November 22, 1986: Mike Tyson vs. Berbick...Youngest HW Champion

[Benny Leonard]

Hell no he wouldn't have, but that's like saying that since Baer had a lousy night against Braddock, that Louis was really Heavyweight champ after running through him. Tyson had been a pro just shy of two years when he faced Berbick...it wasn't like he'd been ducked years. He got the the real champ by his fourth year and eviscerated him.

Being better than the champ before beating him is not the same as beating him or else we'd all recognize Sonny Liston as champ about two years before he got there.

The point was Cayton couldn't get Butch to make a fight until he was backed into a corner. I don't even think Butch would disagree with this.

Marciano retired and the belt was vacated. Opportunity for Patterson.

[Verstyle]

Youngest TITLIST. He didn't truly become champ until he beat Spinks or at least Tucker if one doesn't respect the lineage claim. Patterson is still the youngest to capture the undisputed (if then vacant) title outright.

Shut the f-ck up! I'm sure some wanted to say that.

[crold1]

The point was Cayton couldn't get Butch to make a fight until he was backed into a corner. I don't even think Butch would disagree with this.

Marciano retired and the belt was vacated. Opportunity for Patterson.

I've read quotes from Lewis where he basically says that it was a no-win so why not make it for most-money. It was smart business all the way. If they stay in the tourney, they get peanuts on HBO. Instead they get quadruple on PPV. It wasn't backed into a corner...it was picking when to come out of it.

[Verstyle]

I was joking by the way, crold1

[crold1]

Shut the f-ck up! I'm sure some wanted to say that.

That's cute...don't dispute the facts. Just be a jackoff. Good job.

[crold1]

I was joking by the way, crold1

All in good fun. I got to post an gif thingie.

[Benny Leonard]

I've read quotes from Lewis where he basically says that it was a no-win so why not make it for most-money. It was smart business all the way. If they stay in the tourney, they get peanuts on HBO. Instead they get quadruple on PPV. It wasn't backed into a corner...it was picking when to come out of it.

= we are scared of Tyson and will keep waiting until we have to fight him. The positive to all of this would be there would be more Money.

Not wanting to fight until you have no choice is still avoiding.

I've always thought the "CHAMP" is supposed to want to fight the best...but I guess the Champ/King waits until his country is invaded by the Tyson army, who surrounds the Spinks castle giving the King no choice but to come out.

Spinks lost the belts by vacating them; he was no longer Champion on the terms of being a *****.

There is no such thing as an imaginary title.

Spinks abdicated the throne.

[crold1]

= we are scared of Tyson and will keep waiting until we have to fight him. The positive to all of this would be there would be more Money.

Not wanting to fight until you have no choice is still avoiding.

I've always thought the "CHAMP" is supposed to want to fight the best...but I guess the Champ/King waits until his country is invaded by the Tyson army, who surrounds the Spinks castle giving the King no choice but to come out.

Spinks lost the belts by vacating them; he was no longer Champion on the terms of being a *****.

There is no such thing as an imaginary title.

Spinks abdicated the throne.

But he didn't vacate for Tyson...he vacated because he had a mando with Tucker and Lewis didn't want to lose Tyson (and wanted the Cooney money). Difference. And F sanctioning bodies anyways. Like I said, Tyson was either THE champ after Spinks OR Tucker...neither making him youngest.

[Benny Leonard]

But he didn't vacate for Tyson...he vacated because he had a mando with Tucker and Lewis didn't want to lose Tyson (and wanted the Cooney money). Difference. And F sanctioning bodies anyways. Like I said, Tyson was either THE champ after Spinks OR Tucker...neither making him youngest.

So you are going by when Spinks vacated the title?

If sanctioning bodies mean nothing their titles mean nothing and so does a Magazine title.

So then we have to ask: Who was the Champion; who was the best?

[crold1]

So you are going by when Spinks vacated the title?

No, IF you use Tucker you go by the night of Tyson-Tucker in 87. I go by Tyson-Spinks. I don't buy that vacating/being stripped by the BF vacated the lineal title. I'm a beat the man to be him purist where applicable.