Did MikeTyson lack heart?

[El_Cholo]

Tyson didn't care anymore, he was in it for the money.

He took a pounding from Lewis and that suggested to me he had heart to come out for more.

[Slimey Limey]

Interesting. About 3 years ago on this site you wouldn't have found 1 single person(except me because i'm so fooking great) to claim Tyson had heart.

Most define heart as overcoming adversity. Here are some examples.

-Against James Tillis it was 19 year old Tyson's first time fighting a veteran, and the fight was close. Tyson HAD to win the very last round or else it would have been a draw. Tyson won the last round convincingly like a true champion does.

-Pinklon Thomas was giving him trouble with his jab. Tyson decided to come out guns blazing and it resulted in a brutal long KO in round 6.

-Tucker, a styles mismatch for the lad, hit Tyson with a right uppercut so hard he broke his hand. Tyson walked through it and proceeded to outjab a great jabber for the remaining 11 rounds.

-Bruno 1, Tyson was hit by a flush brutal right hand and seemed dazed as hell. Tyson survived and came back to KO Bruno in round 5.

-Buster Douglass- Best example perhaps. Tyson sustained a beating for 8 long rounds, yet he still managed to knock DOuglass down and almost out. The next round he tried everything to get Douglass out of there but had not much left. Then in the 10th round one of the best combinations put together, all flush on Tyson's chin and he STILL tried to get his mouthpiece to continue. Douglass in an interview emphasized on Tyson's willpower probably every 10 seconds. "He tried to win every second, he just wouldn't take a step back even after such a beating".
Same story with the Lennox Lewis fight really.

-The Ruddock matches are also similar. It's one of the best Heavyweight slugfests ever imo. Tyson took a lot of punishment and dished it out as well. Just watch these classics.

Also, to people claiming Tyson never won a fight that he was losing, he was behind on the scorecards against Botha who was giving him a lot of problems. He still came back and ko'd the fattie with a great right hand.

[Gojira]

If he had such a good chin, why did he get knocked out 5 times which two of them came against danny williams and kevin mcbride?

[catalinul]

If he had such a good chin, why did he get knocked out 5 times which two of them came against danny williams and kevin mcbride?

Are you serious?

He was shot by the time of Williams and McBride.

He was beating McBride till Fenech stopped it.He never went down.

And he was pummeling Williams till he tore his ligaments in his leg.And it still took a barrage of punches from Williams to finish him off.

[extracurRICular]

Tyson took beatings from Lewis and Buster, I don't know how you could say he lacked heart. He may have lacked mental strength, but he had heart.

You aint ever lied....ma dawg had plenty o heart...but he was easily persuaded by the shadiness that was his entire life...even till this day...

[freeloada]

he lost his work ethic and his heart after Cus D'Amato died.. he had no one that he trusted to guide him anymore.. Watch his movie Tyson it explains alot..

[Uturn]

Theres no question that Mike Tyson was one, if not the most physically gifted fighter ever, but did he lack heart? It seems that Tyson lacked a bit of heart in all his losses, well maybe besides the Douglas fight. Was it that he didnt care or did he lack the warrior spirit? Thoughts

For me, Tyson didn't care as he got older. In the end he was just in the ring to pay off his debts hence why he was losing to guys like Williams...he didn't lack heart in those fights because by then he lost all interest in the ring and he wasn't interested in fighting anymore (the pay day was the only thing that interested him into those fights) Lewis cherry picked him when he got older because he knew if he stepped anywhere near a Prime Tyson he would have been dismanlted and seeing stars with the rest of them! I dont think Tyson ever lacked heart, Buster caught him on a good night and plus he wasn't getting up from that.

[Mr. Philadel]

I've heard it all here now......Tyson's HEART is being questioned?!!?

WOW!!!!!!

[joe strong]

when he signed wuth king & fired Rooney that was the beginning of his downfall.he backed out of a ruddock fight in Edmonton after greg Paige floored him sparring(1st time down ever),then he fought Douglas & was never the same.after prison he got by on talent & name recognition...it's too bad but think about what he did by 24.undisputed champ with 10 title defended.amazing! Never will be done again.

[Uturn]

If he had such a good chin, why did he get knocked out 5 times which two of them came against danny williams and kevin mcbride?

I really hope that was intended as a joke. Tyson couldn't care less about the outcome when he fought these guys, did you not see him just sit down and refuse to get up in the Mcbride fight? he even said his heart wasn't in boxing anymore and was just there to pick up his pay cheque. A prime Tyson would have ate these guys for breakfast and dispose of them in 2 rounds.