rose nail opponents with a power punch. Tyson used to be able to use his speed and agility to get inside and his power took over from there.

I agree Tyson wasn't the hardest punching HW of all time, but his power was dangerous enough to strike fear into his oppenents for over a decade and rightfully so. I think speed is the first thing to go in a fighter and Tyson was only a shell of himself speedwise when he fought Lewis (not to take anything away from Lewis, because both fighters in their prime would've been an incredible fight).

What you're doing is selectively picking fights to make Tyson look bad an Lewis look good, you for example failed to mention Tyson's knocked Bruno out earlier than Lewis did (twice in 3 and 5, before and after he fought Lewis), just to prove a point

Agreed on all but one point.

Neither Tyson nor Lewis knocked out Bruno, he was TKO'd on all occasions, even the Witherspoon loss he went out on his feet. The Bonecrusher Smith loss is recorded as a KO although I recall him being on his feet for that one as well. Bruno had a good chin but poor boxing brain hence he never took a knee!

Sorry...it sticks in my gut.

[-CANE-]

Agreed on all but one point.

Neither Tyson nor Lewis knocked out Bruno, he was TKO'd on all occasions, even the Witherspoon loss he went out on his feet. The Bonecrusher Smith loss is recorded as a KO although I recall him being on his feet for that one as well. Bruno had a good chin but poor boxing brain hence he never took a knee!

Sorry...it sticks in my gut.

Beerneer - You're right Tyson's performances against Bruno were superior to Lewis's in the speed he got him in. Bruno I think feared Tyson but not Lewis.

I was actually at the Bruno-Lewis fight and I was absolutely spot on with my prediction. I said before the fight Bruno would win the first 6 rounds and then Lewis will take him out in 7 or 8.

It was a poor performance by Lewis, but the finish was emphatic. What a great left hook to start it all off a punch he wasn't supposed to have.

Bruno had a great chin he was allways stopped on his feet and it was because of his stamina that he always faded and got caught. He always just lay there on the ropes and took at least a dozen clean punches but never went down with the exception of Bonecrusher.

He should never have concentrated on the weights as he was a good boxer and would have been much quicker of hand and foot,had more stamina and been just as powerful as some of the power comes from the speed.

Bruno is the only Heavyweight I can think of that actually outboxed Lewis for a long period of a fight.

[jabsRstiff]

Agreed on all but one point.

Neither Tyson nor Lewis knocked out Bruno, he was TKO'd on all occasions, even the Witherspoon loss he went out on his feet. The Bonecrusher Smith loss is recorded as a KO although I recall him being on his feet for that one as well. Bruno had a good chin but poor boxing brain hence he never took a knee!

Sorry...it sticks in my gut.

No, Bruno was dropped, & knocked semi-conscious by Bonecrusher Smith. He was ahead on all cards, when caught in the last rd. He was out on his feet & took one final, massive left hook that leveled him. Bonecrusher was a very big puncher, so that KO doesn't tell you that Bruno was weak-chinned.

[Likely_Lad]

No, Bruno was dropped, & knocked semi-conscious by Bonecrusher Smith. He was ahead on all cards, when caught in the last rd. He was out on his feet & took one final, massive left hook that leveled him. Bonecrusher was a very big puncher, so that KO doesn't tell you that Bruno was weak-chinned.

Fair enough, I couldn't remember to be honest. I just remember Bruno being ahead comfortably.

[MickyHatton]

Beerneer - You're right Tyson's performances against Bruno were superior to Lewis's in the speed he got him in. Bruno I think feared Tyson but not Lewis.

I was actually at the Bruno-Lewis fight and I was absolutely spot on with my prediction. I said before the fight Bruno would win the first 6 rounds and then Lewis will take him out in 7 or 8.

It was a poor performance by Lewis, but the finish was emphatic. What a great left hook to start it all off a punch he wasn't supposed to have.

Bruno had a great chin he was allways stopped on his feet and it was because of his stamina that he always faded and got caught. He always just lay there on the ropes and took at least a dozen clean punches but never went down with the exception of Bonecrusher.

He should never have concentrated on the weights as he was a good boxer and would have been much quicker of hand and foot,had more stamina and been just as powerful as some of the power comes from the speed.Bruno is the only Heavyweight I can think of that actually outboxed Lewis for a long period of a fight.

Agreed, his lack of stamina and survival instincts lost him his fights not his chin.