Let's Review the Career of the Great Mike Tyson

[Controversial]

This guy still never beat a great heavy in his prime, so why all the talk of him being a sure-fire all-time great.

Tyson was fast and could punch, but his prime was all of 3 years, and when he finally faced a truly outstanding heavyweight in Holyfield, he demonstrated little substance and imploded.

I'd be surprised if Tyson could beat many of the ATG heavies. He just didn't have the huevos or the mental toughness to dig down when things got uncomfortable.

Holmes is often called an ATG but what ATG did he beat in their prime? Or for that matter Marciano. I think it's a common misconception that Tyson wasn't tough and all you had to do was not be scared and fight back and he was beat. Head to head in his heyday Tyson would've been a nightmare for any heavyweight in history.

[elmersalsa]

I agree with you Controversial. I know for a fact, that no great heavyweight before the great Sonny Liston reing would have beaten the great Mike Tyson. He would have been too big, too strong and too fast for all of them.

Now, the heavyweight greats after the Liston reign could have given Iron Mike a tougher battle. But it is not farfetched to me if Tyson beats the greats like Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Larry Holmes, or George Foreman in a fantasy fight.

[bigcheese]

I dont think his loss to evander is an indication of what would happen against other elite fighters. Holyfield is just a really bad match up for mike especially at the age they fought, when he may have lost a little of the fire needed for a really ugly, frustrating war.

[elmersalsa]

I dont think his loss to evander is an indication of what would happen against other elite fighters. Holyfield is just a really bad match up for mike especially at the age they fought, when he may have lost a little of the fire needed for a really ugly, frustrating war.

Exactly. In 1988, Tyson with trainer Kevin Rooney were a special tandem of boxer and trainer. I do not think that by 1988 the great Evander Holyfield would have beaten Iron Mike.