How would Mike Tyson have done in the ’70s?

[gilgamesh]

He would've done pretty damn well. I don't think he would've been the iconic figure he was in the 80's as he would've had his share of losses in his prime and would never have had a time where he seemed invincible in this era, but he would've still possibly won a World Championship or at least been a hell of a contender.

[jamesmcdonnell]

He would've done pretty damn well. I don't think he would've been the iconic figure he was in the 80's as he would've had his share of losses in his prime and would never have had a time where he seemed invincible in this era, but he would've still possibly won a World Championship or at least been a hell of a contender.

Totally agree with that assessment.

The idea that someone as destructive, quick and elusive as Tyson was in his prime, wouldn't have been an absolute nightmare for everyone who faced him, seems ludicrous.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Tyson would have won some and lost some. But when the defeat came it may have been the end of him. Once splattered, I doubt he'd have rebounded.

He was lethal and sharp early on. But he could get winded in the middle of a fight and in an era of 15 rounders he may have suffered badly late on.

Presumably, we're talking prime Tyson in these mythical match ups.the 1986-88 version, when he was punching in combination, cutting the ring down and moving his head.

You'd think Foreman would've been the worst opponent for him. And that, perhaps, Shavers, Norton and - if Tyson can hurt and finish him early, Frazier.

How would prime Tyson have fared vs the very durable guys like Chuvalo, Bonavena etc? Frustration? Fatigue? Would he have been able to build the aura of intimidation?

Also, which fighters from this era would have been scared of him?

He was ready to do another 12 rounds with smith, tucker,ruddock all guys who could punch and maul. He set a fast paced 10 with green and tillis and again looked like he could do 10 more.

I really think u have to look at Tyson 1986-91 and not post prison. So many people just base everything in post prison and it seems you have based the boldened comment on exactly that despite stating that isn't the case

I don't think that post-prison Tyson was fit or fast enough to execute what he used to do, he was still quick, but he was no longer as elusive, and loaded his shots way more, looking for single bombs.

As you say, early Tyson never looked tired.

[Bricks]

Yes .the 3 and a half years in prison took a great toll on his once formidable engine.he left prison around 208lbs and really hit the weights hard and subsequently had a bulkier frame.

The best tyson post prison was 2000-2001.....he really regained a lot of his combinations and pivots and looked fast.

Im a firm beleiver that if lewis -tyson had taken place a year earlier in 2001 tyson would have put up a far better showing ....but still lost in around 8-9....

[TheGman]

1985-87 mike tyson when he got his combo's going i dont think there was a faster heavyweight in history. When u look at him shadow boxing around kevin rooney with cus on the corner apron of the ring he was fast as fcuk,wouldnt of like to be kevin rooney with them shots inches from my face ha

[Autobarn]

Tyson would have won some and lost some. But when the defeat came it may have been the end of him. Once splattered, I doubt he'd have rebounded.

He was lethal and sharp early on. But he could get winded in the middle of a fight and in an era of 15 rounders he may have suffered badly late on.

Presumably, we're talking prime Tyson in these mythical match ups.the 1986-88 version, when he was punching in combination, cutting the ring down and moving his head.

You'd think Foreman would've been the worst opponent for him. And that, perhaps, Shavers, Norton and - if Tyson can hurt and finish him early, Frazier.

How would prime Tyson have fared vs the very durable guys like Chuvalo, Bonavena etc? Frustration? Fatigue? Would he have been able to build the aura of intimidation?

Also, which fighters from this era would have been scared of him?

I think Tyson would still have been a pretty intimidating figure in any era. Tyson tends to get chronically overrated or underrated. He'd have been a menace in any era. Chuvalo, Bonavena, tough men, but no way would they have won. What did they have to beat a peak Tyson with?

Yeah I'm just saying he wouldn't have been bowling them over and building such an aura of intimidation. He'd have been having to grind out the wins more. Perhaps he wouldn't have been quite so formidable and threatening. And maybe this would've used him up more, worn him out - because his size and style of fighter don't last too long.

Or maybe it would've toughened him up, made him more versatile, and allowing him to build better stamina.

Or, maybe they would've held on for dear life like James Smith and Mitch Green.


Tyson had his outstanding prime, but his best work was very...programmed into him. This is the big worry. And only two trainers were able to program it into him. For a while... It wasn't until Freddie Roach that Tyson was punching in imaginative combinations, but then his ankle went, against Danny Williams. It's kind of like he couldn't think for himself, needing someone else to do it all for him.

