How would Mike Tyson vs David Tua in 1996-97 had went?

[HitmanTommy]

After spending the past couple of months watching Tua's fights, I can't say with confidence that Tyson would beat him. He had a hell of a chin and matched Tyson's power in spades.

no fighter that Tyson had fought ever had the necessary power to knock Tyson out quick. I think if this became an all-out brawl, Tua would have the necessary firepower to get Tyson out of there quick.

[JTfloyd]

This was around Tua's absolute peak as a fighter (before he gained a gut and a goofy haircut), and Mike was faded, but still dangerous. If Tua had the strength to consistently push off (then punch) Ibeabuchi, I doubt Tyson would be able to back him up at all, and he damn well didn't have the stamina to box Tua for 12 rounds (which reminds me of the guy who went across multiple forums asking if Tyson had the feet to be "fleet footed" like Ali way back when ) . And while Tyson is the better puncher, I think Tua's punches are harder. Imo, Tua stops Tyson before 7.

[champion4ever]

Mike Tyson was the more skilled of the two. All David Tua could do was slug. Mike could jab, move his head, slip punches, bob and weave and go to the body. If Mike Ibeabuchi could defeat David Tua then so could Mike Tyson. So I like Mike Tyson to win this fight.

[Robbie Barrett]

Tua had much better stamina and i believe at that time more determination/fight. Would have been a great fight with Tua beating the fight out of Mike to stop him in the second half of the fight.

[champion4ever]

What people tend to forget out about David Tua was that he was incredibly slow. Mike Tyson would see his slow ass punches coming from a mile away and then counter him. On the hand Mike Tyson punches were very fast. He could drop you with one punch at the drop of a dime.

[elfag]

Mike was a better fighter but Tua had power and a chin and Tyson was well past his peak by then and into drugs and partying. Tua certainly could have caught and stopped Tyson. Hard to say, I think i give a 60/40 edge to Tyson winning but Tua has his chance, Tyson by then was focused on loading up on power shots, not the fluid combination puncher of the 80s he once was. He could get frustrated when he couldnt take a guy out

Like logic says Tyson even in the 90s still had all the advantages in speed and punch variety. Like he should be able to beat Tua pretty easily. But he had that unknown where he gets frustrated if a guy was durable, he didnt have patience and was a wreck out of the ring. He could either get himself DQ'd or get caught being wreckless by a big shot.

[elfag]

I think people been too hard on mike for loosing to holyfield in 96/97, that version of holyfield was still very good. I been watching holyfield a bit last month and he was so good and versatile. I think 90s holyfield would be heavyweight champion today and beat Fury, Wilder, AJ and Ruiz. I think he'd clean out this era.

[Robbie Barrett]

What people tend to forget out about David Tua was that he was incredibly slow. Mike Tyson would see his slow ass punches coming from a mile away and then counter him. On the hand Mike Tyson punches were very fast. He could drop you with one punch at the drop of a dime.

Late 90s Tyson wasn't that fast. He was very predictable too. After a few rounds he shot his load. Tua isn't the kind of guy that gets blown out. Tyson isn't stopping him with one shot. It'd be a war of attrition and Tua beats him. The Tua-Ibeabuchi fight showed what a beast Tua was.

[elfag]

Late 90s Tyson wasn't that fast. He was very predictable too. After a few rounds he shot his load. Tua isn't the kind of guy that gets blown out. Tyson isn't stopping him with one shot. It'd be a war of attrition and Tua beats him. The Tua-Ibeabuchi fight showed what a beast Tua was.

That is what has me worried and give Tua a 40-45% chance. I mean who is the more consistent and reliable fighter in the late rounds