Tyrone Booze
Dwight Muhammad Qawi
Ricky Parkey
Carlos De Leon
James Douglas
George Foreman
Larry Holmes
Riddick Bowe
Mike Tyson
Michael Moorer
John Ruiz
Hasim Rahman
--------------------
Another question..
Regardless of win/loss.. Who was his best opponent?
From the list above, this would include the likes of:
Lennox Lewis
Chris Byrd
James Toney
Sultan Ibragimov
Nikolay Valuev
Choosing his best win is difficult. It comes down to one of Qawi I, Bowe II or Tyson I. I suppose you'd lean towards Tyson given the fact he was a 16-1 underdog and Tyson had just blasted out two title holders in quick fashion. The closeness of the Bowe II fight probably makes the Tyson one better even though hindsight shows us 1993 Bowe is better than 1996 Tyson. The Qawi win is also a great achievement given the relative lack of pro experience and the incredible action of the fight though I suppose as the younger man he was expected to win this one.
Best KO probably has to be the Douglas one because it was a history making shot.
Best opponent would probably have to be Lewis, though Bowe of 1992-1993 was an all-time level talent.
Tough to choose. Holyfield shook the World not once. That's why he's a true legend. His biggest wins were: Qawi #1, Douglas, Foreman, Bowe II, Tyson, Moorer.
What was his best KO win?
His biggest KO win was over Douglas. But the most spectacular KO was over Adilson Rodrigues.
Regardless of win/loss.. Who was his best opponent?
Defining fight: WTKO11 Mike Tyson......November 9, 1996....."Slayed the monster being a 25 to 1 underdog "
Other Defining fights: W15 Dwight Muhammad Qawi, WTKO3 Buster Douglas, W12 George Foreman, L12 Riddick Bowe, W12 Riddick Bowe (II) and WTKO7 Michael Moorer (II)
Of course, and more skill, most importantly was perhaps physically stronger.
Stood straight up to a still powerful and quick Tyson in the first. And slugged him back. Love that fight.
Me too! I had been saying since 87 that he would beat Mike. Dozens of friends mocked me and my only friend that agreed with me used to have people over for all the fights mid 90s. We got a keg and a quarter ounce, a d only let 2 other holy fans over. The others never pitched in and he literally refused to answer his door when they showed up. I sure miss when boxing was a sport people cared about!
The Tyson win was awesome. Holyfield knocked the Iron out of him and ruined him psychologically. Tyson would have rolled over everyone but Holyfield that night. Bowe and Lewis were fumbling with Golota and Mercer.
Tuan_Jim wrote: ↑11 Jan 2021, 08:29
The Tyson win was awesome. Holyfield knocked the Iron out of him and ruined him psychologically. Tyson would have rolled over everyone but Holyfield that night. Bowe and Lewis were fumbling with Golota and Mercer.
The thing is, Tyson wouldn't roll over neither Lewis and Bowe, nor Mercer and Golota of those versions.
Neither Bowe nor Lewis could get out of the way of punches from Mercer and Golota, who had slower hands than Tyson, and were less devastating hitters.
People seem to think 2002 Lewis vs Tyson means a 1996 fight would play out the same, even though 2002 Tyson was a fat jaded shadow whose soul had been eaten by Evander.
I can't see Lewis of Mercer/McCall II form beating Tyson in 1996. Picking Mercer over Tyson is laughable.
Tuan_Jim wrote: ↑11 Jan 2021, 13:20
Neither Bowe nor Lewis could get out of the way of punches from Mercer and Golota, who had slower hands than Tyson, and were less devastating hitters.
As if only those qualities mattered.
Tuan_Jim wrote: ↑11 Jan 2021, 13:20
I can't see Lewis of Mercer/McCall II form beating Tyson in 1996. Picking Mercer over Tyson is laughable.
Now wipe you glasses, read again and see, that no one even suggested, that Mercer would necessarily win Tyson. What's really laughable, that's your wet dreams of Tyson rolling over Mercer, who at those times was able to take tons of punishment.
Tuan_Jim wrote: ↑11 Jan 2021, 13:20
Neither Bowe nor Lewis could get out of the way of punches from Mercer and Golota, who had slower hands than Tyson, and were less devastating hitters.
As if only those qualities mattered.
Tuan_Jim wrote: ↑11 Jan 2021, 13:20
I can't see Lewis of Mercer/McCall II form beating Tyson in 1996. Picking Mercer over Tyson is laughable.
Now wipe you glasses, read again and see, that no one even suggested, that Mercer would necessarily win Tyson. What's really laughable, that's your wet dreams of Tyson rolling over Mercer, who at those times was able to take tons of punishment.
So what? Ruddock took tons of punishment as Tyson rolled through him, breaking his jaw en route to a UD.
Tuan_Jim wrote: ↑11 Jan 2021, 13:20
Neither Bowe nor Lewis could get out of the way of punches from Mercer and Golota, who had slower hands than Tyson, and were less devastating hitters.
As if only those qualities mattered.
Tuan_Jim wrote: ↑11 Jan 2021, 13:20
I can't see Lewis of Mercer/McCall II form beating Tyson in 1996. Picking Mercer over Tyson is laughable.
Now wipe you glasses, read again and see, that no one even suggested, that Mercer would necessarily win Tyson. What's really laughable, that's your wet dreams of Tyson rolling over Mercer, who at those times was able to take tons of punishment.
So what? Ruddock took tons of punishment as Tyson rolled through him, breaking his jaw en route to a UD.
