Who had a better career? Mike Tyson or Oscar de la Hoya?

[RL_GMA]

Oscar's career had more longevity. You can't just base everything off wins and losses because both guys won and lost key fights, but Oscar had more key fights and won more of them where Tyson dominated the division for 3 years and never did anything else of significance besides biting Evander's ear after his loss to Douglas. You also have to add in that Mike was in prison during the time where he could've faced a younger Holyfield, Bowe, Foreman, and others. Oscar at least faced any and everyone that made sense at the time. The only fight I truly wish would've happened was Oscar vs Tito II.

[SplitSecond]

oscar by far, oscar is set for life, tyson is well...not as well off

[Cuauhtémoc1520]

Oscar's career had more longevity. You can't just base everything off wins and losses because both guys won and lost key fights, but Oscar had more key fights and won more of them where Tyson dominated the division for 3 years and never did anything else of significance besides biting Evander's ear after his loss to Douglas. You also have to add in that Mike was in prison during the time where he could've faced a younger Holyfield, Bowe, Foreman, and others. Oscar at least faced any and everyone that made sense at the time. The only fight I truly wish would've happened was Oscar vs Tito II.

I understand Mike Tyson was so well loved and while he was on top was an incredible fighter to witness. I think Mike Tyson is one of the hardest punchers to ever step into a boxing ring but when you talk about what he did against the better opposition of his time, he was beaten by everyone.

Lennox Lewis and Holyfield dominated him and really put into perspective where Mike Tyson ranked among the best HW of all time.

I can't even put him in my top 20 to be honest and to compare him to someone like DLH who is so accomplished and fought the best and even in losses was extremely competitive is foolish.

[-MAKAVELLI-]

hate to say it but Oscar gets the nod on this one


although the global impact of Mike dwarfs DLH, Oscar did more and did it longer



aaaaand he kept his money

[-MAKAVELLI-]

but **** oscar anyway

[CarlosG815]

Oscar's career had more longevity. You can't just base everything off wins and losses because both guys won and lost key fights, but Oscar had more key fights and won more of them where Tyson dominated the division for 3 years and never did anything else of significance besides biting Evander's ear after his loss to Douglas. You also have to add in that Mike was in prison during the time where he could've faced a younger Holyfield, Bowe, Foreman, and others. Oscar at least faced any and everyone that made sense at the time. The only fight I truly wish would've happened was Oscar vs Tito II.

lol, dude you have no idea what you are talking about. Tyson came out of a 3 year layoff, in PRISON no doubt, and won the title back. Not only that but two of his greatest performances were against razor ruddock after his loss to Douglas, among other great fights that I listed in my previous post. You really have no idea what you're talking about so why speak? Just to give an opinion?

[CarlosG815]

I understand Mike Tyson was so well loved and while he was on top was an incredible fighter to witness. I think Mike Tyson is one of the hardest punchers to ever step into a boxing ring but when you talk about what he did against the better opposition of his time, he was beaten by everyone.

Lennox Lewis and Holyfield dominated him and really put into perspective where Mike Tyson ranked among the best HW of all time.

I can't even put him in my top 20 to be honest and to compare him to someone like DLH who is so accomplished and fought the best and even in losses was extremely competitive is foolish.

For a person who claims to be a boxing trainer and insider, this is a pretty ****** statement. You are going to factor in a fight in 2002 when Mike was totally shot and 12 years past his best into his standing in regards to greatness?

Mike ranks higher than both Holyfield and Lennox Lewis in HW and ATG rankings. There's a reason why Lennox and Mike didn't fight when Mike came out of jail. Lewis declined a shot at Mike's title and a career highest purse and instead accepted a small amount of money, a fraction of what he'd have earned for fighting Mike, and no title because at that time he wanted no part of Tyson. Tyson KO's Lewis quickly and easily in 96/97 and Lewis knew it, which is why he accepted step aside money, passed on a title shot and career highest purse, and was later stripped of all his belts for refusing to face top fighters.

To honestly compare Lennox Lewis to Mike Tyson in regards to greatness is truly ludicrous, man.

The first fight to Holyfield, while dirty, was still a great fight and showed how tough Mike was, despite being headbutt until his entire head was swollen, he fought like a warrior for 10 rounds.

[Squizz]

I gotta' go with Oscar here. More longevity, he's in better shape physically and psychologically, and he's kept his money. He's easily had the better career. But I really fail to see how Oscar is overrated. He's only lost to the best of the best. (With the possible exception of Sturm, but he didn't actually *lose* that fight, even though we all know Felix got screwed.)

[Heeb]

I gotta' go with Oscar here. More longevity, he's in better shape physically and psychologically, and he's kept his money. He's easily had the better career. But I really fail to see how Oscar is overrated. He's only lost to the best of the best. (With the possible exception of Sturm, but he didn't actually *lose* that fight, even though we all know Felix got screwed.)

A lot of people seem to disagree with me on Oscar being overrated. I think he gets overrated, but its mainly by casual fans. Most casual fans I speak to say de la Hoya was one of the greatest of all time. He was a great fighter, but not one of the greatest of all time. He had an impressive career, but I don't see him as more than a HOF. There's no shame in his career, and I'm not hating on the guy.

[jrosales13]

He lost all his biggest fights? The huge comeback vs Quartey and he beat Tito regardless of what the judges picked.

There's no shame in losing to Hopkins and he split with Mosley, I mean some of these decisions he got were bogus. He did lose to Sturm though.

DLH wasa great fighter, HOFer who had incredible skill and was a beautiful boxer to watch.

Mike Tyson was INCREDIBLY overrated, his opponents level was no where near where DLH were.

DLH had the much better career, resume and it's not really that close.

All that is interesting... Very interesting.