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There are many debates over the career of Mike Tyson, many say he's the greatest heavyweight of all time, some say the greatest boxer of all time P4P. Many say top 5 Heavyweight ever. Where does he really rank? I dissect his career and give you the answers.
Mike Tyson from Brooklyn started his professional career at the age of 18, he faced Hector Mercedes W0 L3 at Empire State Plaza Convention Center, Albany. Winning the fight by KO to get his career up and running.
He followed this up with his reign of "terror", beating Trent Singleton, Don Halpin, Ricardo Spain, John Alderson, Larry Sims, Lorenzo Canady, Michael Johnson, Donnie Long, Robert Colay, Sterling Benjamin, Eddie Richardson, Conroy Nelson,Sammy Scaff, Mark Young, David Jaco, Mike Jameson, Jesse Ferguson, Steve Zouski, James Tillis, Mitch Green, Reggie Gross, William Hosea, Lorenzo Boyd, Marvis Frazier, Jose Ribalta, Alfonzo Ratliff, Trevor Berbick (WBA TITLE)(crap, beat the shell of Ali), James Smith, Pinklon Thomas (yes, he was crap) Tyson had the most ridiculously padded 30-0 record in boxing at this stage.
But he was very exciting in the way he dispatched these bums. So it was an interesting time when he made a step up to fight Tony Tucker 34-0 padded.(C-LEVEL) Tyson won a competitive fight on points. Tucker was also unbeaten at the time, but looking back on his career, he was usually always well beaten by anyone half decent, and was only an above average boxer, still, he was Mike's best win at this stage.
He then faced Tyrell Biggs 20-0 haven beat nobody. Incredible how padded guys records were in the mid eighties to late nineties. The 90's era was all in all a very poor time for heavyweight boxing, and not booming like it is now where we have ATG's like Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder, Andy Ruiz JR. Anthony Joshua, Povetkin, Pulev, Ortiz, Parker and Hughie Fury.
Tyson beat Tyrell, and Tyrell ended his career W30 L10. Tyson then faced Larry Holmes, who at the time of the fight was approximately 76 years old, I applaud Larry for lasting 4 rounds at that age. After this win, Iron Mike asked if Rocky Marciano was still alive anywhere as he'd like his name on his resume, hearing that Marciano died in 1969, he targeted a fight with a Champion from the movies, Rocky Balboa. His team advised him against the fight and it fell through. "Balboa is all wrong for Tyson." stated a member of Tyson's team.
Tony Tubbs was found, Tyson beat him, Tubbs was a similar level to Tucker, both are glorified in the modern time by old fans looking at the past through their nostalgic glasses. Tubbs' best career win was a split-decision victory over Brian Minto. Tyson then knocked out Michael Spinks in the first round, and boy has time been kind to this guy? All Spinks ever did was beat a 74 year old (approx age) Larry Holmes, and then in the rematch win a fight most felt he lost to a 75 year old Larry Holmes. But he's world class apparently!
Tyson then fought Frank Bruno, a very poor man's Anthony Joshua, like a bouncer/tribute act version of AJ. He survived a scare or two to KO the weight-lifter. Carl Williams came next, Carl ended his career W30 L10. Again, people convince themselves that he was great, but he's in reality a bit worse than Dave Allen. James Buster Douglas followed, Douglas was around 100-1 to win the fight. Tyson suffered his first loss and Douglas showed that all you need to beat Mike Tyson is no fear factor and a half decent jab. He toyed with Mike winning all but one round. Imagine if it was Tyson Fury in the ring with mini Mike? Would have been so hilariously one-sided, even more so than this one was.
Tyson lost, knocked out and the excuses from his fans came flying, and haven't stopped coming since. Tyson bounced back beating journeyman Henry Tilman and the decent Alec Stewart, putting himself back into top 10 HW contention. Donovan Ruddock was next, a guy who never beat a good opponent in his whole career. Tyson won by KO, but it was so close it warranted a rematch, Tyson won a points decision this time around.
Then came Peter McNeeley (no clue). The unbeaten
Buster Mathis Jr. was next, and I know he sounds like someone who would be really good, but he was really, really ****. A rematch with Frank Bruno came as Tyson spotted an opportunity to win a cheap belt against the current weakest champion. He won again by KO. Mike then knocked out Bruce Seldin, but then again, so did Kevin "safety pin" Johnson, so what does that tell you?
Finally, Tyson's team told him that he has to fight a proper boxer, a real top one, world class. "No!" cried Mike. But enough money was laid down on the table for Mike to agree. Evander Holyfield aka the real deal (atg) would be in the opposite corner, this was Mike's chance to show he is great. Holyfield was levels above, winning almost every round and knocking out Mike Tyson. The excuses came again.
A rematch followed, Holyfield again dominating, before Mike caught him with a bite on the ear that he didn't see coming. Mike was Disqualified. Holyfield left with the belts, Mike Tyson with some of Holyfield's ear stuck in his teeth. Tyson got back to winning ways stopping Frans Botha, a man known as red light, because he was so slow it's like he's stuck in traffic. an NC with Orlin Norris (whoever he is) wins over Julian Francis (bum) and Lou Savarese (average) followed.
A KO win over slugger Golota was overturned to a NC. A win over Brian Nielsen (the pad man) followed, before facing one of the best ever. Lennox Lewis, losing a very one-sided fight before being stopped. After the fight Lewis made Tyson take his gloves home to dry them out before returning them to him.
