BoxRec

i had been reviewing mike tyson's old opponents recently, and couldnt help but notice how many guys he beat who are remembered best for being splattered by mike, yet actually were very handy fighters with good wins that get totally overshadowed by their failed effort vs tyson

carl williams, trevor berbick, pinky thomas, marvis frazier (marvis especially, since he is 2nd most remembered for being splattered by holmes, despite being a former world amateur champ with pro wins over several contenders/fringer contenders, including beating our boys bugner and a then 14-0 funso banjo)


who are some other guys like this?

in a more broad career sense, howard davis the olympic champ is often seen as a let down for not winning a world title, and discussions around him are framed more about his failures than his successes. but he actually had a very respectable pro career and credibly challenged two very good champs

Razor Ruddock is remembered for losing to Tyson and Lewis.

I know he's a pretty good fighter though.

Cleveland Williams. Not a champion or anything but a fearsome fighter in his day. Mostly known for being on the receiving end of peak young Ali.

You've got to remember Herol Graham V Julian Jackson. Minutes away from beating Jackson, then boom!

Also Tony Sibson v Hagler. Got to feel for Sibbo, getting slaughtered, but getting up and wandering around like a drunkard.

Wayne McCollough

Don Curry vs Mike McCallum...clinical one shot.

Watson vs Eubanks.

McClellan vs Benn.

Luke Campbell

Jeff Lacy

Kevin Mitchell

I think Gerry Cooney was a better fighter than he is often remembered as off the back of the Holmes fight.

Ty Biggs?

Ron Lyle and Earnie Shavers both had near miss defeats to some legends.

Ken Norton?

Terry Marsh

Just kidding

Meldrick Taylor

dookus wrote: ↑15 Feb 2026, 10:00 Meldrick Taylor

He’s remembered for his writing.

Billy Conn unfairly remembered for Joe Louis losses mainly

A favourite of mine unfairly remembered for a WIN that everyone but the judges thought he lost is...

Jose Luis Ramirez.

He was 100(82)-6(1) going into his fight against 15(9)-0 Pernell Whittaker, had been a pro for 15 years & had fought such greats as Ruben Olivares (his only KO loss), Alexis Arguello (L-SD), Ray Mancini (L-UD), Edwin Rosario (L-UD, W-KO4), Macho Camacho (L-UD), Terrance Alli (W-UD) & Cornelius Boza-Edwards (W-KO5) before meeting Sweet Pea.

He was given a S-WD but Pernell won that fight handily from what I remember at the time.

After that he lost to Chavez, the rematch to Pernell & finally the great Argentinean Juan Martin Coggi before hanging up his gloves with a 102-9 tally.

A great career sullied, but financially enriched, by 2 judges decisions.

do i dare say audley?

won the euro, a couple of prizefighters.......not a bad career really, but of course he' s thought of almost entirely in terms of his low points

the short few rounds before sprott flattened him, i thought he looked fearsomely fantastic. he was not a bad fighter offensively when he let his hands go

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026, 06:15 do i dare say audley?

won the euro, a couple of prizefighters.......not a bad career really, but of course he' s thought of almost entirely in terms of his low points

the short few rounds before sprott flattened him, i thought he looked fearsomely fantastic. he was not a bad fighter offensively when he let his hands go

This is a great call.

A lot of the UK's Amateur success in the 21st Century was spurred on by him.

Michael Spinks a GREAT fighter remembered for his loss to Tyson

Spinks is a great call. He looked very intimidated vs Tyson. Tyson came out to a pretty intimidating ring walk buzzing type of song and was at the peak of his powers. I would have liked to have been around to feel that the atmosphere was like around Tyson but you get a feel of it from watching the fight but clearly the entire planet thought he was an absolute phenom and his opponents were visibly petrified going in there with him. Spinks was coming off two very good fights with Holmes.

tiny_acres wrote: ↑16 Feb 2026, 12:18 Michael Spinks a GREAT fighter remembered for his loss to Tyson

Very true. One of the all timers at Light Heavyweight, and a very solid Heavyweight run in his own right, but he's just Mike Tyson's biggest win in most people's minds.

Could you put Tommy Hearns in here? Most remember his fights against Sugar Ray and Hagler.