Who did Mike Tyson actually beat ?

[reggaereggae]

His light shone brightly but shortly. At one point he was untouchable. It wasn't so much who he fought but how he destroyed them. The heavyweight division has awlays been, apart from the Ali, Frazier etc era somewhat lacking in big talent at the same time (remember Joe Louis, Larry Holmes?)

Don't forget as well as the great talents like Liston, Frazier, Norton, Foreman, Quarry etc Ali also fought the dreadful Dunn, Coopman, Wepner who would collectively last 30 seconds againt Iron Mike (Look at the videos and see how small and basic they are.)

Apart from an ageing Holmes, and maybe Spinks, Tyson may not have beaten any greats but he tore through all the top contenders and ex-champs.

Berbick, Spinks, Thomas, Tucker, Tubbs, Bruno, Bonecrusher, were all ex-champs and in the 2nd career Botha, Seldon, Bruno (again).

Also Biggs, Ruddock, Williams were top contenders.

The line up is notthat impressive compared to Lewis, Ali, or even Rocky and he lost against most big names but as good as Larry holmes. But for a time he was untouchable.

[Mimmy]

Its not who he beat its how he beat them. Tyson came along and change the whole boxing era of his time. He came and kicked ass, he put bums on seats and made heavyweight boxing exciting and 'scary'. Many of the fighters who entered the ring had lost before the first bell. It wasn't until he began to slide that everyone was queueing up to get his name on their records. What we need is another Mike Tyson today someone to scare the shit out of all the big mouths out there.

[Counter-puncher]

fat men, drug addicts, terrified shells, and a couple of talentless overachievers.

[flatnoseflynn]

People will still be talking about Tyson in 50 years just like the rest of the greats. That alone says something about how good he was

[Bricks]

I know, between 1985 and the Lewis fight, a period of supposed austerity in the heavyweight ranks he didn't fight Morrison, Foreman, Witherspoon, Moorer, Bowe, Mercer, V. Klitschko, Tua, Byrd, Lewis, McCall, Briggs. Basically anyone with a punch and/or a chin and some bollacks. Some because they lost at crucial times but nevertheless when some of those fights were out there Tyson was either inside or fighting Savarese, Bruno, Norris, Etienne, McNeeley, Nielsen, Selden, Francis,

When faced with a guy who didn't crumble Tyson very swiftly ran out of ideas. He took his beatings; had a good chin and was a phenomenon who would have caused all of the above massive problems and likely beaten several of them.

Holyfield would always have his number aged 17 or 57.

But his resume lacks depth for all the retrospective credibility afforded the likes of Bruno - who is now canonised because he would have been a top 3 heavyweight in the currently bleak landscape - which is a bit like saying how good a leader of the Labour party Michael Foot was.

This post and that of the thread starter Jessi are the kind of revisionist crap you tend to find more on youtube. Ref the highlighted comments above which are ridiculous I give you two names.....Razor Ruddock......but of course he didnt have a punch or chin or bollocks as you so eloquently put it, I mean he was only universally considered the second most dangerous HW in the world in 1991 and Tyson didnt need to fight him but did so twice in a 4 month span!!!!! ruddock was a guy avoided by Foreman, Holyfield and all the other big names of the time you mentioned in your list, which really is such nonsense i cant be bothered to break it down one by one. Tyson was supposed to fight witherspoon but timmy got himself knocked out in 1 by bonecrusher who tyson than fought. Mercer was beaten in his prime by a fat old Larry Holmes who Tyson had beaten 4 years earlier. The same fat old Holmes pushed holyfield the distance. Tysons victory over Holmes and the manner he did it in was spectacular and that Holmes might have been inactive but he could still fight and that 38 year old Holmes would be one of the 3 best HWs in the world today. Mccall was Mikes sparring partner! If you have seen what Mercer was able to do to Morrisson , letting 1991 Tyson loose on Morrison would have been like that story about gerald mclellan feeding a tame petshop dog to his rottweiler.