I can definitely see tyson's roll under and punch style stopping a number of guys from this era. But I can see some surviving and then grinding him down. I do think he may have been a bit lost, fighting over the 15 round distance if he couldn't get his opponent out of there.

[stujones]

Tyson's resume and apparent lack of bottle when the going got tough will always be a huge stumbling block when listing the all time great heavyweights....

BUT.... and its a big but..... Other than Ali vs Williams, I don't think I have seen as perfect a fighter and performance as several of a young Mike Tyson.... yes, we can slag off the opposition, but we cannot slag off the performance.

That leaves me to conclude the question with "I just don't know".... too many question marks relating to Tyson's opposition unfortunately. There is nothing to suggest he couldn't have transferred his performances against decent, if not earth shattering, 1980s opponents, to the very best in the business from the 1970s.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Tyson's resume and apparent lack of bottle when the going got tough will always be a huge stumbling block when listing the all time great heavyweights....

BUT.... and its a big but..... Other than Ali vs Williams, I don't think I have seen as perfect a fighter and performance as several of a young Mike Tyson.... yes, we can slag off the opposition, but we cannot slag off the performance.

That leaves me to conclude the question with "I just don't know".... too many question marks relating to Tyson's opposition unfortunately. There is nothing to suggest he couldn't have transferred his performances against decent, if not earth shattering, 1980s opponents, to the very best in the business from the 1970s.

I completely concur. Tyson's early career performances, suggest to me, that there's plenty of fighters he would have chewed up before they got into their groove.

[Autobarn]

With that kind of speed, power, variety, head movement and ability to cut the ring down, he would have taken a lot of good fighters out early. No doubt.

[Bricks]

Tyson's resume and apparent lack of bottle when the going got tough will always be a huge stumbling block when listing the all time great heavyweights....

BUT.... and its a big but..... Other than Ali vs Williams, I don't think I have seen as perfect a fighter and performance as several of a young Mike Tyson.... yes, we can slag off the opposition, but we cannot slag off the performance.

That leaves me to conclude the question with "I just don't know".... too many question marks relating to Tyson's opposition unfortunately. There is nothing to suggest he couldn't have transferred his performances against decent, if not earth shattering, 1980s opponents, to the very best in the business from the 1970s.

Again the "lack of bottle" you speak of was only post 1991 and prison. He had incredible bottle before. The worst ever Tyson almost pulled it out v Douglas. The clean shots he took would have taken a lot of other HW's heads off.

For the rest of his pre desiree Washington career it was like he was extra tough and determined to prove Tokyo was an aberration.....the 20 rounds with Ruddock answer any and all questions about his heart,chin and will to win.

[magwitch]

He would've done pretty damn well. I don't think he would've been the iconic figure he was in the 80's as he would've had his share of losses in his prime and would never have had a time where he seemed invincible in this era, but he would've still possibly won a World Championship or at least been a hell of a contender.

Totally agree with that assessment.

X2. Very nicely summed up

[magwitch]

Yes .the 3 and a half years in prison took a great toll on his once formidable engine.he left prison around 208lbs and really hit the weights hard and subsequently had a bulkier frame.

The best tyson post prison was 2000-2001.....he really regained a lot of his combinations and pivots and looked fast.

Im a firm beleiver that if lewis -tyson had taken place a year earlier in 2001 tyson would have put up a far better showing ....but still lost in around 8-9....

The prison time (probably diet as well to an extent) and natural aging process i.e. thickening out

For me however, the best version of Tyson beats the best version of Lewis and yes I know that is one hell of a statement.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Yes .the 3 and a half years in prison took a great toll on his once formidable engine.he left prison around 208lbs and really hit the weights hard and subsequently had a bulkier frame.

The best tyson post prison was 2000-2001.....he really regained a lot of his combinations and pivots and looked fast.

Im a firm beleiver that if lewis -tyson had taken place a year earlier in 2001 tyson would have put up a far better showing ....but still lost in around 8-9....

The prison time (probably diet as well to an extent) and natural aging process i.e. thickening out

For me however, the best version of Tyson beats the best version of Lewis and yes I know that is one hell of a statement.

I've always thought the same. The speedier more elusive version of Tyson would have given Lewis absolutely hell.

[Counter-puncher]

Possibly, but I wonder, the older smarter more streetwise Lewis, I can imagine, when Tyson tries to roll underneath he would be trying to come upwards with Lewis forearm on his neck, a LOT