BoxRec

Just for fun....prime for primes against some of these (generally bigger) guys?

Frazier
Norton
Ali
Shavers
Foreman
Chuvalo
Bugner

Some big men there with good chins. Let’s say a prime Larry Holmes too (altho I believe they actually fought. Perhaps Holmes’s prime was 80s not 70s but in any case, make the prime match-up)
Then there’s guys I’ve heard of but know very little about. Don Curry (I believe he was p4p number 1 at one point, but that’s all, but I might be mixed up).

Tell me what prime for prime heavies do against Iron Mike

I think Tyson benefitting from the lessons learnt from most of these guys would have a massive advantage.

I say he beats them most of them but Foreman and Norton Im not so sure about.

magwitch wrote:Don Curry (I believe he was p4p number 1 at one point, but that’s all, but I might be mixed up).

Don Curry was a welterweight mate. Go on the boxing history forum, loads of posts about this sort of stuff.

foxdog1923 wrote:I think Tyson benefitting from the lessons learnt from most of these guys would have a massive advantage.

I say he beats them most of them but Foreman and Norton Im not so sure about.

I saw some footage of Foreman taking these great big powerful but mechanical looking swings. Even against Frazier I think it was, looks like he’s throwing a discus or doing kettle bells. Not really a “natural”, surprised me a little.

I think, in light of what we know about Tyson never getting up to win, that Foreman might, might, have bashed him up.

And I’m no expert but Ken Norton didn’t seem a man that scared easily. Big height advantage there.

Controversial wrote:

magwitch wrote:Don Curry (I believe he was p4p number 1 at one point, but that’s all, but I might be mixed up).

Don Curry was a welterweight mate. Go on the boxing history forum, loads of posts about this sort of stuff.

Yes good idea! I forgot about that place...... I know what I’ve done.....I’ve mixed him up with Jerry Quarry!

Don Quarry

magwitch wrote:

foxdog1923 wrote:I think Tyson benefitting from the lessons learnt from most of these guys would have a massive advantage.

I say he beats them most of them but Foreman and Norton Im not so sure about.

I saw some footage of Foreman taking these great big powerful but mechanical looking swings. Even against Frazier I think it was, looks like he’s throwing a discus or doing kettle bells. Not really a “natural”, surprised me a little.

I think, in light of what we know about Tyson never getting up to win, that Foreman might, might, have bashed him up.

And I’m no expert but Ken Norton didn’t seem a man that scared easily. Big height advantage there.

Yeah I look back at Foreman when he fought Moorer and Holyfield and despite his old age he was more than game, so you have to wonder what it wouldve been like if a PRIME Foreman fought these two. Based on that, I couldnt say with confidence that Tyson beats a prime Foreman. I know what you mean about Foremans hooks, they look like they wernt truly mastered but yet they dropped people, just imagine he perfected it..

Nortons height advantage, toughness, power and style AGAIN made it hard for me to see Mike beat this guy.

foxdog1923 wrote: Nortons height advantage, toughness, power and style AGAIN made it hard for me to see Mike beat this guy.

I can't see Norton lasting long against Tyson, he lost quickly to every big puncher he fought and dropped several times in winning fights.

Controversial wrote:

foxdog1923 wrote: Nortons height advantage, toughness, power and style AGAIN made it hard for me to see Mike beat this guy.

I can't see Norton lasting long against Tyson, he lost quickly to every big puncher he fought and dropped several times in winning fights.

True but style wise I think he troubles Tyson.

foxdog1923 wrote:

Controversial wrote:

foxdog1923 wrote: Nortons height advantage, toughness, power and style AGAIN made it hard for me to see Mike beat this guy.

I can't see Norton lasting long against Tyson, he lost quickly to every big puncher he fought and dropped several times in winning fights.

True but style wise I think he troubles Tyson.

Until he gets clocked with a punch, he only weighed around 205-210 for most of his career, bulked up a big later on but wouldn't be the same weight as Tyson. Tyson too strong and fast for me.

Controversial wrote:

foxdog1923 wrote: Nortons height advantage, toughness, power and style AGAIN made it hard for me to see Mike beat this guy.

I can't see Norton lasting long against Tyson, he lost quickly to every big puncher he fought and dropped several times in winning fights.

I just rewatched Norton on youtube and he wasnt how I remembered him. Mind you Id never seen the Shavers fight till just then, I only seen Norton vs Ali and one other dominant performance he had.

Nah I retract my statement especially after seeing the Shavers fight. He looked really poor and even scared before the fight even started.