Jessi, Tyson did have a short peak of really 2 years (autumn 86 to autumn 88) but he crammed so many names in there such a spectacular body of work. The Holmes, and Spinks victories beat anything Vitali or Wladmir have achieved,neither 1988 Holmes nor Spinks at HW would have lost to ross purrity ,corrie sanders or chris byrd and the less skilled but iron willed and chinned 89-91 Tyson rates very very highly as well, the Douglas loss really doesnt mean much to me, when u fire your manager,and trainer, and lose 40 lbs in 1 month on a diet of 5-6 japanese groupies a day, and arent training and getting floored by sparring partners u were murdering a few months earlier thats what happens.

The Tyson couldnt fight when someone fired or hit him back argument is usually one of the lazy cheap mind that has never stepped in the ring....actually watch Tysons fights with powerpunchers Bonecrusher, Bruno, and Ruddock during his 1986-91 run and often he was hit with shots that would kayo all of todays hw's yet Tyson shook them off instantly and came back with hellacious shots of his own. The man during this time was an incredible fighting animal with an incredible chin and will to win. Forget post prison Tyson, he neither had the will, hunger or aptitude anymore for fighting and his skills and legs were shot.

The old Holyfield would have beaten any Tyson is also utter tripe and lazy thinking. The 1988-1991 Tyson would always beat any version of Holyfield headbutts or not.

[stujones]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpEyuXlzueY

[jamesmcdonnell]

Christ, in this thread I've read Vitali Klitschko would beat Mike Tyson (Oh, the way Big Bro KOd a fat 40 year old Shannon Briggs, what a beast he is), and the division of today is SUPERIOR to that of the 80s!!

Unfreakinbelievable.

If I owned Boxrec I'd shut down the whole forum rather than allow people like this a platform to spew their insanity.

Three words you need to learn.

Styles make fights.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Larry Holmes
Michael Spinks

Holmes hadnt fought for 2 or 3 years, was out of shape and was 38 years of age. Spinks was a blown up light heavyweight who only shone against slower ageing heavyweights.

Spinks absolutely kicked Cooney's ass - Cooney was not ageing and was considered a possible future dominant world champ.

Spinks was one hell of a fighter, one of the best light heavyweights in history and the man who was good enough to beat Larry Holmes not once but twice. Holmes may have been getting on a bit, but he was hardly ancient. Considering what he went on to do later in his career, the idea that Holmes was 'past it' when Spinks beat him, is laughable.

[Giancarlo]

Was he as good as we first thought? Probably not. But for a long while he was the man.

Spot on.

[Giancarlo]

If I owned Boxrec I'd shut down the whole forum rather than allow people like this a platform to spew their insanity.

The internet has given a soapbox to people who in other eras would have just been shut-in freaks.

[jamesmcdonnell]

I know, between 1985 and the Lewis fight, a period of supposed austerity in the heavyweight ranks he didn't fight Morrison, Foreman, Witherspoon, Moorer, Bowe, Mercer, V. Klitschko, Tua, Byrd, Lewis, McCall, Briggs. Basically anyone with a punch and/or a chin and some bollacks. Some because they lost at crucial times but nevertheless when some of those fights were out there Tyson was either inside or fighting Savarese, Bruno, Norris, Etienne, McNeeley, Nielsen, Selden, Francis,

When faced with a guy who didn't crumble Tyson very swiftly ran out of ideas. He took his beatings; had a good chin and was a phenomenon who would have caused all of the above massive problems and likely beaten several of them.

Holyfield would always have his number aged 17 or 57.

But his resume lacks depth for all the retrospective credibility afforded the likes of Bruno - who is now canonised because he would have been a top 3 heavyweight in the currently bleak landscape - which is a bit like saying how good a leader of the Labour party Michael Foot was.

This post and that of the thread starter Jessi are the kind of revisionist crap you tend to find more on youtube. Ref the highlighted comments above which are ridiculous I give you two names.....Razor Ruddock......but of course he didnt have a punch or chin or bollocks as you so eloquently put it, I mean he was only universally considered the second most dangerous HW in the world in 1991 and Tyson didnt need to fight him but did so twice in a 4 month span!!!!! ruddock was a guy avoided by Foreman, Holyfield and all the other big names of the time you mentioned in your list, which really is such nonsense i cant be bothered to break it down one by one. Tyson was supposed to fight witherspoon but timmy got himself knocked out in 1 by bonecrusher who tyson than fought. Mercer was beaten in his prime by a fat old Larry Holmes who Tyson had beaten 4 years earlier. The same fat old Holmes pushed holyfield the distance. Tysons victory over Holmes and the manner he did it in was spectacular and that Holmes might have been inactive but he could still fight and that 38 year old Holmes would be one of the 3 best HWs in the world today. Mccall was Mikes sparring partner! If you have seen what Mercer was able to do to Morrisson , letting 1991 Tyson loose on Morrison would have been like that story about gerald mclellan feeding a tame petshop dog to his rottweiler.

