The Tyson In His Prime Debate. . . Acceptable?

[MPX309]

So as most here, I follow a few pages on facebook boxing related and I'm not dis*****g that Tyson is a legend of the sport, that is a given.

But. . . Say for example there's a post about his fight with Lewis, or Holyfield and you'll see comments such as

"Tyson would have beaten them in his prime"

Now, I don't really see the case here, as if you're referring to Tyson's prime we're talking from the age of 18 to like 22, which for me, is not an acceptable argument.

The way I see it, Tyson was a troubled youngster, maybe too much on his shoulders and his young mind at the time. He had the ability to become great, but his own demons were a much tougher battle than anything he faced in the ring.

[imperial1]

I don't think any version of Mike beat a prime Holyfield pre Manny Steward I think he beats LL though IMO

[vorgaphe]

Was he at his best when he fought Holyfield and Lewis? No. Therefore, it is reasonable to consider how he would have done in his prime (which came very early). Whether or not Tyson would have beaten them in his prime is irrelevant.

[MPX309]

Was he at his best when he fought Holyfield and Lewis? No. Therefore, it is reasonable to consider how he would have done in his prime (which came very early). Whether or not Tyson would have beaten them in his prime is irrelevant.

. . . But then that is on him isn't it? in all due respect. It's not like father time has made him a shell of his former self, but his own lack of discipline and misplaced focus.

He admits that he didn't train for BD, and things didn't really get much better after that.

[Left Hook Tua]

tyson was a physical specimen with tools.

speed, power, skill, chin.... name it he got it.

in fantasy matchups he does well because of this.

but kinda like roy he didn't really prove much in the ring. at least as far as beating other greats.

you can argue tyson was superior to frazier and could beat ali too.

but tyson never beat any alis in his career.

ali beat a bunch of tysons. (floyd, joe, sonny, george)

[imperial1]

tyson was a physical specimen with tools.

speed, power, skill, chin.... name it he got it.

in fantasy matchups he does well because of this.

but kinda like roy he didn't really prove much in the ring. at least as far as beating other greats.

you can argue tyson was superior to frazier and could beat ali too.

but tyson never beat any alis in his career.

ali beat a bunch of tysons. (floyd, joe, sonny, george)

Didn't prove much like Roy in the Ring


How do you become the youngest HW champion in the world and not have proved anything in the ring ? And he was undisputed Hw champ ..




As far as Roy really two time lhw champ ? Wins over hall of famers in Reggie Johnson,Virgil hill,Bernard Hopkins and James Toney .


What more should they have done ?

[vorgaphe]

. . . But then that is on him isn't it? in all due respect. It's not like father time has made him a shell of his former self, but his own lack of discipline and misplaced focus.

He admits that he didn't train for BD, and things didn't really get much better after that.

It depends on what you hold to be "prime". If you define prime as the best version of a fighter, then Tyson was out of prime after prison. The reason for him being out of prime are neither here nor there. If you take prime to be age 27-31 or some other arbitrary measurement then you'll arrive at a different conclusion.

[Left Hook Tua]

Was he at his best when he fought Holyfield and Lewis? No. Therefore, it is reasonable to consider how he would have done in his prime (which came very early). Whether or not Tyson would have beaten them in his prime is irrelevant.

tyson is younger than evan fields and lennox.

so him not being at his best is on him not his age.

he should have gotten some of that evan fields hgh.

[vorgaphe]

tyson is younger than evan fields and lennox.

so him not being at his best is on him not his age.

he should have gotten some of that evan fields hgh.

I know and I agree. However, for the original point was about prime Tyson. Him losing his prime due to his lack of focus, partying etc is irrelevant to whether or not the best version of Tyson would have beaten these others fighters. That's all I'm saying.

[Left Hook Tua]

Didn't prove much like Roy in the Ring


How do you become the youngest HW champion in the world and not have proved anything in the ring ? And he was undisputed Hw champ ..




As far as Roy really two time lhw champ ? Wins over hall of famers in Reggie Johnson,Virgil hill,Bernard Hopkins and James Toney .


What more should they have done ?

"AT LEAST AS FAR AS BEATING OTHER GREATS"


roy has toney and hop at least. mike doesn't even have that. unless you count old larry.