I think Tyson would have taken them all. Mike in his prime was just a formidable force of speed, power and aggression. He also had a lot of skill.

foxdog1923 wrote:

Controversial wrote:

foxdog1923 wrote: Nortons height advantage, toughness, power and style AGAIN made it hard for me to see Mike beat this guy.

I can't see Norton lasting long against Tyson, he lost quickly to every big puncher he fought and dropped several times in winning fights.

I just rewatched Norton on youtube and he wasnt how I remembered him. Mind you Id never seen the Shavers fight till just then, I only seen Norton vs Ali and one other dominant performance he had.

Nah I retract my statement especially after seeing the Shavers fight. He looked really poor and even scared before the fight even started.

Fair play my friend. Also worth noting that 14 of Norton's opponents weighed 200lbs or less and 11 others in the 201-210lb region its not like he fought that many big heavyweights.

magwitch wrote:Don Quarry

Gerry Curry

bigjack wrote:

magwitch wrote:Don Quarry

Gerry Curry

magwitch wrote:Just for fun....prime for primes against some of these (generally bigger) guys?

Frazier
Norton
Ali
Shavers
Foreman
Chuvalo
Bugner

Some big men there with good chins. Let’s say a prime Larry Holmes too (altho I believe they actually fought. Perhaps Holmes’s prime was 80s not 70s but in any case, make the prime match-up)
Then there’s guys I’ve heard of but know very little about. Don Curry (I believe he was p4p number 1 at one point, but that’s all, but I might be mixed up).

Tell me what prime for prime heavies do against Iron Mike

Frazier, Tyson comes out fast and catches Joe cold and batters him in short order.
Norton - very tough night, Norton like Holyfield was tough and crafty. Think Norton wins on points.
Ali - Tyson has his moments early, get's stopped late in the fight.
Shavers - Mike endures some rough spots and spatters Shavers in the middle rounds.
Chuvalo - Tyson comes close to stopping him early, but wins on points.
Bugner - Tyson wins in a similar fashion to the smith fight.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

magwitch wrote:Just for fun....prime for primes against some of these (generally bigger) guys?

Frazier
Norton
Ali
Shavers
Foreman
Chuvalo
Bugner

Some big men there with good chins. Let’s say a prime Larry Holmes too (altho I believe they actually fought. Perhaps Holmes’s prime was 80s not 70s but in any case, make the prime match-up)
Then there’s guys I’ve heard of but know very little about. Don Curry (I believe he was p4p number 1 at one point, but that’s all, but I might be mixed up).

Tell me what prime for prime heavies do against Iron Mike

Frazier, Tyson comes out fast and catches Joe cold and batters him in short order.
Norton - very tough night, Norton like Holyfield was tough and crafty. Think Norton wins on points.
Ali - Tyson has his moments early, get's stopped late in the fight.
Shavers - Mike endures some rough spots and spatters Shavers in the middle rounds.
Chuvalo - Tyson comes close to stopping him early, but wins on points.
Bugner - Tyson wins in a similar fashion to the smith fight.

Oh, Foreman scares the shite out of Tyson long before they enter the ring, and completely destroys him. Tyson would have been intimidated from the get go.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

magwitch wrote:Just for fun....prime for primes against some of these (generally bigger) guys?

Frazier
Norton
Ali
Shavers
Foreman
Chuvalo
Bugner

Some big men there with good chins. Let’s say a prime Larry Holmes too (altho I believe they actually fought. Perhaps Holmes’s prime was 80s not 70s but in any case, make the prime match-up)
Then there’s guys I’ve heard of but know very little about. Don Curry (I believe he was p4p number 1 at one point, but that’s all, but I might be mixed up).

Tell me what prime for prime heavies do against Iron Mike

Frazier, Tyson comes out fast and catches Joe cold and batters him in short order.
Norton - very tough night, Norton like Holyfield was tough and crafty. Think Norton wins on points.
Ali - Tyson has his moments early, get's stopped late in the fight.
Shavers - Mike endures some rough spots and spatters Shavers in the middle rounds.
Chuvalo - Tyson comes close to stopping him early, but wins on points.
Bugner - Tyson wins in a similar fashion to the smith fight.

I could be wrong but I think Chuvalo was never stopped. That does not mean that he was unstoppable, of course. But it’s a leap of the imagination.

magwitch wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

magwitch wrote:Just for fun....prime for primes against some of these (generally bigger) guys?

Frazier
Norton
Ali
Shavers
Foreman
Chuvalo
Bugner

Some big men there with good chins. Let’s say a prime Larry Holmes too (altho I believe they actually fought. Perhaps Holmes’s prime was 80s not 70s but in any case, make the prime match-up)
Then there’s guys I’ve heard of but know very little about. Don Curry (I believe he was p4p number 1 at one point, but that’s all, but I might be mixed up).

