1988 Mike Tyson vs 2011 Wladimir Klitschko - who would win this match ?

[Tuan_Jim]

Just compare legacy’s. Tucker v either Klitschko. I think you’re getting off the point, I rate Tyson until he went to prison but the fact remains his record, in terms of wins, is pretty thin.

I know this, Vitali’s beard was a lot better than Tyson’s and Tuckers.

Legacies? Vitali lost to the only two A class fighters he fought. His best win is over a 39 year old (!) Corrie Sanders, a man who had a bad chin and poor fitness even in his prime. Vitali could have 50 WBC title wins over Sam Peter and Shannon Briggs type opponents and it wouldn't alter the fact he lost to Lewis and Byrd.

Tucker with one hand went 12 fast rounds with one of the greatest, most dangerous heavyweights ever. Even washed up he went 12 with a young Lewis, while a young Vitali was gassed after 6 with an old fat Lewis.

Legacies! Vitali's whole 'legacy' depends on how highly you regard X number of alphabet title defences over tomato cans.

If you think Tyson is one the greatest HWs ever, you need to look at his record. He lost every time he fought a world class opponent. Who is Tyson’s best win? Spinks? An inactive old Holmes? Ruddock?

I agree, Tyson was a force of nature in the late 80s but he’s far too small to compete with the current crop of HWs. He’s even stated that himself.

Back to the point; Tuckers only good win was against Douglas, who was utter sh1t and is only remembered for beating a messed up Tyson. He was annihilated against Holyfield as was Tyson.

Let’s be practical, Tucker loses 99 times out of 100 against either Klitschko.

You also have to take into consideration who was available for VK to fight. He retired Lewis who wanted nothing to do with the rematch, dominated every opponent thereafter and took a four years break in his prime. He was never dropped and was never behind on any card even when he lost. A difficult fight for any HW throughout history and a lot better than his brother IMO.

Now that you've dismissed every single man Mike Tyson ever beat as not being world class, please illuminate us and list Vitali Klitschko's wins over world class opponents. I want to understand what qualifies as world class in your mind.

You're about to realise how ridiculous the statement you just made is.

[Loki]

Legacies? Vitali lost to the only two A class fighters he fought. His best win is over a 39 year old (!) Corrie Sanders, a man who had a bad chin and poor fitness even in his prime. Vitali could have 50 WBC title wins over Sam Peter and Shannon Briggs type opponents and it wouldn't alter the fact he lost to Lewis and Byrd.

Tucker with one hand went 12 fast rounds with one of the greatest, most dangerous heavyweights ever. Even washed up he went 12 with a young Lewis, while a young Vitali was gassed after 6 with an old fat Lewis.

Legacies! Vitali's whole 'legacy' depends on how highly you regard X number of alphabet title defences over tomato cans.

If you think Tyson is one the greatest HWs ever, you need to look at his record. He lost every time he fought a world class opponent. Who is Tyson’s best win? Spinks? An inactive old Holmes? Ruddock?

I agree, Tyson was a force of nature in the late 80s but he’s far too small to compete with the current crop of HWs. He’s even stated that himself.

Back to the point; Tuckers only good win was against Douglas, who was utter sh1t and is only remembered for beating a messed up Tyson. He was annihilated against Holyfield as was Tyson.

Let’s be practical, Tucker loses 99 times out of 100 against either Klitschko.

You also have to take into consideration who was available for VK to fight. He retired Lewis who wanted nothing to do with the rematch, dominated every opponent thereafter and took a four years break in his prime. He was never dropped and was never behind on any card even when he lost. A difficult fight for any HW throughout history and a lot better than his brother IMO.

Tyson is both overrated, and underrated. In his brief prime, he brought a skillset that would have meant danger to all but a handful of heavyweights.

For what it's worth, I don't see Tyson beating Vitali, Vitali was too tough, and would have worn mike down mentally.

I'd have picked Tyson over Wlad, but not Vitali.

Totally agree. Prime Tyson, late 80s could possibly beat any HW.

