What fight was it where you knew Tyson was shot?

[champion4ever]

I think that Mike Tyson was at his peak when he KO Michael Spinks in 90 seconds back in 1988. However since then, he had begun showing signs of decline, once he fired his manager Bill Clayton and trainer Kevin Rooney after the bout; Two of whom were the last lineages of the Cus D'Amato legacy.

From there, things started to go downhill for him as he had begun to lose guidance, discipline, focus and his sense of purpose. Which was evident in his subsequent bouts with Frank Bruno in 1989, where he was rocked and in his subsequent bout with James Buster Douglass two fights later, where he was KO in Tokyo. It was almost like, he was a lost sheep wandering and had gone astray.

[bklynboy]

Was it Douglas, McNeely, Holyfield, Botha? Before any of these, after any of these?

I could tell he was losing it when he fought McNeely.

I wouldn't use the word shot but by the Frank Bruno fight Tyson had lost much of what made him spectacular. He didn't have his movement; his bob and weave and his jab was gone.

At the time I didn't know Tyson was never coming back. I hoped it was just a phase but ... it wasn't. It was the beginning of the end. He could have come back. He never would have fallen so far if he hadn't replaced qualified people with yes men, etc... But it did.

I would say he never came back. His peak was before Bruno. There was no post-jail Tyson that resembled his peak in any way.

[VanillaIce]

Well, when he fought McNeeley he was well past his prime, did you guy notice he was coming from an incarceration in his one round fight vs Peter? But seriously I think I noticed his downfall after the Douglas fight, he didn't look good after that beating and yes he was shot after the Botha fight, no doubt

[Luilun]

Was it Douglas, McNeely, Holyfield, Botha? Before any of these, after any of these?

I could tell he was losing it when he fought McNeely.

The Douglas fight is when the skills started to decline. Maybe if he had kept Rooney, Tyson would have been greater. A trainer can make a big difference. It's like if Floyd left his dada and Uncle to train with Freddy Roach would see the skills declining

[champion4ever]

Tyson demise came well before his incarceration. It started the moment he signed with Don King and lost what got him there; Dedication, hardwork, passion and commitment to be the best he could be in the sport.

On the other hand, DK neglected him. He gave him the freedom to live a very fast and undisciplined lifestyle by providing him with certain perks without any supervision; Which eventually ruined his career and landed him in a lot of trouble outside of the ring in the process.

[Evol]

the holyfield fight where he bit a chunk off the real deal's ear.

[Boxing Goat]

The McBride fight.

Early in the Williams fight Tyson looked like normal. He gassed and got wasted.