Tell me what prime for prime heavies do against Iron Mike

Frazier, Tyson comes out fast and catches Joe cold and batters him in short order.
Norton - very tough night, Norton like Holyfield was tough and crafty. Think Norton wins on points.
Ali - Tyson has his moments early, get's stopped late in the fight.
Shavers - Mike endures some rough spots and spatters Shavers in the middle rounds.
Chuvalo - Tyson comes close to stopping him early, but wins on points.
Bugner - Tyson wins in a similar fashion to the smith fight.

I could be wrong but I think Chuvalo was never stopped. That does not mean that he was unstoppable, of course. But it’s a leap of the imagination.

that's why I said Tyson comes close to stopping him early, but he is unable to put him away.

Liston would be an interesting one to throw into that mix.

Assuming he wasn't "fighting to orders", I think he'd have battered Tyson.

magwitch wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

magwitch wrote:Just for fun....prime for primes against some of these (generally bigger) guys?

Frazier
Norton
Ali
Shavers
Foreman
Chuvalo
Bugner

Some big men there with good chins. Let’s say a prime Larry Holmes too (altho I believe they actually fought. Perhaps Holmes’s prime was 80s not 70s but in any case, make the prime match-up)
Then there’s guys I’ve heard of but know very little about. Don Curry (I believe he was p4p number 1 at one point, but that’s all, but I might be mixed up).

Tell me what prime for prime heavies do against Iron Mike

Frazier, Tyson comes out fast and catches Joe cold and batters him in short order.
Norton - very tough night, Norton like Holyfield was tough and crafty. Think Norton wins on points.
Ali - Tyson has his moments early, get's stopped late in the fight.
Shavers - Mike endures some rough spots and spatters Shavers in the middle rounds.
Chuvalo - Tyson comes close to stopping him early, but wins on points.
Bugner - Tyson wins in a similar fashion to the smith fight.

I could be wrong but I think Chuvalo was never stopped. That does not mean that he was unstoppable, of course. But it’s a leap of the imagination.

Foreman stopped him in three but I don't think he was ever dropped

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

jamesmcdonnell wrote:

magwitch wrote:Just for fun....prime for primes against some of these (generally bigger) guys?

Frazier
Norton
Ali
Shavers
Foreman
Chuvalo
Bugner

Some big men there with good chins. Let’s say a prime Larry Holmes too (altho I believe they actually fought. Perhaps Holmes’s prime was 80s not 70s but in any case, make the prime match-up)
Then there’s guys I’ve heard of but know very little about. Don Curry (I believe he was p4p number 1 at one point, but that’s all, but I might be mixed up).

Tell me what prime for prime heavies do against Iron Mike

Frazier, Tyson comes out fast and catches Joe cold and batters him in short order.
Norton - very tough night, Norton like Holyfield was tough and crafty. Think Norton wins on points.
Ali - Tyson has his moments early, get's stopped late in the fight.
Shavers - Mike endures some rough spots and spatters Shavers in the middle rounds.
Chuvalo - Tyson comes close to stopping him early, but wins on points.
Bugner - Tyson wins in a similar fashion to the smith fight.

Oh, Foreman scares the shite out of Tyson long before they enter the ring, and completely destroys him. Tyson would have been intimidated from the get go.

totally.

I think Norton and Frazier out tough him as well. As unbelievably talented as Mike was, he head would dip. he became a "game quitter" when stood up to.

He would of done well ,, but theres a few from that era who would of beat him, and some of them easily .

I honestly really struggle to rank Tyson against fighters of other eras.
It's a topic that polarises many fans and forum goers alike.

For me, it polarises myself.

One day I think he was a destructive force at his prime that anyone in history would have struggled to tame
Other days I wonder if he had an over-rated run against overawed opponents and anyone on a par with, or better than, Holyfield would have whupped him

I only wish we could see it.

It's the one thing I would have put right if I had a time machine (well the one boxing related thing anyway)

Frazier = A vicious knockout for Tyson with the oncoming train of Frazier's style
Norton = An early finish for Tyson, just to fast.
Ali = Ali would have out-boxed mike in this one?.
Shavers =Tyson had a great chin even for this monster so Big KO for Tyson.
Foreman = Tyson's fast combo's would have won this one for Mike, staying clear of everything Foreman throws.
Chuvalo = Tyson mid rounds round stoppage.
Bugner = Tyson later rounds stoppage.