How do you rate tysons ko victory over larry holmes ?

[hugh grant]

tyson has only lost once and that was against Buster Douglas. Tyson IMO is a top 15 ATG heavyweight. Physically he was one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, just look at him on the heavy bag.

Tyrell biggs fought Tyson, Lennox, Bowe, and gives Tyson the edge. In his prime his record speaks for itself. Although, i can see the tail end of his career can effect how people judge him at his peak.

[Forza]

If Mercer's a bum, what does that make Vitali? Mercer did a better job than Vitali on a better version of Lewis, and did it without menstruating all over the place.

Let's see mercer got completely owned, and vitali retired lewis who cheated. I'd say that makes vitali better.

Also, in lewis' own words " I'm like fine wine, I get better with age "

[ManchesterMike]

tyson has only lost once and that was against Buster Douglas. Tyson IMO is a top 15 ATG heavyweight. Physically he was one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, just look at him on the heavy bag.

Tyrell biggs fought Tyson, Lennox, Bowe, and gives Tyson the edge. In his prime his record speaks for itself. Although, i can see the tail end of his career can effect how people judge him at his peak.

Unfortunately I don't think we ever even saw how good Mike Tyson could have been given the way his life went off the rails at such a young age.
If Cus hadn't passed away and had been able to keep Mike in check and not let all the negative influences (Don King, and all those hangers on) into his life then I believe that a focused Mike Tyson would have dominated the division for as long as he chose to remain in the game.

As they say, the star that burns twice as bright burns half as long.

[Grinderman]

tyson has only lost once and that was against Buster Douglas. Tyson IMO is a top 15 ATG heavyweight. Physically he was one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, just look at him on the heavy bag.

Tyrell biggs fought Tyson, Lennox, Bowe, and gives Tyson the edge. In his prime his record speaks for itself. Although, i can see the tail end of his career can effect how people judge him at his peak.

What, Danny Williams and Kevin McBride don't count?

[Grinderman]

Larry Holmes was semi-retired when Don King came by with a suitcase full of cash for him to fight Tyson. Holmes knew he wasn't going to win, but he wanted that money.

[Marcov]

Holmes being over the hill and retired a couple years and not taking even one tune up takes alot away from the importance of the win. But it is still a good name to have on your record.

[hugh grant]

What, Danny Williams and Kevin McBride don't count?

Of course, those losses dont count and cant be used to downgrade Tyson, let alone Tysons losses to Lennox and Evander. They dont count as well. Those guys wouldnt have beat Tyson in his prime, and Buster is the only one who fought a prime Tyson even though Tyson wasnt at his best on the night. Lennox and Evander might have beat Tyson in Tysons prime, but unfortunately they didnt beat a prime Tyson as well.

Those guys didnt beat THE TYSON, just like Norris never beat THE SRL and Holmes and spinks never beat a prime Ali. If ALi and SRL reputations for being great isnt tarnished, then Tysons cant be either. Although a way to downgrade Tyson is that he never beat any truly great fighters. But how he dealt with what he had to play with is how Tyson will be judged. And he dealt with people as good as a man can do.

[ManchesterMike]

Of course, those losses dont count and cant be used to downgrade Tyson, let alone Tysons losses to Lennox and Evander. They dont count as well. Those guys wouldnt have beat Tyson in his prime, and Buster is the only one who fought a prime Tyson even though Tyson wasnt at his best on the night. Lennox and Evander might have beat Tyson in Tysons prime, but unfortunately they didnt beat a prime Tyson as well.

Those guys didnt beat THE TYSON, just like Norris never beat THE SRL and Holmes and spinks never beat a prime Ali. If ALi and SRL reputations for being great isnt tarnished, then Tysons cant be either. Although a way to downgrade Tyson is that he never beat any truly great fighters. But how he dealt with what he had to play with is how Tyson will be judged. And he dealt with people as good as a man can do.

Exactly, Tyson was already on a downward spiral before he lost to Douglas (who don't forget was down for longer than ten in the fight).
Given the right people around him Mike would have retired unbeaten and would be now regarded as the greatest Heavyweight of all time. Of this I have no doubt.

[fitefanSHO]

Tyson may never have beaten a great fighter but he KO'd a fighter in Holmes who was next to impossible to KO.

[jaded]

I saw an interview with Holmes about the Tyson fight on ESPN some time ago. He had been retired 2 years and at the time had no interest at all in ever fighting again. He was enjoying his retirement and was sedentary and had gotten fat. He was offered a Tyson fight twice and turned it down because he just didn't need or want it. Then when they offered it to him the 3rd time it was for 5 million dollars and he thought WTF that's a lot of money. He said OK and trained 5 or 6 weeks (I can't remember) for the fight...which tells you didn't care and how serious he was. He said that had he really trained with the intention of winning he would have taken Tyson into deep water and beat him...and he knew how to fight fighters like Tyson and exploit there weakness...and I think he may have done it. There is no way anyone should look at that fight and think they saw Tyson beat the real Larry Holmes. He just traded off his name and legacy for a very rich payday and couldn't care less about it.