Tyson - The Movie

[forcefraser]

Watched this last night. Pretty much confirmed what I have always thought about Mike Tyson. He is/was a genuine scholar of boxing and has a pretty philospohical mind to boot.

Ok, he has flown off the rails on occassions, but he was a 20 year old kid who had just lost his only true guidance rock, when he won the title. The fame, money and bloodsuckers that followed his first title win would be enough to spin almost any street kid off the rails, with no one to reign him in again.

I am convinced that there was a two year period in Tyson`s early career when he was the best heavyweight ever to lace up a pair of gloves. His movement, speed and combinations were simply awesome. I don`t think anyone could have lived with him at that time.

I just hope he finds some peace in his own mind, as the lasting memory of the film for me is one of sadness .Finding himself in a situation that he did not have the ability to control, means he will be remembered more as a monster who fucked up, than a fighting genius and in my opinion, a gentle character at heart.

[Adamj1987]

i really want this film, tyson is my fave boxer

[Poncey]

I thought it was over-rated. It's good but not great.

And wtf were they thinking editing three imontages over one another at the same time?!

Also doesn't dig deep enough into the most pertinent issues.

Rent it first before you buy it.

[ArtOfWar]

Like many people, I've always been a big fan of Tyson and I thought this latest effort was pretty good. It gave us a good insight into how Tyson feels today now that he's mellowed out a bit.

I don't agree that there was any period in his career where he was the best ever. The media machine working overtime has created a big part of his legacy.

[DavidPayne]

Great fighter.

But doesn't make the top ten heavyweights of all time.

David Beckham is a great footballer.

But he doesn't make the top ten footballers of all time.

The media, the timing, the style made them much bigger than they're not insubstantial talents.

[forcefraser]

Everyone has their own opinion, but when you see the speed of him in the gym (and in fights) I have never seen anything quite like it either before or after.

The period from 1986 through 1988 he was stunning. He was ferocious and instilled pure fear into his opponent. I will never forget looking at Michael Spinks in the ring as Tyson made his ringwalk. Spinks was scared half to death and looked like a wilderbeast about to be fed to the lions.

Here was a guy who had just done two 12 round hard fights with Larry Holmes, yet this 20 year old kid had him scared to death. A pure one off in my book. We won`t see his like again.

[terrez]

The movie was a good watch. You do get a sense of his pure mind set. He was a bulldozer, amazing finger, he did go on a bit to long and an amazing bowing out speach after he lost for the last time.

He was a one off, an amazing boxer.

[doctorboxing]

I thought it was over-rated. It's good but not great.

And wtf were they thinking editing three imontages over one another at the same time?!

Completely agree, I felt like I was going to end up as crazy as Tyson if that went on for much longer!

He seems kind of obsessed with sex....... He talks about that more than boxing!

[banjo]

I thought it was alright, not much that we haven't heard before but at least this time it's coming out of Tysons mouth and these are his thoughts rather than speculation and sensationalist claims from people who may have carried Tysons luggage and think they know the man.

Problem with Tyson was that he didn't have a father figure until he'd gone off the rails and met Cus and then he learnt discipline and how to use his anger in the ring, but when Cus died and later Jim Jacobs a power struggle began between Cayton, Givens and King with Tyson in the middle with people exploiting him which clearly fvcked him up even more and made him once more go crazy.

While I admire him as a fighter in his prime I don't care too much for him as a man, sure he had a tough childhood attracted a lot of bloodsuckers once he became famous but that is no excuse for his later actions in and out of the ring, also the way he talks about women and sex the more I find it hard to believe that he's innocent of sexual crimes.

Perfect story of a man who had the world in his hands and let it all slip through his fingers and a lesson to any other potential superstars in the future.

[finchy36]

I agree that between '85/86 and 88 he was unique. The speed of his hands were like something I'd never seen before in a heavyweight. Only Clay/Ali was in the same class in terms of speed but his punches never carried the same ferociuos power. Tyson fought approximately once a month and was destroying everything put in front of him pre-champion.

Remember, at the time it wasn't like today where - in my opinion - the 'champions' are average and the contenders 'pathetic' and slow. In '86, Berbick, Thomas, Smith, Tucker, Spinks, Witherspoon - even an ageing Larry Holmes were all regarded as good fighters capable of beating each other. Tyson blew them all away. His victory over Tyrell Biggs was extra satisfying as it is reported he made a young Tyson 'cry' by taking the p*ss during Olympic trials and then getting the nod over Tyson for the squad.

