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Mike Tyson? Is Deontay Wilder (32-0, 32 KO) comparable to a 20 year old Iron Mike, thus far?
Written by Lee Cleveland
at Dec 27, 2014 - 05:07PM ET in News
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Mike Tyson? Is Deontay Wilder (32-0, 32 KO) comparable to a 20 year old Iron Mike, thus far?
Next month, 29 year old Deontay Wilder will fight WBC heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne. The bout will serve as Deontay's first world title shot.
Wilder's outstanding record of 32 wins 0 losses and 32 knockouts has a lot of people talking about Stiverne vs Wilder as well as Wilder's accomplishments to date.
Not only has Wilder knocked out all of his opponents, he's done so within four rounds. None of his 32 foes have seen Round 5.
Scary.
One can't help but draw comparisons to a 20 year old Mike Tyson. No other heavyweight in recent memory has been so utterly destructive on his ascension to the top.
Some will insist the comparison is absolute rubbish. How can Wilder already be compared to a fight legend?
While there is no comparing Deontay Wilder's career to Mike Tyson's, we can compare and contrast today's version of Wilder to Mike Tyson at the same stage in the latter's career.
It's easy to fall into that trap and say, "Fighters were better in the 1980s so Mike fought far better opposition on his quest to heavyweight glory."
But even if heavyweights back then were better, Wilder is, at least at this moment, every bit as destructive against today's crop as Tyson was leading up to the Berbick fight.
On paper, Deontay is, thus far, today's 'Mike Tyson.'
The biggest difference between them is not level of opposition - What made Mike Tyson so much bigger back then versus Deontay today is exposure.
Not only had Mike fought a few times on network television, he did so at a time when boxing was more popular in the United States. By the time Tyson challenged for his first world title, he was practically a star already.
Among the celebrities in attendance for Tyson vs Berbick (1986) were movies stars Kirk Douglas, Eddie Murphy, Tony Danza, Rob Lowe, and Sylvester Stallone. And those from the sport included Muhammad Ali, Thomas Hearns, Archie Moore, Larry Holmes, Hector Camacho, and Michael Spinks.
Simply put, Wilder hasn't been showcased anywhere near to the degree as Tyson at a comparable stage in the latter's career. As a result, it is easy to downplay Deontay Wilder's accomplishments in relation to Mike's.
... But facts and stats tell another story.
Mike Tyson (Nov 1986) vs Deontay Wilder (today)
Age: Tyson - 20, Wilder - 29
Olympics: Tyson - Didn't qualify; Wilder - Won Bronze Medal at 2008 Olympics
Record: Mike Tyson 27-0 (25 KOs); Deontay Wilder 32-0 (32 KOs)
Fights lasting more than 4 rounds: Tyson 5, Wilder 0
Round 1 knockouts (prior to first title challenge): Tyson 15, Wilder 18
Records of Tyson's first 6 opponents: 0-3, 1-3, 10-18, 1-0, 3-0 and 3-16. (Comnined 18-40)
Records of Wilder's first 6 opponents: 2-2, 1-0, 1-1, 3-3, 6-15-1 and 1-2-2 (Combined 14-23-2)
Records of Tyson's previous 8 opponents (prior to first title challenge):
16-1-1, 31-8, 18-4, 12-2, 15-5, 16-1, 22-3 and 21-3. (Combined 151-27-1)
Records of Wilder's previous 8 opponents (prior to first title challenge):
13-0, 14-0, 15-8, 31-6, 25-5, 21-10-1, 36-1-1 and 25-16-4 (Combined 180-46-6)
While a case can be made Tyson's opposition, pre Trevor Berbick, was slightly more accomplished, a case can also be made Wilder has been more dominant and destructive than the Tyson who faced Berbick.
If nothing else, Wilder's path is at least comparable to a 20 year old Tyson's at this point.
Is the 6'7" Deontay Wilder, like Mike Tyson in the 1980s, a force to be reckoned with?
We'll find out January 17.
- See more at: http://www.fightsaga.com/news/item/5....OLEXZk72.dpuf
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