But, he fell short against the elite when it mattered and he was probably done by then anyway (thinking Holyfield).

Tyson prime vs Wlad prime is a real pickem, Tyson early as Wlad gets tagged whilst being intimidated. But Vitali bashes him up. No doubt there. Even Manny Stewart said Vitali was the most imposing HW he’s seen. Tough dude.

[Loki]

Legacies? Vitali lost to the only two A class fighters he fought. His best win is over a 39 year old (!) Corrie Sanders, a man who had a bad chin and poor fitness even in his prime. Vitali could have 50 WBC title wins over Sam Peter and Shannon Briggs type opponents and it wouldn't alter the fact he lost to Lewis and Byrd.

Tucker with one hand went 12 fast rounds with one of the greatest, most dangerous heavyweights ever. Even washed up he went 12 with a young Lewis, while a young Vitali was gassed after 6 with an old fat Lewis.

Legacies! Vitali's whole 'legacy' depends on how highly you regard X number of alphabet title defences over tomato cans.

If you think Tyson is one the greatest HWs ever, you need to look at his record. He lost every time he fought a world class opponent. Who is Tyson’s best win? Spinks? An inactive old Holmes? Ruddock?

I agree, Tyson was a force of nature in the late 80s but he’s far too small to compete with the current crop of HWs. He’s even stated that himself.

Back to the point; Tuckers only good win was against Douglas, who was utter sh1t and is only remembered for beating a messed up Tyson. He was annihilated against Holyfield as was Tyson.

Let’s be practical, Tucker loses 99 times out of 100 against either Klitschko.

You also have to take into consideration who was available for VK to fight. He retired Lewis who wanted nothing to do with the rematch, dominated every opponent thereafter and took a four years break in his prime. He was never dropped and was never behind on any card even when he lost. A difficult fight for any HW throughout history and a lot better than his brother IMO.

Now that you've dismissed every single man Mike Tyson ever beat as not being world class, please illuminate us and list Vitali Klitschko's wins over world class opponents. I want to understand what qualifies as world class in your mind.

You're about to realise how ridiculous the statement you just made is.

The fact that he retired Lewis is better than anything Tyson has done. Lewis was better with age where Tyson was strangely in his prime at 22.

Tyson was unstoppable in the late 80’s but didn’t face any real HW legend e.g Holyfield, Lewis, Bowe in his brief prime.

It’s all subjective, but if I had to pick, I’d pick Tyson over Wlad (50/50) and Vitali over Tyson.

Tyson’s best win was against Spinks. Closely followed by Ruddock then probably Tucker and Bruno. Holmes was past it, Berbick was a paper champ and not very good.

I’m not dissing Tyson, great memories watching him as a kid with my Dad.

[Loki]

Good points.

Tucker even appeared to have Lewis out on his feet at one point, albeit briefly.

Err, no. If you think Tucker was in the same league as the Klitschkos, you’re dreaming. Lewis fought Tucker to win his first title in 1993, he was nowhere near his prime. Buster Douglas - Vitali’s performance against Lewis and his wins (at the time) against Corrie Sanders, Sam Peter (when he was considered viable) and his dominant reign put him leagues above Tucker. Not that you should judge record by record but look at what they’ve both achieved or not in Tuckers view.

Tucker also had awful performances v Orlin Norris x 2, Aktiwande, Hide and McCall. You just can’t say that about Vitali.

Vitali KO 9 or a dominant point win.

Tucker has real world performances versus Douglas and Tyson. Bringing up his form as a fat old drug addict shows the weakness of your argument.

Vitali couldn't so much as score a single KD versus the likes of Obed Sullivan, Chris Byrd, Corrie Sanders, Sam Peter, Shannon Briggs, Derek Chisora, but you have him knocking out Mike Tyson? To call it absurd is an understatement.

The Vitali you describe didn't exist in the real world. He couldn't knockout old fat guys with bad chins. He's not knocking out a young evasive guy with an iron chin.

