How far could Tyson have gone if he had not fired Rooney?

[Tatabanya]

strange how tyson was ''focused'' vs bums but ''distracted'' vs ATGs

Essentially, Tyson fought four ATGs.

Prime Tyson:

Destroyed Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks, the only man to knock both out.

Post-prison Tyson:

Lost to Evander Holyfield in the first fight (and didn't quit, he was knocked out after eleven hard rounds). Snapped in the second while the fight was still on balance. Was given to Lewis as drugged easy meat, in pitiful mental conditions, and even in that case he didn't quit, taking his beating like a man until the end as he had done against Buster Douglas and in the first Holyfield bout.

Tyson only really "quit" in his last fight, against Kevin McBride. He had been a finished fighter for a long time then. He just didn't have it anymore, and promptly admitted that in the post-fight interview.

So, in the end, a prime Tyson would stand a good chance of beating both Holyfield and Lewis. In regard to Bowe, please. In spite of the official results, Bowe was disintegrated by Andrew Golota, who in turn was destroyed by a B-level version of Tyson. A prime Tyson would have Bowe throwing up all his cookies.

Does anyone judge Muhammad Ali's fighting qualities by the Holmes and Berbick fights? Just sayin'.

[Elroy The Great]

Essentially, Tyson fought four ATGs.

Prime Tyson:

Destroyed Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks, the only man to knock both out.

Post-prison Tyson:

Lost to Evander Holyfield in the first fight (and didn't quit, he was knocked out after eleven hard rounds). Snapped in the second while the fight was still on balance. Was given to Lewis as drugged easy meat, in pitiful mental conditions, and even in that case he didn't quit, taking his beating like a man until the end as he had done against Buster Douglas and in the first Holyfield bout.

Tyson only really "quit" in his last fight, against Kevin McBride. He had been a finished fighter for a long time then. He just didn't have it anymore, and promptly admitted that in the post-fight interview.

Does anyone judge Muhammad Ali's fighting qualities by the Holmes and Berbick fights? Just sayin'.

holmes came out of retirement for that money and spinks was ready TO retire off that money.

i wanted to be a tyson fan but he showed his true colors.....typical bully.

its too convenient that tyson stood not competitive verses the few quality guys he fought.

btw, he tried to break poor bothas arm because he was doing well.

[Tatabanya]

holmes came out of retirement for that money and spinks was ready TO retire off that money.

i wanted to be a tyson fan but he showed his true colors.....typical bully.

its too convenient that tyson stood not competitive verses the few quality guys he fought.

btw, he tried to break poor bothas arm because he was doing well.

Too superficial of an analysis, sorry. I see your points, though.

Anyhow, if Holmes and Spinks do not qualify as legitimate wins for Tyson, then Holyfield and Lewis's wins against him should not be counted as such, given that Tyson had been sent away for three years.

Holmes was competitive against Holyfield AFTER losing to Tyson, if you recall. Spinks was thought by many to be able to outbox and defeat Tyson BEFORE he was annihilated.

[Elroy The Great]

Too superficial of an analysis, sorry. I see your points, though.

Anyhow, if Holmes and Spinks do not qualify as legitimate wins for Tyson, then Holyfield and Lewis's wins against him should not be counted as such, given that Tyson had been sent away for three years.

*Holmes was competitive against Holyfield AFTER losing to Tyson, if you recall. Spinks was thought by many to be able to outbox and defeat Tyson BEFORE he was annihilated.

again, its always something when it comes to tyson. no matter the situation, he was killing bums. jail, drugs, partying.....never a problem.

* an ACTIVE homes.

spinks saw $$$$$ in the headlights. he wasnt damaged so he could have continued with his career but, nah.

[DreamFighter]

he'd have gone off the rails at some point, He didnt have the longevity mindset.

[DreamFighter]

so many guys could sing that same if only song.

strange how tyson was ''focused'' vs bums but ''distracted'' vs ATGs

timing is everything when making excuses

tis strange bro, but only strange in that you actually wrote that post.

[_Rexy_]

Cus's death was the first domino to fall. After that Mike was just too vulnerable and people like Don King and Robin Givens were able to sink their teeth into him and drain him like the leeches that they are. Firing Rooney was probably the last domino really, as he was never the same after the Spinks fight, just looking for that big KO punch instead of the combos and speed that made him great. King was able to convince Mike to fill his corner with yes men who convinced him he was the baddest man in the planet, and didn't need to train hard (Mike even admits that King had him get all of the white men out of his corner and fill them with his real brothers that would have his back. Worked out well for him lmao)

that said, even with Cus's death, if none of the other things had ever happened, he would likely be top HW of all time. (I don't even see jail happening without King and Givens. Mike lived a pretty clean life with Cus and Rooney)

[Elroy The Great]

tis strange bro, but only strange in that you actually wrote that post.

[_Rexy_]

again, its always something when it comes to tyson. no matter the situation, he was killing bums. jail, drugs, partying.....never a problem.

* an ACTIVE homes.

spinks saw $$$$$ in the headlights. he wasnt damaged so he could have continued with his career but, nah.

was more than just money. Spinks was lineal champ at the time., and IIRC there was a tournament to bring all of the titles together for an undisputed champ. He wanted NO PART of Tyson. Go rewatch that fight, Spinks looks terrified from the moment he's walking to the ring. He looks like he's walking the green mile.

[Elroy The Great]

was more than just money. Spinks was lineal champ at the time., and IIRC there was a tournament to bring all of the titles together for an undisputed champ. He wanted NO PART of Tyson. Go rewatch that fight, Spinks looks terrified from the moment he's walking to the ring. He looks like he's walking the green mile.

hell yeah he was scared. didnt mean he had to retire.....unless.....

he wanted that tyson money before retiring.