Tyson on today's fighters

[JDD1]

anyone hear his interview during the fight when he was talking about senators and smugglers at the fight?

[Tarl of Bristol]

"Absolutely, the fighters have to stand up. But they're not interested in fighting, they're businessmen now. In my era, we liked money, we had money, we lost money, but our main concern was nobody could say they were better than us. In my time, there were 6 billion people on the planet. In my time, I said I could beat every single one of them in a fair fight. Will they be able to say that?"

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/box...ve-to-stand-up

Thank you, Mike.

I like what Mike Tyson said but tis unfortunate he wasn't more of a businessman.

Whatever I think fo Floyd Mayweather as a fighter is inconsequential when looking at how I view him as promoting his brand. Hats off to him as well as Oscar de la Hoya and some others for making the business end of boxing much better for fighters these days than it was when Mike Tyson started out in the 1980s. I don't particularly care for a good deal of their tactics but at least the fighters are getting the money and the ripoffs from the promoters and scam artists are becoming less and less.

I think fighters need to be more of businessmen and be more aware so that they don't get ripped off and they control their finances more securely. If that means that sometimes the best aren't fighting the best because of promotional distractions or demands then so be it, as unfortunate as that sounds.

[Twako]

I agree that fighters fought more often and fought almost everyone. That was because quality fights sold, not just a certain fighter. More outlets for fighting too. But the day Tyson Mcneely sold nearly 2 million ppv's was the day everything changed from fight driven to fighter driven ppv's.

I think Mike has to realize because of what happened to him and ali during their careers and after, is the reason a guy like floyd is paying so close attention to money.

Mike and Ali got robbed blind, floyd is doing everyting he can to prevent being in the same place financially.

you missed the point. tyson was talking about being a fighter and taking on all comers, not about regrets about his monies.

[Beercules]

Thank you for that Mike.

[radioraheem]

Guys like Tommy Hearns have a different opinion... He said this, On The Ropes Radio with Jenna:

What do you think about the difference between then and now in terms of making these big match-ups?

Tommy Hearns: Today these guys are more willing to fight each other. There willing to get in there, mix it up and make that money. But back then, in my time, they wasn't really too willing to get in there. Even if the money was right, they weren't willing to get in there because they didn't want to suffer the loss.

[croz]

It's total BS. Just the kettle calling the pot black as every generation of boxing has done before. As usual we have the uneducated "back in my day" crowd showing their knee jerk agreement with him. In reality they were always like this. You had Jack Dempsey complaining Marcianno was all about the money, then Marcianno saying Ali was all about the money, followed by Ali saying Tyson was all about the money. They all did it and they all try claim the way they did it was different, but they weren't.

Hey Tyson, what about those reports that your camp bribed Lewis to stay out of the way? What about that Tyson?

[WilkinsOlajuwon]

It's total BS. Just the kettle calling the pot black as every generation of boxing has done before. As usual we have the uneducated "back in my day" crowd showing their knee jerk agreement with him. In reality they were always like this. You had Jack Dempsey complaining Marcianno was all about the money, then Marcianno saying Ali was all about the money, followed by Ali saying Tyson was all about the money. They all did it and they all try claim the way they did it was different, but they weren't.

Hey Tyson, what about those reports that your camp bribed Lewis to stay out of the way? What about that Tyson?

But....for the most part they also all got in the ring with each other (including lewis/tyson). But hey, if you like watching primarily one-sided fights there isn't a better time than now.

Money has always played a part, but some fighters got it on and others don't.

[Holywarrior]

Well, beat everyone except Douglas and Holyfield.

[soul_survivor]

Pacquiao took full advantage of the system following the Cotto fight. Not like he is innocent in the whole debacle with Mayweather. Sergio fought middling contenders for years because he wanted a big fight, which he's just now getting. Look at Ward, he got to the top by fighting damn near everyone in his division, but once he got there he has done nothing and is just looking for the payday.

Some of that happened back in the day, look how long it took Hagler to get a shot, but it was much harder to do. These days guys play the game long enough to get a belt and then stop caring about the best. Thurman will probably do the same if he ever becomes the man, it's easy to say you'll fight anyone when you have to.

Total rubbish man.

Pacquiao fought the best names from bantam to welter, names like Ledwabo, Barrera, Marquez, Morales, Cotto and post Cotto he h as faced the best welter not named Mayweather. What more is he supposed to do?

Martinez beat THE MAN for his title, stopped Williams and fought leading contenders, not one of the guys he fought was ranked outside of the MW top 10, apart from possibly Dzinzurik and faced the number 2 guy in his division and battered him ruthlessly. Who was he supposed to fight? Marvin Hagler? Carlos Monzon? Gene Fullmer?

get over yourself, if you wana discuss boxing with me, know your facts.

[cupocity303]

Tyson is full of it, just because he has that retired "Legend/HOF" status now.