Jessi, Tyson did have a short peak of really 2 years (autumn 86 to autumn 88) but he crammed so many names in there such a spectacular body of work. The Holmes, and Spinks victories beat anything Vitali or Wladmir have achieved,neither 1988 Holmes nor Spinks at HW would have lost to ross purrity ,corrie sanders or chris byrd and the less skilled but iron willed and chinned 89-91 Tyson rates very very highly as well, the Douglas loss really doesnt mean much to me, when u fire your manager,and trainer, and lose 40 lbs in 1 month on a diet of 5-6 japanese groupies a day, and arent training and getting floored by sparring partners u were murdering a few months earlier thats what happens.

The Tyson couldnt fight when someone fired or hit him back argument is usually one of the lazy cheap mind that has never stepped in the ring....actually watch Tysons fights with powerpunchers Bonecrusher, Bruno, and Ruddock during his 1986-91 run and often he was hit with shots that would kayo all of todays hw's yet Tyson shook them off instantly and came back with hellacious shots of his own. The man during this time was an incredible fighting animal with an incredible chin and will to win. Forget post prison Tyson, he neither had the will, hunger or aptitude anymore for fighting and his skills and legs were shot.

The old Holyfield would have beaten any Tyson is also utter tripe and lazy thinking. The 1988-1991 Tyson would always beat any version of Holyfield headbutts or not.

Yes this is something that is often overlooked, the men who beat Tyson by stoppage only did it after they handed out a sustained, protracted beating. Look how long it took Lewis to pound him into submission, and that was against a totally demotivated Tyson, who was going through the motions.

I believe that had their first fight not been postponed - i think it was a rib injury - i think that version of Tyson may just have steamrollered Holyfield. The speed and ferocity of his attack early in his career really was remarkable, i cannot think of another heavyweight since who has fought with such intensity and bad intentions. Holyfield may have survived the onslaught and broken him down, but he may not have

At the end of the day Tyson deserves his props as well as his criticisms, the lack of depth of his resume and the brevity of his true dominance hurts his long term standing, but his impact on the sport was up there with Dempsey's, Sullivans and Ali's. I dont reckon theres a single heavyweight champ in history that believes they would have had an early night with a peak Tyson, not one.

[reggaereggae]

Larry Holmes
Michael Spinks

Holmes hadnt fought for 2 or 3 years, was out of shape and was 38 years of age. Spinks was a blown up light heavyweight who only shone against slower ageing heavyweights.

Spinks absolutely kicked Cooney's ass - Cooney was not ageing and was considered a possible future dominant world champ. Spinks was one hell of a fighter, one of the best light heavyweights in history and the man who was good enough to beat Larry Holmes not once but twice. Holmes may have been getting on a bit, but he was hardly ancient. Considering what he went on to do later in his career, the idea that Holmes was 'past it' when Spinks beat him, is laughable.

No he wasn't! esp by the time Spinks got to him... even before Holmes he was a good prospect but nothing more

[jessi]

Mugabi, I may of started the thread but it was only a question to boxing fans ! I never said I didn't like Tyson, infact apart from lewis he was my favorite, I think Tyson in his prime would of beat Lewis, but apart from that very short period I just don't think he fought the best out there, don't get to upset on the matter.

[banjo]

Cokeheads and hasbeens mainly but as has already been said he didn't just beat them he fornicating walloped them.

[Adamj1987]

this is the 100th thread on this same subject well done

[jessi]

this is the 100th thread on this same subject well done

Sorry, why are you posting then ? Peoples opinions can change.

