How skillfull was Mike Tyson?

[RENE JUNIOR]

Mike Tyson is no doubt a legend.

Yet it has been said out there that Mike didn't possess such an elite level of skills which was manifested against fighters such as Holyfield and Lennox.

I deem he was quite skillfull with his feet in pivoting and angles to a degree and upper-body/head movement which distracted his opponents and paved the way for massive power-punches on the inside.

Yet in regards to other fundamentals such as a consitent strong jab and other tools, they probably weren't so apparent which made Tyson rely mainly on his power to get the W in many of his fights.

Was Mike a skillful fighter or did his power make him appear skillful?

Your thoughts

[STREET CLEANER]

He had a short jab that he was successful with, his footing was great and he had great punch placement. He hit as hard with the right as the left and his body punches were brutal. Defensively he was very skilled with his head movement and angles.

Once he got sloppy training those abilities started to deteriorate. He had skills but he was undersized so his style doesn't work for everyone. Maybe Pitfall Cruz is the one that most resembles him now a days.

[RENE JUNIOR]

He had a short jab that he was successful with, his footing was great and he had great punch placement. He hit as hard with the right as the left and his body punches were brutal. Defensively he was very skilled with his head movement and angles.

Once he got sloppy training those abilities started to deteriorate. He had skills but he was undersized so his style doesn't work for everyone. Maybe Pitfall Cruz is the one that most resembles him now a days.

Well said.

One fight that stands out to me where Mike's skills didn't really shine was against Pinklon Thomas. Mike was having a hard time against him. I feel Mike had many many opportunities on the inside yet lacked the skill to pick Thomas apart on the inside.

But you explained it wuite well. Yet I feel Mike relied too much on his power over skillset.

[RENE JUNIOR]

He had a short jab that he was successful with, his footing was great and he had great punch placement. He hit as hard with the right as the left and his body punches were brutal. Defensively he was very skilled with his head movement and angles.

Once he got sloppy training those abilities started to deteriorate. He had skills but he was undersized so his style doesn't work for everyone. Maybe Pitfall Cruz is the one that most resembles him now a days.

Yeah I can see a very slight resemblance of Mike in Pitbull Cruz. Yet Mike was way more skillful than Cruz imho

[STREET CLEANER]

Yeah I can see a very slight resemblance of Mike in Pitbull Cruz. Yet Mike was way more skillful than Cruz imho

Cruz is a short pressure fighter with skills. He has good power, good punch placement and his defense is actually good coming in. Tyson was much faster, dynamic and had an array of punches.

Either it was a hook, a straight right, uppercut, etc it all did damage or got him the KO. Tyson was a natural left hander that fought from the right side.

[RENE JUNIOR]

Cruz is a short pressure fighter with skills. He has good power, good punch placement and his defense is actually good coming in. Tyson was much faster, dynamic and had an array of punches.

Either it was a hook, a straight right, uppercut, etc it all did damage or got him the KO. Tyson was a natural left hander that fought from the right side.

Yes Cruz has skills, but they don't shine as his power does.

I feel Cruz should work a lot more on fundamentals which would make him shine a lot more.

I think he beats Rayo in his next fight and all, but I see he has a lot more room to grow.

[El_Mero]

In the beginning under Cus, he had all the intangibles for the most part, for being a small guy.

After the yes men took over, he didn't evolve

[djtmal]

He was skillful enough to put Larry Holmes to sleep

[hugh grant]

Yes, he had great athletiscm. Slicksters might say they were more skillful? But what does that mean?

[RENE JUNIOR]

In the beginning under Cus, he had all the intangibles for the most part, for being a small guy.

After the yes men took over, he didn't evolve

I think that is the root of it all as a matter of fact.

He stayed limited in skillset and simply didn't grow.