Vitali was beating Chris Byrd with one arm (torn rotator cuff), completely battered Sanders, Peter and Sullivan. The beating he gave Briggs was appalling and he’s not been the same since. Vitali was on the slide against Chisora, I’ll give you that.

[ElJefe]

Tyson knocked out Holmes, a better jabber than Wlad, so I think he'd stop Klitschko too.

[tiny_acres]

Tyson knocked out Holmes, a better jabber than Wlad, so I think he'd stop Klitschko too.

That was far from a peak Holmes

[Tuan_Jim]

If you think Tyson is one the greatest HWs ever, you need to look at his record. He lost every time he fought a world class opponent. Who is Tyson’s best win? Spinks? An inactive old Holmes? Ruddock?

I agree, Tyson was a force of nature in the late 80s but he’s far too small to compete with the current crop of HWs. He’s even stated that himself.

Back to the point; Tuckers only good win was against Douglas, who was utter sh1t and is only remembered for beating a messed up Tyson. He was annihilated against Holyfield as was Tyson.

Let’s be practical, Tucker loses 99 times out of 100 against either Klitschko.

You also have to take into consideration who was available for VK to fight. He retired Lewis who wanted nothing to do with the rematch, dominated every opponent thereafter and took a four years break in his prime. He was never dropped and was never behind on any card even when he lost. A difficult fight for any HW throughout history and a lot better than his brother IMO.

Now that you've dismissed every single man Mike Tyson ever beat as not being world class, please illuminate us and list Vitali Klitschko's wins over world class opponents. I want to understand what qualifies as world class in your mind.

You're about to realise how ridiculous the statement you just made is.

The fact that he retired Lewis is better than anything Tyson has done. Lewis was better with age where Tyson was strangely in his prime at 22.

Tyson was unstoppable in the late 80’s but didn’t face any real HW legend e.g Holyfield, Lewis, Bowe in his brief prime.

It’s all subjective, but if I had to pick, I’d pick Tyson over Wlad (50/50) and Vitali over Tyson.

Tyson’s best win was against Spinks. Closely followed by Ruddock then probably Tucker and Bruno. Holmes was past it, Berbick was a paper champ and not very good.

I’m not dissing Tyson, great memories watching him as a kid with my Dad.

I note that you elected not to name Vitali Klitschko's wins over world class opponents.

I guess when the two best guys you fought beat you, and 44 of your 47 opponents aren't even as good as a 39 year old Corrie Sanders, there's not a lot to say.

PS that past it Larry Holmes that Tyson beat was younger than Corrie Sanders--Vitali's greatest win

[Onetimeonly]

He mentioned obed Sullivan.

[ElJefe]

Tyson knocked out Holmes, a better jabber than Wlad, so I think he'd stop Klitschko too.

That was far from a peak Holmes

Probably not. But he still went on to beat Ray Mercer and went the distance with an undefeated Holyfield 4 years later. In fact, plenty of people would pick a 29 year old Holyfield to beat Wlad, so that's an impressive effort from Holmes.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Tyson knocked out Holmes, a better jabber than Wlad, so I think he'd stop Klitschko too.

That was far from a peak Holmes

Probably not. But he still went on to beat Ray Mercer and went the distance with an undefeated Holyfield 4 years later. In fact, plenty of people would pick a 29 year old Holyfield to beat Wlad, so that's an impressive effort from Holmes.

larry had been inactive for 3 years prior to fighting tyson, it was a very poor version of holmes.

[caldo2025]

Wlad is one of the most overrated Boxers there ever was. Not as overrated as Sugar Shane Mosely but still overrated. Tyson would have put him in the hospital.

[ElJefe]

That was far from a peak Holmes

Probably not. But he still went on to beat Ray Mercer and went the distance with an undefeated Holyfield 4 years later. In fact, plenty of people would pick a 29 year old Holyfield to beat Wlad, so that's an impressive effort from Holmes.

larry had been inactive for 3 years prior to fighting tyson, it was a very poor version of holmes.

21 months. I'm not saying it was the best Holmes but he's often made out to have been a relic when Tyson beat him. His later performances show that he was far from that.