[Bricks]

Mugabi, I may of started the thread but it was only a question to boxing fans ! I never said I didn't like Tyson, infact apart from lewis he was my favorite, I think Tyson in his prime would of beat Lewis, but apart from that very short period I just don't think he fought the best out there, don't get to upset on the matter.

are you on drugs mate? where did i get upset? Just because i refuted your trollish thread with reasoned argument that you cant reply to....the only thing you can say is "dont get upset im a Tyson fan"?....well mate I actually hate Tyson despise his whiny loser personality but as a real boxing fan I like to give him his due in the ring....oh and pal it isnt getting upset....its called a debate.....the ironic thing is, I am now actually upset after listening to this troll!

[Adamj1987]

this is the 100th thread on this same subject well done

Sorry, why are you posting then ? Peoples opinions can change.

they very rarely do when most of the boxers he fought have also retired and their legacys wont change either

[Quixall]

Holmes hadnt fought for 2 or 3 years, was out of shape and was 38 years of age. Spinks was a blown up light heavyweight who only shone against slower ageing heavyweights.

Spinks absolutely kicked Cooney's ass - Cooney was not ageing and was considered a possible future dominant world champ. Spinks was one hell of a fighter, one of the best light heavyweights in history and the man who was good enough to beat Larry Holmes not once but twice. Holmes may have been getting on a bit, but he was hardly ancient. Considering what he went on to do later in his career, the idea that Holmes was 'past it' when Spinks beat him, is laughable.

No he wasn't! esp by the time Spinks got to him... even before Holmes he was a good prospect but nothing more

I am quoted as doing the above post.............But it is not me !!

I don't phrase my sentences that way. I have noticed this on another thread where it said my name and didn't do the post

Quix

[the truth]

What? Try Holmes , spinks , Ruddock , Bruno,Williams , seldon, Stewart , ettienne, and all the other top contenders of the 80s and early 90s

[Happy Slapper]

He was good, but not great. Lennox smashes him up at any point in their respective careers.

[loaded_gloves]

Christ, in this thread I've read Vitali Klitschko would beat Mike Tyson (Oh, the way Big Bro KOd a fat 40 year old Shannon Briggs, what a beast he is), and the division of today is SUPERIOR to that of the 80s!!

Unfreakinbelievable.

If I owned Boxrec I'd shut down the whole forum rather than allow people like this a platform to spew their insanity.

Three words you need to learn.

Styles make fights.

A man who can't down or KO an ancient, fat, 40 year old Shannon Briggs and takes 10 to 11 rds to shift grossly overweight blobs isn't going to beat Mike Tyson. Klitschko looks like he's moving through treacle compared to Mike Tyson. The sheer speed that Mike Tyson could hook to the body and come up with an uppercut on 6'5, 6'6 guys was actually scary.

The way Vitali couldn't put down Obed Sullivan, Chris Byrd, Timo Hoffman, Vaughn Bean, an old fat Lennox Lewis, an old fat chinny Corrie Sanders, an old fat chinny Shannon Briggs, does not say good things about his reputed punch power. He's not making a dent on Mike freakin' Tyson.

[jessi]

Mugabi, I may of started the thread but it was only a question to boxing fans ! I never said I didn't like Tyson, infact apart from lewis he was my favorite, I think Tyson in his prime would of beat Lewis, but apart from that very short period I just don't think he fought the best out there, don't get to upset on the matter.

are you on drugs mate? where did i get upset? Just because i refuted your trollish thread with reasoned argument that you cant reply to....the only thing you can say is "dont get upset im a Tyson fan"?....well mate I actually hate Tyson despise his whiny loser personality but as a real boxing fan I like to give him his due in the ring....oh and pal it isnt getting upset....its called a debate.....the ironic thing is, I am now actually upset after listening to this troll!

Well you sound upset to me

[Dave81]

I know, between 1985 and the Lewis fight, a period of supposed austerity in the heavyweight ranks he didn't fight Morrison, Foreman, Witherspoon, Moorer, Bowe, Mercer, V. Klitschko, Tua, Byrd, Lewis, McCall, Briggs. Basically anyone with a punch and/or a chin and some bollacks. Some because they lost at crucial times but nevertheless when some of those fights were out there Tyson was either inside or fighting Savarese, Bruno, Norris, Etienne, McNeeley, Nielsen, Selden, Francis,

When faced with a guy who didn't crumble Tyson very swiftly ran out of ideas. He took his beatings; had a good chin and was a phenomenon who would have caused all of the above massive problems and likely beaten several of them.

Holyfield would always have his number aged 17 or 57.

