Prime Tyson vs Prime Wlad - Who wins?

[CubanGuyNYC]

Tyson was shot when he fought Lewis.

Tyson was even more shot when he fought Williams.

And triangle theories don't work.

True, true and true.

Once again, Mike Tyson was a wrecking ball at his peak. He had a relatively brief window where we got a glimpse of his potential. That adds to his mystique. Many fans wonder, "What could have been?" Others choose to idolize him, based on the aforementioned window.

[Ricky Wright]

Great Post.

Klitschko-Tyson common opponents:

Lewis KO'd Tyson in 8 rounds.
Vitali dominated Lewis and scared him into retirement.

Williams KO'd Tyson in 4 rounds.
Vitali annihilated Williams.

Tyson couldn't stop Tony Tucker, who was KO'd in 2 rounds by Herbie Hide, who was destroyed in 2 rounds by Vitali.

The ridiculously overrated Tyson gets destroyed by either Klitschko.

But Tyson beat the great Trevor Berbick who beat Muhammad Ali! Tyson basically beat Muhammad Ali! Can Wlad claim any victory that historic?

[CubanGuyNYC]

1. Tyson was destroyed by Kevin McBride, Buster Douglas, Danny Williams, Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield.

2. That bum Douglas laid the blueprint to beat Tyson.

3. Tyson struggled against tall fighters.

4. Tyson had poor stamina, only dangerous early, would always fade.

5. Tyson was mentally weak, if things didn't go his way, he would fold like a cheap tent.

The ridiculously overrated Tyson gets destroyed by either Klitschko.

"Buster" Douglas had a career night versus a physically prime Mike Tyson. As you note in point five, Tyson was mentally weak. The disarray Tyson's life was in at the time is well documented. Mike was past his best when he faced Evander. He'd spent three years in jail and still fought ably against an ATG in Holyfield I. Tyson was definitely past it when he fought another ATG in Lewis. McBride and Williams fought a shell; these were guys Tyson feasted on in the early days.

I'm not sure one can say that Tyson "struggled" against tall fighters. He did well against some and not as well against others. Some of the taller fighters came after he was past his best.

At his peak, Tyson had great stamina. He came ready to rumble. But his style is based on an high energy, early knockout philosophy. Exploding the way he did on an opponent expends tremendous energy. That's why he was more vulnerable against a truly good boxer who could take him deep.

This brings us to the one point we agree on completely. Mike Tyson has an egg shell mind. It takes heart to go into the late rounds against a tough opponent. Tyson had the physical tools to do it, but not the emotional grit. Again, Vitali would have a chance. Wlad...not so much.

[Vadrigar.]

Tyson by ****.

[£-4-£]

Any Klitites that voted Wlad are delusional. Their boy's china chin gets obliterated.

[lfc19titles]

wlad would faint before the bell rings and be k0d

[*2TOUGH*]

Tyson would have just knocked his bit_ch azz out in the press conference. Yes he would sue, the fight would get hype and they would commence to fight where Wlad would be soiling the ring apron with what we call... SH_IT.....

[j.one]

I'd still pick Mike today, **** the ****'s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dave Rado]

Ive got Mike knocking him out in the first round.

Can't believe how many people are living in the past. Wake up, this is 2011, not 2003. The version of Wlad who lost to Sanders and Brewster is as different from the current fighter as the version of Pacquiao who lost to Singsurat is from the current version, and as different as the version of Lewis who lost to McCall is from the version who became the undisputed champion under Steward's tutelage. Wlad has improved dramatically just in the last two years, and no one has managed to land cleanly on him in his recent fights.

Tyson did have major problems with tall fighters in his prime. He lost badly to Douglas, albeit he hadn't trained properly, and Douglas gave easily his career-best performance, but that isn't enough on its own to explain how easily Douglas dominated him; and he was very unimpressive against Tucker and Smith, and never managed to land a clean punch on either of those two. Against the current version of Wlad he would be very unlikely to land anything cleanly. Not saying it would be a slam dunk for Wlad, but it would be a 60/40 fight in favour of Wlad, or maybe 55/45.

[D4thincarnation]

Tyson by KO within 6 rounds

When Tyson connects on his chin Wlad goes down like a sack of spuds.