[cultus]

Mike Tyson KO1 Wladimir Klitschko

He beat everyone else that way at the time. We have seen Wlad on the floor a few times. So I would lean to a quick win.

Did you see WK vs Povetkin ?

80s Mike Tyson isn't Povetkin. In fact, he's miles better.

Does somebody actually compare 88` Tyson to Povetkin. Theres no comaprison. Tyson KO1 Povetkin.
Anybody remember Corrie Sanders.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Probably not. But he still went on to beat Ray Mercer and went the distance with an undefeated Holyfield 4 years later. In fact, plenty of people would pick a 29 year old Holyfield to beat Wlad, so that's an impressive effort from Holmes.

larry had been inactive for 3 years prior to fighting tyson, it was a very poor version of holmes.

21 months. I'm not saying it was the best Holmes but he's often made out to have been a relic when Tyson beat him. His later performances show that he was far from that.

holmes was very foolish to take on tyson with so little preparation, i think he only trained for 6 weeks after all that time out, his timing was clearly off i think with a couple of tuneups he may well have gone the distance with tyson.

[tiny_acres]

That was far from a peak Holmes

Probably not. But he still went on to beat Ray Mercer and went the distance with an undefeated Holyfield 4 years later. In fact, plenty of people would pick a 29 year old Holyfield to beat Wlad, so that's an impressive effort from Holmes.

larry had been inactive for 3 years prior to fighting tyson, it was a very poor version of holmes.

exactly

[apollo creed]

Povetkin was pretty good and a proved fighter / 2004 Olympic gold medalist. Tyson was wisely matched in his youth until he met James Douglas - a guy who was KO3 next by Holyfield.

[Tuan_Jim]

larry had been inactive for 3 years prior to fighting tyson, it was a very poor version of holmes.

21 months. I'm not saying it was the best Holmes but he's often made out to have been a relic when Tyson beat him. His later performances show that he was far from that.

holmes was very foolish to take on tyson with so little preparation, i think he only trained for 6 weeks after all that time out, his timing was clearly off i think with a couple of tuneups he may well have gone the distance with tyson.

James, Holmes is interviewed immediately after Tyson/Biggs and is actually discussing his upcoming Tyson challenge. Larry has successfully conned the public into thinking Don King somehow sprung the fight on him at short notice. He actually had more than three months to prepare.

[Tuan_Jim]

Povetkin was pretty good and a proved fighter / 2004 Olympic gold medalist. Tyson was wisely matched in his youth until he met James Douglas - a guy who was KO3 next by Holyfield.

"Wisely matched"? Tyson fought everyone. Who did he miss?

Douglas cashed out with his $24m versus Holyfield. He came in at his career highest weight. Literally everyone knows this except you.

[oogiebe]

Povetkin was pretty good and a proved fighter / 2004 Olympic gold medalist. Tyson was wisely matched in his youth until he met James Douglas - a guy who was KO3 next by Holyfield.

"Wisely matched"? Tyson fought everyone. Who did he miss?

Douglas cashed out with his $24m versus Holyfield. He came in at his career highest weight. Literally everyone knows this except you.

AGreed. When he fought Tyson, Douglas was at his very best after years of not living up to expectations. Everything fell into place for him for that fight. Many people wonder just who might have beaten him that night. Of course, he fell apart (again) after the fight and was a fat blimp when he fought Holyfield. Douglas was always an enigma.

[gilgamesh]

Povetkin was pretty good and a proved fighter / 2004 Olympic gold medalist. Tyson was wisely matched in his youth until he met James Douglas - a guy who was KO3 next by Holyfield.

"Wisely matched"? Tyson fought everyone. Who did he miss?

Douglas cashed out with his $24m versus Holyfield. He came in at his career highest weight. Literally everyone knows this except you.

AGreed. When he fought Tyson, Douglas was at his very best after years of not living up to expectations. Everything fell into place for him for that fight. Many people wonder just who might have beaten him that night. Of course, he fell apart (again) after the fight and was a fat blimp when he fought Holyfield. Douglas was always an enigma.