I'll always be a fan and was extremely lucky enough to meet him once and he was nothing other than humble and charming. I guess he's boxing's answer to the incredible hulk. A quiet and likeable man, but don't make him angry. You won't like him when he's angry. D

[Boxingmad]

...and wasn't overly impressed.

It doesn't really tell us anything we didn't know before, although I was surprised to hear he caught the clap before the Berbick fight. I've also never seen him get choked up when discussing Cus D'Amato before.

But the rest of the story we all pretty much know don't we?

[oliverfennell]

Sounds like Will Smith's "Ali" film, then. The tagline was something like "Forget what you think you know", so I was expecting some revelations, but everything that was in it, I knew already.

[oliverfennell]

I thought the film itself was perfectly acceptable and also thought Smith did a decent job (especially in the Zaire chapter). It just didn't tell me anything I didn't already know.

[Poncey]

As for the Tyson doc, the multiple voices are there to show us that his personality is fragmented, although we kind of got this when watching him cannabilise Evander.

Not when they're all telling the same story, with each one several seconds ahead of the last. That's just pretension to me from the Director.

Tries to be Nick Broomfield and fails.

[dtjenkins]

I agree that between '85/86 and 88 he was unique. The speed of his hands were like something I'd never seen before in a heavyweight. Only Clay/Ali was in the same class in terms of speed but his punches never carried the same ferociuos power. Tyson fought approximately once a month and was destroying everything put in front of him pre-champion.

Remember, at the time it wasn't like today where - in my opinion - the 'champions' are average and the contenders 'pathetic' and slow. In '86, Berbick, Thomas, Smith, Tucker, Spinks, Witherspoon - even an ageing Larry Holmes were all regarded as good fighters capable of beating each other. Tyson blew them all away. His victory over Tyrell Biggs was extra satisfying as it is reported he made a young Tyson 'cry' by taking the p*ss during Olympic trials and then getting the nod over Tyson for the squad.

I'll always be a fan and was extremely lucky enough to meet him once and he was nothing other than humble and charming. I guess he's boxing's answer to the incredible hulk. A quiet and likeable man, but don't make him angry. You won't like him when he's angry. D

Correct me if I'm wrong but he never fought Witherspoon and went the distance with Tucker and Smith. I think Witherspoon would have given him all sorts of problems because he wasn't scared of anyone. Tyson always had problems with big, decent heavyweights (Tillis, Green, Douglas, Ruddock, Ribalta). A very good fighter but not in the top 10 HW and as someone else said his success and aura was more to do with the media, hangers on and an at best average bunch of contenders (although by todays standards they are World class). Its all about styles and Tyson would have had problems with certain boxers no matter what stage of his career he faced them at, Holyfield/Lewis being examples.

[hitman_hatton1]

shame he never fought witherspoon.

unfortunately witherspoon blew it and lost at the vital time.

still think tyson on pts though.

tim just a bit too defensive and cagey to have outpointed mike.

[Coco]

A sad story, watched the other night, found it all quite depressing, highlights the adage about taking the man out of the ghetto but not being able to take the ghetto out of the man.
I felt Tyson was enough in control of his only destiny but couldn't help but press the self destruct button.
I doubt much would change if he had his time again. Tyson has had far more opportunity to forge a life for himself than others but just can't do it.

[Goz]

As for the Tyson doc, the multiple voices are there to show us that his personality is fragmented, although we kind of got this when watching him cannabilise Evander.

Not when they're all telling the same story, with each one several seconds ahead of the last. That's just pretension to me from the Director.

Tries to be Nick Broomfield and fails.

Just watched this on Saturday and thought the same, too many film directors up their own arse.

It wasn't a bad watch but I hated some of the mis-representations too, such as when they were talking about how Tyson felt immediately after his release fom prison but were showing imagery from the Lewis-Tyson press conference as it if it took place at the time and not nearly 10 years after Tyson was released from prison.

There were a few instance like this.

[Goz]

I thought it was over-rated. It's good but not great.

And wtf were they thinking editing three imontages over one another at the same time?!