A win over Clifford Etienne (?) before losing after a great start against Danny Williams, then cashing one final cheque to turn up and fall over against binman Kevin Mcbride
A good, but not great career. Mike Tyson career rating 7/10.
Mike Tyson from Brooklyn started his professional career at the age of 18, he faced Hector Mercedes W0 L3 at Empire State Plaza Convention Center, Albany. Winning the fight by KO to get his career up and running.
He followed this up with his reign of "terror", beating Trent Singleton, Don Halpin, Ricardo Spain, John Alderson, Larry Sims, Lorenzo Canady, Michael Johnson, Donnie Long, Robert Colay, Sterling Benjamin, Eddie Richardson, Conroy Nelson,Sammy Scaff, Mark Young, David Jaco, Mike Jameson, Jesse Ferguson, Steve Zouski, James Tillis, Mitch Green, Reggie Gross, William Hosea, Lorenzo Boyd, Marvis Frazier, Jose Ribalta, Alfonzo Ratliff, Trevor Berbick (WBA TITLE)(crap, beat the shell of Ali), James Smith, Pinklon Thomas (yes, he was crap) Tyson had the most ridiculously padded 30-0 record in boxing at this stage.
But he was very exciting in the way he dispatched these bums. So it was an interesting time when he made a step up to fight Tony Tucker 34-0 padded.(C-LEVEL) Tyson won a competitive fight on points. Tucker was also unbeaten at the time, but looking back on his career, he was usually always well beaten by anyone half decent, and was only an above average boxer, still, he was Mike's best win at this stage.
He then faced Tyrell Biggs 20-0 haven beat nobody. Incredible how padded guys records were in the mid eighties to late nineties. The 90's era was all in all a very poor time for heavyweight boxing, and not booming like it is now where we have ATG's like Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder, Andy Ruiz JR. Anthony Joshua, Povetkin, Pulev, Ortiz, Parker and Hughie Fury.
Tyson beat Tyrell, and Tyrell ended his career W30 L10. Tyson then faced Larry Holmes, who at the time of the fight was approximately 76 years old, I applaud Larry for lasting 4 rounds at that age. After this win, Iron Mike asked if Rocky Marciano was still alive anywhere as he'd like his name on his resume, hearing that Marciano died in 1969, he targeted a fight with a Champion from the movies, Rocky Balboa. His team advised him against the fight and it fell through. "Balboa is all wrong for Tyson." stated a member of Tyson's team.
Tony Tubbs was found, Tyson beat him, Tubbs was a similar level to Tucker, both are glorified in the modern time by old fans looking at the past through their nostalgic glasses. Tubbs' best career win was a split-decision victory over Brian Minto. Tyson then knocked out Michael Spinks in the first round, and boy has time been kind to this guy? All Spinks ever did was beat a 74 year old (approx age) Larry Holmes, and then in the rematch win a fight most felt he lost to a 75 year old Larry Holmes. But he's world class apparently!
Tyson then fought Frank Bruno, a very poor man's Anthony Joshua, like a bouncer/tribute act version of AJ. He survived a scare or two to KO the weight-lifter. Carl Williams came next, Carl ended his career W30 L10. Again, people convince themselves that he was great, but he's in reality a bit worse than Dave Allen. James Buster Douglas followed, Douglas was around 100-1 to win the fight. Tyson suffered his first loss and Douglas showed that all you need to beat Mike Tyson is no fear factor and a half decent jab. He toyed with Mike winning all but one round. Imagine if it was Tyson Fury in the ring with mini Mike? Would have been so hilariously one-sided, even more so than this one was.
Tyson lost, knocked out and the excuses from his fans came flying, and haven't stopped coming since. Tyson bounced back beating journeyman Henry Tilman and the decent Alec Stewart, putting himself back into top 10 HW contention. Donovan Ruddock was next, a guy who never beat a good opponent in his whole career. Tyson won by KO, but it was so close it warranted a rematch, Tyson won a points decision this time around.
Then came Peter McNeeley (no clue). The unbeaten
Buster Mathis Jr. was next, and I know he sounds like someone who would be really good, but he was really, really ****. A rematch with Frank Bruno came as Tyson spotted an opportunity to win a cheap belt against the current weakest champion. He won again by KO. Mike then knocked out Bruce Seldin, but then again, so did Kevin "safety pin" Johnson, so what does that tell you?
Finally, Tyson's team told him that he has to fight a proper boxer, a real top one, world class. "No!" cried Mike. But enough money was laid down on the table for Mike to agree. Evander Holyfield aka the real deal (atg) would be in the opposite corner, this was Mike's chance to show he is great. Holyfield was levels above, winning almost every round and knocking out Mike Tyson. The excuses came again.
A rematch followed, Holyfield again dominating, before Mike caught him with a bite on the ear that he didn't see coming. Mike was Disqualified. Holyfield left with the belts, Mike Tyson with some of Holyfield's ear stuck in his teeth. Tyson got back to winning ways stopping Frans Botha, a man known as red light, because he was so slow it's like he's stuck in traffic. an NC with Orlin Norris (whoever he is) wins over Julian Francis (bum) and Lou Savarese (average) followed.
A KO win over slugger Golota was overturned to a NC. A win over Brian Nielsen (the pad man) followed, before facing one of the best ever. Lennox Lewis, losing a very one-sided fight before being stopped. After the fight Lewis made Tyson take his gloves home to dry them out before returning them to him.
A win over Clifford Etienne (?) before losing after a great start against Danny Williams, then cashing one final cheque to turn up and fall over against binman Kevin Mcbride
A good, but not great career. Mike Tyson career rating 7/10.
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