But his resume lacks depth for all the retrospective credibility afforded the likes of Bruno - who is now canonised because he would have been a top 3 heavyweight in the currently bleak landscape - which is a bit like saying how good a leader of the Labour party Michael Foot was.

This post and that of the thread starter Jessi are the kind of revisionist crap you tend to find more on youtube. Ref the highlighted comments above which are ridiculous I give you two names.....Razor Ruddock......but of course he didnt have a punch or chin or bollocks as you so eloquently put it, I mean he was only universally considered the second most dangerous HW in the world in 1991 and Tyson didnt need to fight him but did so twice in a 4 month span!!!!! ruddock was a guy avoided by Foreman, Holyfield and all the other big names of the time you mentioned in your list, which really is such nonsense i cant be bothered to break it down one by one. Tyson was supposed to fight witherspoon but timmy got himself knocked out in 1 by bonecrusher who tyson than fought. Mercer was beaten in his prime by a fat old Larry Holmes who Tyson had beaten 4 years earlier. The same fat old Holmes pushed holyfield the distance. Tysons victory over Holmes and the manner he did it in was spectacular and that Holmes might have been inactive but he could still fight and that 38 year old Holmes would be one of the 3 best HWs in the world today. Mccall was Mikes sparring partner! If you have seen what Mercer was able to do to Morrisson , letting 1991 Tyson loose on Morrison would have been like that story about gerald mclellan feeding a tame petshop dog to his rottweiler.

Jessi, Tyson did have a short peak of really 2 years (autumn 86 to autumn 88) but he crammed so many names in there such a spectacular body of work. The Holmes, and Spinks victories beat anything Vitali or Wladmir have achieved,neither 1988 Holmes nor Spinks at HW would have lost to ross purrity ,corrie sanders or chris byrd and the less skilled but iron willed and chinned 89-91 Tyson rates very very highly as well, the Douglas loss really doesnt mean much to me, when u fire your manager,and trainer, and lose 40 lbs in 1 month on a diet of 5-6 japanese groupies a day, and arent training and getting floored by sparring partners u were murdering a few months earlier thats what happens.

The Tyson couldnt fight when someone fired or hit him back argument is usually one of the lazy cheap mind that has never stepped in the ring....actually watch Tysons fights with powerpunchers Bonecrusher, Bruno, and Ruddock during his 1986-91 run and often he was hit with shots that would kayo all of todays hw's yet Tyson shook them off instantly and came back with hellacious shots of his own. The man during this time was an incredible fighting animal with an incredible chin and will to win. Forget post prison Tyson, he neither had the will, hunger or aptitude anymore for fighting and his skills and legs were shot.

The old Holyfield would have beaten any Tyson is also utter tripe and lazy thinking. The 1988-1991 Tyson would always beat any version of Holyfield headbutts or not.

Ahhh, finally someone that knows what they are talking about, im so relieved to see this post. I don't need to post anything now.

[Bricks]

Christ, in this thread I've read Vitali Klitschko would beat Mike Tyson (Oh, the way Big Bro KOd a fat 40 year old Shannon Briggs, what a beast he is), and the division of today is SUPERIOR to that of the 80s!!

Unfreakinbelievable.

If I owned Boxrec I'd shut down the whole forum rather than allow people like this a platform to spew their insanity.

Three words you need to learn.

Styles make fights.

A man who can't down or KO an ancient, fat, 40 year old Shannon Briggs and takes 10 to 11 rds to shift grossly overweight blobs isn't going to beat Mike Tyson. Klitschko looks like he's moving through treacle compared to Mike Tyson. The sheer speed that Mike Tyson could hook to the body and come up with an uppercut on 6'5, 6'6 guys was actually scary.

The way Vitali couldn't put down Obed Sullivan, Chris Byrd, Timo Hoffman, Vaughn Bean, an old fat Lennox Lewis, an old fat chinny Corrie Sanders, an old fat chinny Shannon Briggs, does not say good things about his reputed punch power. He's not making a dent on Mike freakin' Tyson.

Nice post loaded, I think you and Jamesmcdonnel broke this thing down with far greater eloquence than me.
I see a Tyson 88-Vitali matchup looking very much like Tysons mauling of Bruno the first time or a more prolonged beat down version of the Golota fight obviously without the histrionics of Golota.