Why did Mike Tyson duck Ray Mercer?

[hugh grant]

Did he purposely avoid them though?

He fought Evander.

Evander was renowned for having a good chin.

True, holyfield was tough but before holyfield not anyone really.
No I don't think he purposely avoided them to be frank

[mjh1969]

Old Foreman would have crushed him. David Tua at that point could have knocked him out. Mercer could have taken him to deep waters and stopped him late. Ibeabuchi same story. Late 90s Vitali would have crushed him too.

It's true that Tyson fought in the strongest or second strongest HW era ever and barely fought the best, and the few he did face mostly beat him up. I don't rank Tyson as a top 10 ATG and many historians don't either.

I agree with this statement. I have always thought that Tyson was overrated.

[thebrownbomber_]

Would loved to see Tyson v mercer. Not sure Tyson fought famed tough chin guys who could fight also.

Pinklon Thomas

[thebrownbomber_]

"Mercer could have stopped him". Like he did with Jesse ferguson? "David Tua"- literally a rip off Mike tyson. Ibeabuchi? Would prolly be a repition of the Ruddock fights.

Old Foreman would have crushed him.
It's true that Tyson fought in the strongest or second strongest HW era ever and barely fought the best, and the few he did face mostly beat him up. I don't rank Tyson as a top 10 ATG and many historians don't either.

He fought 15/50 fights in the 90s lol, how is that his era? Anyway, he still managed to unify 2 titles that era. So?

[BKM-]

"Mercer could have stopped him". Like he did with Jesse ferguson? "David Tua"- literally a rip off Mike tyson. Ibeabuchi? Would prolly be a repition of the Ruddock fights.


He fought 15/50 fights in the 90s lol, how is that his era? Anyway, he still managed to unify 2 titles that era. So?

Already went through this with another poster in this thread. Tyson fought enough times in the 90s, he could and should have faced any of those killers.

Instead he fought nothing but glass chinned bums. Except for Evander who he only fought because he thought Evander was washed up.

Ruddock could dish it out but not take it. Tyson DUCKED guys who could both dish it out and take it. Mercer, Tua, Foreman, Bowe, McCall, Ibeabuchi etc. These are Tyson's nightmare: Men who would not lay down after taking his punch. Tyson would crumble mentally against all of them. He wanted his guys to stay down. Not get back up or worse, stay standing and brawl back!

Tyson feared them. And you already know about how much Tyson has talked about his fear in boxing, yes? As a Tyson fan.

[whollisboxing]

That would've been a great fight but it's funny how Mercer fought Lennox and Holyfield back to back but somehow didn't fight Mike Tyson.

Also, Mike Tyson also somehow escaped fighting Moorer, Tommy Morrison, Tua and Bert Cooper. Shocking, isn't it?

I'm not sure about the rest but Morrison had a shot lined up but then lost unexpectedly.

[thebrownbomber_]

Already went through this with another poster in this thread. Tyson fought enough times in the 90s, he could and should have faced any of those killers.

Instead he fought nothing but glass chinned bums. Except for Evander who he only fought because he thought Evander was washed up.

Ruddock could dish it out but not take it. Tyson DUCKED guys who could both dish it out and take it. Mercer, Tua, Foreman, Bowe, McCall, Ibeabuchi etc. These are Tyson's nightmare: Men who would not lay down after taking his punch. Tyson would crumble mentally against all of them. He wanted his guys to stay down. Not get back up or worse, stay standing and brawl back!

Tyson feared them. And you already know about how much Tyson has talked about his fear in boxing, yes? As a Tyson fan.

You are clearly speaking nonsense at this point. Tua, Ibeabuchi, were close to or very near their absolute peak when Tyson returned. Ibeabuchi was never the same after his fight with Tua, Tua-Tyson clash would have likely happened in 1998, and even then, Tua was at his peak while Tyson was clearly far past his best. McCall?Lol. On foreman, he was going to get a crack at the winner of Tyson-Holyfield as well. Bowe? The guy had his own plans with Golota and Lennox when Tyson was busy with Holyfield. He retired in 1997, just 2 years into tysons come back. Tyson did beat and nearly kill for that matter, Andrew Golota. Botha was also a former champion and gave Michael Moorer a good run for his money. Alex Stewart was considered a meaningful opponent back then, who gave holyfield a war. Tyson finsihed him in one. Why did Evander Holyfield duck Razor Ruddock? Mercer is one of, and if not the most overrated boxer to ever exist. He gets beat by Old Larry Holmes and Jesse Ferguson, a journeyman, Tyson would manhandle mercer.

Ruddock literally took everything Tyson threw and kept fighting on, he was never the same after Tyson broke his jaw. He was also winning round 3 against Evander in their rematch, and would have likely KOed him later or won a decision had he learned to control his emotions.

Anyway, the claim that "Tyson never beat a top heavyweight in his era" is another falsehood. I repeat that his championship reign was in the 80s and NOT the 90s. He cleaned out the division, beating Pinklon Thomas, Tony Tubbs (who outboxed Bowe), Michael Spinks (a LHW ATG, who was far better than Michael Moorer who outpointed prime Holyfield), Tony Tucker, James Smith.

EDIT: Tony Tubbs was known for taking shots and stood toe to toe with tyson. Pinklon Thomas has an iron chin and powerful left jab.

[TonyGe]

That would've been a great fight but it's funny how Mercer fought Lennox and Holyfield back to back but somehow didn't fight Mike Tyson.

Also, Mike Tyson also somehow escaped fighting Moorer, Tommy Morrison, Tua and Bert Cooper. Shocking, isn't it?

What's shocking about it? He would have beat the crap out of those guys.

[Zelda]

Tyson also didn't fight Bowe, Foreman, or Briggs.

post 1989 Tyson just wasn't that good.

And pre-1989, the opposition was not that good.

[thebrownbomber_]

And pre-1989, the opposition was not that good.

Tony Tubbs outboxed Rid**** Bowe. Tyson finished him in 2. Lennox was getting outboxed by Frank Bruno. Tyson finished him twice. Ray Mercer got beat by Jesse ferguson and Old Holmes. Tyson KOed Both. Michael Spinks in ATG LHW and certainly better than Michael Moorer, who outpointed prime holyfield

EDIT: Carl williams was robbed against Larry Holmes as well.