The Great Tyson Debate

[Dirt E Gomez]

This thread seems to be going crazy. You can't make an argument that Tyson is one of the greatest heavyweights of all time just because he was good for 2 years. Most people defending Tyson are simply making excuses for why he went downhill and was/is a ******. Because he stopped training, because he was an idiot, because he didn't train too much, because he was out of the game for 5 years is why he isn't a top 10 heavyweight.

[theclawoftheTiger]

When TYSON had Rooney and team catskill he was the best ever on a 'who beats who' basis ... his speed of hand and his fluent technique and his three-punch combination punching was like nothing we have ever seen and his defence was so razor sharp that he didnt actually ever get hit cleanly in 30+ fights until he fired Rooney and team catskill ... after firing Rooney and team catskill TYSON was no longer TYSON his sharpness was all drained away and he didnt do anything like he used he just was not the same guy

We have to remember that the young TYSON weighed 210-215 after working out hard every day but in 89 without Rooney or team catskill he weighed 220-225 ( AFTER starving himself ) ... the TYSON of old ( or the TYSON of young shall I say ) had powerful bodyshots, a good hard jab, all the head movement and would never punch in singles .. whereas the post - 88 TYSON w/out Rooney or team catskill had none of that **** and lost his awesome speed too

TYSON from 84 - 88 was the **** like nothing else

[Easy-E]

Dream on.

Tyson stopped training and turned into a freakshow after leaving the Catskills in 1988, he abandoned everything. He was at his best at 20 years old, the 20-year-old Tyson would embarass the 24-year-old Tyson.. it wouldn't even be close. Just like the 20-year-old Tyson would embarass any version of Holyfield, and again it wouldn't even be close.

exactly, tyson was great when he was younger, but was only good for a few years, not top ten all time.

[Guest]

So I was watching the rabbitpunchboxing.com show and they were having the usual babble-session about Mike Tyson and whether or not he's one of the all-time Top 10 heavyweights. I’d really like to get this debate over with, once and for all.

Mike Tyson never defeated a HEAVYWEIGHT of any consequence in his career. Sure, he KO’d Spinx for the title, but lets not forget Spinks was a natural light heavyweight. Aside from Spinx, who else was there that he defeated that worth worth a crap? Bonecrusher Smith? Please.

The “good” heavyweights of Tyson’s time all beat him, and beat him soundly. Does anyone remember the Ear Eating Contest with Holyfield? How about the supposed Brit with the glass jaw that absolutely destroyed Tyson?

Why people would even fathom Tyson being one of the all-time greats is beyond me. Sure he had power in both hands and was very aggressive. His defense was average, due to his head movement. His conditioning was horrible, along with a non-existent jab or any counterpunching ability. Also, Tyson had a chin like a 6 year old.

I’m sorry to say, but the people who love Tyson and think he was God’s gift to the heavyweight division really need to go back and watch the fights and especially WHO he fought. They might actually reconsider their argument.

People dismiss Tyson on terms of his record and ability, but he's one of the few boxers to transcend the sport... for the high profile he gave boxing in the 80s he deserves entry into a hall of fame.

Top ten though? Hmmmm... maybe, maybe not. Top twenty, sure.

Only one thing... chin like a 6 year old? This seriously undermines your credibility in putting forth an argument. He took ten rounds of severe battering off Douglas and also took punishment in the first Holyfield fight.

His chin didn't fail him against Lewis/Williams... his heart did. The Lewis fight didn't prove or disprove anything anyway. He was shot by then by a long way.

[SliqueJab]

Tyson definitely on my top 10.
1. ali
2. louis
3. foreman
4. marciano
5. holmes
6. frazier
7. johnson
8. dempsey
9. holyfield
10. tyson

for me he made the cut because he's the freaking punching machine. he's not as a warrior as people on this list but he can probably knockout most of them in his prime. And he's a top 3 when comparing their prime.

[Guest]

Tyson definitely on my top 10.
1. ali
2. louis
3. foreman
4. marciano
5. holmes
6. frazier
7. johnson
8. dempsey
9. holyfield
10. tyson

Just curious... why did Holyfield make your final ten and Lewis didn't, when Lewis drew and beat Evander when he could still (just about) be considered in his heavyweight prime?

[theclawoftheTiger]

Hes got to be top ten on every sane persons list

[GasPed]

Tyson OWNED Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield in sparring sessions in 1984

While I actually agree with your assertion that Mike Tyson in '86 was a phenomenal fighter, this thing about Tyson owning LL and Holy in sparring is pretty much ****e, so I'm calling you on it. Someone has to stop the madness...

[SliqueJab]

Well i guess i am insane. Lewis is a great boxer but I was never impressed by him. He could be on everyone's top 10 list for all I care. The best fighter he fought was Holyfield and Holyfield was past him prime. He also got knockout twice by some decent fighter on his prime though he proved it wrong the second time around. If he had beaten Bowe, I would definitely place him on top 10. Anyways Lewis is great boxer, I never doubted his ability, I just doubted his chin. I just dunno if he could hang with the best of them prime against prime.

[zabkillsspinks]

So I was watching the rabbitpunchboxing.com show and they were having the usual babble-session about Mike Tyson and whether or not he's one of the all-time Top 10 heavyweights. I’d really like to get this debate over with, once and for all.

Mike Tyson never defeated a HEAVYWEIGHT of any consequence in his career. Sure, he KO’d Spinx for the title, but lets not forget Spinks was a natural light heavyweight. Aside from Spinx, who else was there that he defeated that worth worth a crap? Bonecrusher Smith? Please.

The “good” heavyweights of Tyson’s time all beat him, and beat him soundly. Does anyone remember the Ear Eating Contest with Holyfield? How about the supposed Brit with the glass jaw that absolutely destroyed Tyson?

Why people would even fathom Tyson being one of the all-time greats is beyond me. Sure he had power in both hands and was very aggressive. His defense was average, due to his head movement. His conditioning was horrible, along with a non-existent jab or any counterpunching ability. Also, Tyson had a chin like a 6 year old.

I’m sorry to say, but the people who love Tyson and think he was God’s gift to the heavyweight division really need to go back and watch the fights and especially WHO he fought. They might actually reconsider their argument.

your an idiot there are several good names on tyson record.

hes definitely an all time great no question about it. with his style he would have beaten anyone in the history of boxing in his prime.

ill just point out how wrong you are here is a list of the good opponents tyson beat.

1. berbick
2. thomas
3. tucker
4. biggs
5. holmes - and dont give me **** about holmes was past his prime caus ehe fought in his damn 50's and beat mercer in 1991.
6. spinks - he was a natural heavy when he fought tyson he beat holmes twice and knocked out gerry cooney and tyson murdered him and ended his career.
7. bruno 1
8.ruddock 1
9.ruddock 2
10.bruno 2
11.botha - and he came back in the fight after losing the first 4 so i dont wanna hear how he never came back to win and it came after a year 1/2 half lay off.
12.savarese
13.golota - who went on to give byrd and ruiz two title holders all they could handle


so lets see you argue with that i cant wait for this response, how many people have that good a resume