How good was prime Mike Tyson?

[2Shotz]

I think it’s become very fashionable in this day and age to discredit Mike. Fact is, he was UNDISPUTED Heavyweight Champion. You done that?

[a.rihn]

I think what is most captivating about Mike Tyson is how fully he stepped into a mythos, and how quickly his audience was willing to accept this mytho-poetic character as the "real" thing. People were - and still are - watching the legend and not the real human being. It's like confusing an actor for his character.

So yeah, "Iron Mike Tyson" as a persona, as a legend, as an archetypal character is truly something great. And not really something we've seen since in boxing. That persona felt so 100% authentic, it didn't feel like a mask to be put on and taken off. And people really responded to that - the brutality that underscores even the most technical boxing was brought to the forefront whole-clothe.

I tend to think when people pick Tyson as their favorite fighter they are responding to that gladiator spirit that Tyson so fully embodied. "The Baddest Man on the Planet." It isn't necessarily about head movement or accurate punching or anything technical - its an emotional response to an emotional need. Tyson become for many a release valve - our most dangerous and destructive self let loose in the ring, our collective id on display.

[CubanGuyNYC]

He had a three year stretch where he was amazing and would have given any HW in history problems. Undisputed heavyweight champion before he could legally drink.
Prime Tyson was as complete a fighter as there was in his era. Knockout power in both hands. Head movement, handspeed, and footwork were all elite.
Too bad it was a short period. Cuz Amato died, he lost his edge and discipline and guys like Don King put people around him that fed into his worst impulses to keep him under his thumb.
By the time he got to the Douglass fight he was already in decline and stopped boxing and just went head hunting. 19-22 year old Tyson was a sight to behold that’s for sure.

Well put. We’ve had this discussion a lot around here lately. People can argue all they want about how good Tyson actually was, but one thing is certain: he was electrifying at his peak. Mike was a buzzsaw. Few fighters in any weight class have ever inspired the kind of excitement Tyson did. There’s a good reason why people still talk about him.

[champion4ever]

I think you must’ve bought into the hype brother. Tyson wasn’t built the same as an Ali, Foreman etc. He failed to deal with adversity. Someone like Ali would’ve broken Tyson.

You have no arguments with me there because I've just said that. Therefore, I wholeheartedly agree with you. He was mentally weak and lacked the intestinal fortitude of a man like Muhammad Ali or George Foreman.

However at the same time, I am not saying that Ali was your typical boy next door either because he used to party and live a fast life as well. By his own admission he was a womanizer. He had been divorced several times, cheated on all his wives, while fathering several children outside of his marriages in the process.

In addition, there were many times where he refused to train, go into fights out of shape, and unfocused too. For example: The Buster Mathis fight, The first Ken Norton fight, Chuck Wepner, Jimmy Young, Earnie Shavers and the first Leon Spinks fight.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

You have no arguments with me there because I've just said that. Therefore, I wholeheartedly agree with you. He was mentally weak and lacked the intestinal fortitude of a man like Muhammad Ali or George Foreman.

However at the same time, I am not saying that Ali was your typical boy next door either because he used to party and live a fast life as well. By his own admission he was a womanizer. He had been divorced several times, cheated on all his wives, while fathering several children outside of his marriages in the process.

In addition, there were many times where he refused to train, go into fights out of shape, and unfocused too. For example: The Buster Mathis fight, The first Ken Norton fight, Chuck Wepner, Jimmy Young, Earnie Shavers and the first Leon Spinks fight.

I here you man... agreed.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Well put. We’ve had this discussion a lot around here lately. People can argue all they want about how good Tyson actually was, but one thing is certain: he was electrifying at his peak. Mike was a buzzsaw. Few fighters in any weight class have ever inspired the kind of excitement Tyson did. There’s a good reason why people still talk about him.

He’s the Stone Cold Steve Austin of boxing. Short run on top but one of the most memorable and exciting.

[CubanGuyNYC]

He’s the Stone Cold Steve Austin of boxing. Short run on top but one of the most memorable and exciting.

Lol Don’t really know anything about “Stone Cold,” but the description is apt. Tyson had a short but electrifying run. As exciting as they come.

[TonyGe]

As far as Holyfield goes, I'm convinced he was on steroids at the time of the Tyson fights.

[Curtis Harper]

Spinks looked terrified that night. He was also a blown up light heavyweight albeit an extremely talented one. And yeah he was basically semi retired when he fought Mike but the payday was too big to turn away, and Tyson annihilated him.

I would say it was a great performance but by no means a great win.

Wilder is doing what Mike was but is getting nothing but hate.

[Joe Beamish]

Move to history forum