UpAndComing
Veteran
I remember there was this uproar that Tyson got an undeserving title shot right out of prison
Most likely to set up a fight with Holyfield
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I remember there was this uproar that Tyson got an undeserving title shot right out of prison
Most likely to set up a fight with Holyfield
Yes, was all about Holyfield. Optional defense is cool but Don King was in total control and basically froze LL out and WBC let Tyson leapfrog. Reason why it wasn’t a huge travesty was because McCall had knocked LL out. McCall was in line to fight Tyson and lost his belt to Bruno. Reason why LL and Tyson never fought when they were younger is because of promoters.
UpAndComing
Veteran
Facts. Justice prevailed that Tyson ended up losing to Holyfield twice in embarrassing fashion, and Lennox Lewis ended up becoming Undisputed
I was a Tyson guy. He didn’t take Evander as seriously as he should’ve that first fight. Evander was looking on the downside coming in because he had two loses to Bowe and one to Moorer. Was a huge underdog even though Mike had basically fought trash compared to Evander’s last few fights. Namely Mercer who Evander beat and Mercer then gave LL the toughest fight of his career. Brutal fight. LL proved so much in that fight. Evander then had a 2nd wind where he made the bulk of his ring earnings with his next 5 fights. People excited about heavyweights today? This era was nothing but the truth!
1. Holyfield
2. Lennox Lewis
3. Mike Tyson
4. Moorer
5. Golota
6. Akinwande
7. Mercer
8. Tua
9. Bowe
10. Witherspoon
This was a ranking in 96. Larry and George were still in the mix too as far past their primes as they were.
Maasaannnnnnnn.
2. Lennox Lewis
3. Mike Tyson
4. Moorer
5. Golota
6. Akinwande
7. Mercer
8. Tua
9. Bowe
10. Witherspoon
This was a ranking in 96. Larry and George were still in the mix too as far past their primes as they were.
Maasaannnnnnnn.
UpAndComing
Veteran
Lennox Lewis vs Mercer is one of my favorite fights ever. Lewis showed he got that dog in him, especially with the amazing combinations he threw in that fight
For me I loved Tyson the man, as a fellow Brooklyn dude like me. But was not really a fan of him as a fighter. Felt he was too one dimensional, with maybe only 3-4 quality wins in his career. I was (and will always be) a Lewis fan. I hated how media used Tyson superstar celebrity to shun Lewis, was always odd to me
Lewis was a great fighter but he just wasn't that popular or engaging...not like his compatriot Frank Bruno. Lewis had an issue with looking lackadaisical and going through the motions even in his wins. He gets his respect these days but fighters like Mike or Evander will overshadow him always even though he beat both of them.
Say what you want about Mike's career but his skillset was not one dimensional. He was 5'10/5'11 out jabbing taller nikkas with longer reach and was a legit high level 2 way fighter in his prime. Mike's skillset does not exist in HW boxing today.
McCall was such a dangerous heavyweight but man he slept walked through that Bruno fight. I remember him talking that shyt to Bruno saying he was going to get revenge for Gerald and proceeds to fight with no fire for like 9 rounds before he turned it up trying to drown Bruno late. But he failed
90s HW era was great because there were A-level heavies and the B-level heavies that were bubbling or on the horizon and the occasional C level heavy that would one of those tiers an unexpected hard night.
Bleed The Freak
Superstar
Bleed The Freak
Superstar
WOAT fight. Clottey career rightfully never recovered.
And he gave Cotto a dope fight before that which made that even more SHYTTY
UpAndComing
Veteran
He rarely out-jabbed fighters that were on or near his level
- James Quick Tillis out-jabbed him
- Buster Douglas out-jabbed him
- Holyfield out-jabbed-him
- Lewis out-jabbed him
Tyson IMO was fortunate to grab his titles when the aging champions were on the downside (Larry Holmes and Spinx) and his peers didn't rise up the ranks yet. He was fed alot of sub-par opponents early in his career to make him a superstar. I get it, his personality/aura was box office, but still. What I didn't like the most was when people would always find SOME excuse to pull out of their ass whenever he lost. The thing with Lennox Lewis is that he never "played the game" with the media, and the media hated him for it
Bleed The Freak
Superstar
The sub par opponents argument doesnt work considering the fact he became heavyweight champion at 20 years old
..he's not Wilder. Mike was 27-0 in his first 2 years of the sport when he beat Berbick. That is called a fast track. Tillis was a slick veteran who gave a developing Tyson a hard fight which Tyson did win and he even dropped him. shyt happens like that in boxing sometimes. Spinks was not on the downside. I despise when ppl say this. That man was undefeated and beat Holmes twice. Lewis wasn't that great pre McCall KO and fate threw a monkey wrench into Tyson-Holyfield fight not taking place in 91 when it was signed in their primes. Tyson cleaned up his division in his prime and beat a good amount of ex champions/contenders doing it.
The sub par opponents argument doesnt work considering the fact he became heavyweight champion at 20 years old
Everyone had their time. Tyson’s was at the perfect time but that doesn’t mean he wasn’t top dog. I believe that Tyson would have beaten Holyfield had the met during that time when he was on the rise and for sure feel he would have beaten Lennox. I think Bowe would have beaten Lennox too. The Lennox post-McCall was totally different fighter. Iirc Steward was in the corner of McCall when he beat Lennox then went to Lennox right after. If it was a fighter I thought was beating Mike back then, I liked Bowe.