jamesmcdonnell wrote:Arguing with Mike Tyson nuts is like challenging a quadraplegic to a sack race, utterly pointless.
It's also funny how those who are devoted to Tyson, always seem to hate Lewis. Wonder why that is eh?
You might think Tyson was more exciting possibly, but impressive as his first reign appeared at the time, his level of competition overall was slightly inferior. Tyson was effectively washed up by the age of 28. His last great performance was
Hell, I would even say that had they met around the time that Lewis lost to McCall, Tyson would have beaten him, but the fact is, Lewis held it together for a much longer period of time, between 1999 and 2004 he was the best heavyweight in the world, and a titleist before that. Sure, he lost a couple of fights he shouldn't have, and as for one punch, he was in fairness stopped on his feet, you could argue that he should have been allowed to continue, certainly Douglass was absolutely fucked and was allowed to make it to his feet and continue, and Larry Holmes was wobbly as fornicate and glassy eyed against Shavers, and yet was given the chance. Lewis on both occasions was not actually given the chance to continue.
You can give it all you want about how Tyson was a showman blah blah blah, and please, spare me the bollocks about potential, McCall had plenty of potential too, he used to give Tyson murder in sparring, but it took Manny Steward to give him the tactics and the confidence to win, and that was only because King wanted rid of Lewis and was determined to give Oliver the best possible chance. The rest of the time, McCall was just treated as a sparring partner, a hired hand. Douglas and McCall were two peas from the same pod, underachieving talented heavyweights who the wrong mental makeup to be true champions.
tyson may eat up thread after thread in the current scene, but on the British Forum he is scarcely mentioned, he's part of the history of the sport, not the future. He's had one fight a year for the lat four years, and he's lost 2 out of the last four.
His last creditable win was over Ruddock, in 1991!
Funny how Ruddock, who went the distance with Tyson in their second fight, after being stopped too hastily in their first, is suddenly washed up when he fights Lewis only a year later, despite notching up two KO wins in between. Utter tosh.
Don't be surprised if McBride bashes Tyson into retirement, anyone who lasts 3 rounds is in with a shout these days. McBride probably wont, but you never know.
I like Lewis, its his fans that get on my nerves. Tyson's competition is comparable to Lewis's. Tyson may have been washed up by 28, but he accomplished everything and more than what Lewis accomplished in that amount of time.
Mike Tyson.................................
Lennox Lewis
"The Guards"
Larry Holmes/Michael Spinks.........Mike Tyson/Evander Holyfield
Carl Williams...............................Tony Tucker
Quick Tillis...................................Oliver Mcall
Bonecrusher Smith.......................Frank Bruno
Pinklon Thomas............................Razor Ruddock
"Contemporaries"
Prime Tyrell Biggs........................Prime Henry Akinwande
Prime Razor Ruddock...................Prime David Tua
Prime Tony Tucker.......................Prime Zeljko Mavorik
Prime Tony Tubbs........................Prime Shannon Briggs
Prime Frank Bruno.......................Prime Michael Grant
Prime Marvis Frazier.....................Prime Andrew Galota
"Solid Contenders"
Mitch Greene...............................Mike Weaver
Alex Stewart...............................Ray Mercer
Buster Mathis..............................Phil Jackson
Andrew Galota............................Tommy Morrison
Clifford Etienne...........................Derek Williams
Lou Saverese..............................Glen Mcrory
Briane Nielson.............................Lionel Butler
Francois Botha............................Francois Botha
Bruce Seldon..............................Hasim Rahman
Henry Tillman.............................Tyrell Biggs
Jose Ribalta................................Gary Mason
"Journeymen"
Jesse Fergueson.........................Jean Chanet
Alfonso Ratliff............................Ossie Occasio
Julius Francis.............................Mike Dixon
Steve Zouiski............................Dan Murphy
Mike Jameson...........................Mike Acey
David Jaco................................Greg Gorell
"The best of"
Buster Douglas........................Hasim Rahman
Evander Holyfield.....................Vitali Klitscho*
Lewis gets extra credit for fighting Vitali since he's not of the same era as Lewis.
Thats about it, and I dont see where this great difference of competition is.