Completely agree, I felt like I was going to end up as crazy as Tyson if that went on for much longer!

He seems kind of obsessed with sex....... He talks about that more than boxing!

Yeah I was thinking he should go into porn if he's short of a few quid!

[jamesmcdonnell]

Great fighter.

But doesn't make the top ten heavyweights of all time.

David Beckham is a great footballer.

But he doesn't make the top ten footballers of all time.

The media, the timing, the style made them much bigger than they're not insubstantial talents.

You can make a case for him being in the top 10. I always say, look at the length of reigns of the other big names in the heavyweight division. Outside of Louis, Holmes, Ali,, most of the rest didn't have very long peaks.

There are three or four clear standouts in heavyweight history, aside from that, it's debatable who goes where.

[Chambers2]

I watched the Tyson movie over the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed hearing his side of events. I loved seeing the footage of Tyson as a teenager, his speed was gobsmacking.

It may be difficult to put Tyson in the top 10 due to his short lifespan at the top, but I'd back a prime Tyson against virtually any (if not all) other HW through the ages

I think it's safe to say Mike's not a fan of Don Kings I can't remember Mikes exact description of King in the film, but it was scathing

[finchy36]

I agree that between '85/86 and 88 he was unique. The speed of his hands were like something I'd never seen before in a heavyweight. Only Clay/Ali was in the same class in terms of speed but his punches never carried the same ferociuos power. Tyson fought approximately once a month and was destroying everything put in front of him pre-champion.

Remember, at the time it wasn't like today where - in my opinion - the 'champions' are average and the contenders 'pathetic' and slow. In '86, Berbick, Thomas, Smith, Tucker, Spinks, Witherspoon - even an ageing Larry Holmes were all regarded as good fighters capable of beating each other. Tyson blew them all away. His victory over Tyrell Biggs was extra satisfying as it is reported he made a young Tyson 'cry' by taking the p*ss during Olympic trials and then getting the nod over Tyson for the squad.

I'll always be a fan and was extremely lucky enough to meet him once and he was nothing other than humble and charming. I guess he's boxing's answer to the incredible hulk. A quiet and likeable man, but don't make him angry. You won't like him when he's angry. D

Correct me if I'm wrong but he never fought Witherspoon and went the distance with Tucker and Smith. I think Witherspoon would have given him all sorts of problems because he wasn't scared of anyone. Tyson always had problems with big, decent heavyweights (Tillis, Green, Douglas, Ruddock, Ribalta). A very good fighter but not in the top 10 HW and as someone else said his success and aura was more to do with the media, hangers on and an at best average bunch of contenders (although by todays standards they are World class). Its all about styles and Tyson would have had problems with certain boxers no matter what stage of his career he faced them at, Holyfield/Lewis being examples.

I worded it wrong. I was pointing out the amount of good fighters of the day - something you couldn't do today because the heavyweight division doesn't have that quality - I agree Witherspoon in his prime may have 'done a Douglas' on Tyson but the truth is he beat ALL the TOP heavyweights at the time until he came across Buster. As for media, hype etc. Please do not insult my intelligence. I saw with my own eyes a man weighing 15+ stone throw punches quicker than a middleweight. I saw a man scare the living daylights out of bigger and stronger professional men. It wasn't hype. Mike Tyson was the real deal.

I still think had Cus been alive Mike would have dominated for a lot longer and not been mis-lead - then again, if my auntie was a man she'd be my uncle...

[liamlion]

Great fighter.

But doesn't make the top ten heavyweights of all time.

David Beckham is a great footballer.

But he doesn't make the top ten footballers of all time.

The media, the timing, the style made them much bigger than they're not insubstantial talents.

Are you joking?? Comparing David Beckham to Mike Tyson?? Have a word with yourself!

The sporting achievements of the likes of Pele and Maradona can quite rightly be compared to Tyson, for they like Tyson conquered the world in their given sports, and were the very best for a particular time (and also for a considerable amount of time). Jesus, Beckham was barely the 3rd best midfielder when he was at Man Utd and the best he ever managed with England at a tournament was the quarter-final stage.

Tyson wasnt just a great fighter at his peak, he was a phenomenal one. Given his age, speed, size and achievements he definitely makes it into the all time top 10.