Quite a few people could've beaten Douglas the night Douglas beat Tyson. Tyson just wasn't one of 'em. Holyfield would've beaten him that night, though probably not in 3 rounds.

[oogiebe]

"Wisely matched"? Tyson fought everyone. Who did he miss?

Douglas cashed out with his $24m versus Holyfield. He came in at his career highest weight. Literally everyone knows this except you.

AGreed. When he fought Tyson, Douglas was at his very best after years of not living up to expectations. Everything fell into place for him for that fight. Many people wonder just who might have beaten him that night. Of course, he fell apart (again) after the fight and was a fat blimp when he fought Holyfield. Douglas was always an enigma.

Quite a few could've beaten Douglas the night Douglas beat Tyson. Tyson just wasn't one of 'em. Holyfield would've beaten him that night, though probably not in 3 rounds.

Of course Gil, but the point is that Douglas that night was a very good and complete fighter, and by far the best Douglas that ever was and ever would be. (of course Tyson was on the downside, but he was still Tyson).

[Tuan_Jim]

"Wisely matched"? Tyson fought everyone. Who did he miss?

Douglas cashed out with his $24m versus Holyfield. He came in at his career highest weight. Literally everyone knows this except you.

AGreed. When he fought Tyson, Douglas was at his very best after years of not living up to expectations. Everything fell into place for him for that fight. Many people wonder just who might have beaten him that night. Of course, he fell apart (again) after the fight and was a fat blimp when he fought Holyfield. Douglas was always an enigma.

Quite a few people could've beaten Douglas the night Douglas beat Tyson. Tyson just wasn't one of 'em. Holyfield would've beaten him that night, though probably not in 3 rounds.

Douglas that night may have done to Holyfield what Bowe did in 1992. He was that good.

[gilgamesh]

AGreed. When he fought Tyson, Douglas was at his very best after years of not living up to expectations. Everything fell into place for him for that fight. Many people wonder just who might have beaten him that night. Of course, he fell apart (again) after the fight and was a fat blimp when he fought Holyfield. Douglas was always an enigma.

Quite a few people could've beaten Douglas the night Douglas beat Tyson. Tyson just wasn't one of 'em. Holyfield would've beaten him that night, though probably not in 3 rounds.

Douglas that night may have done to Holyfield what Bowe did in 1992. He was that good.

Holyfield ain't Tyson. He wasn't gonna come in with a half assed training camp. He would've been able to handle and beat Buster Douglas. ANY Buster Douglas. I guarantee it.

[gilgamesh]

AGreed. When he fought Tyson, Douglas was at his very best after years of not living up to expectations. Everything fell into place for him for that fight. Many people wonder just who might have beaten him that night. Of course, he fell apart (again) after the fight and was a fat blimp when he fought Holyfield. Douglas was always an enigma.

Quite a few could've beaten Douglas the night Douglas beat Tyson. Tyson just wasn't one of 'em. Holyfield would've beaten him that night, though probably not in 3 rounds.

Of course Gil, but the point is that Douglas that night was a very good and complete fighter, and by far the best Douglas that ever was and ever would be. (of course Tyson was on the downside, but he was still Tyson).

I don't think there's any doubt about that. It's definitely one of the great stories in Boxing history that a guy who had struggled throughout his career was able to put it all together for one big shining magic moment at a time in his life when he really needed something special.

[apollo creed]

Povetkin was pretty good and a proved fighter / 2004 Olympic gold medalist. Tyson was wisely matched in his youth until he met James Douglas - a guy who was KO3 next by Holyfield.

"Wisely matched"? Tyson fought everyone. Who did he miss?

Douglas cashed out with his $24m versus Holyfield. He came in at his career highest weight. Literally everyone knows this except you.

Yup he fought everyone but after he got beaten and older. Cashed out or not , Douglas whooped Tyson and gave his first loss. Don't know the reason but Tyson didn't fight Holy after Holy became undisputed to take his titles back?