who could stop tyson back in the day?

[Abe Attell]

The thing about holyfield is that he was too damn tough for tyson. one might argue that tyson was not in his prime when he fought holyfield, but neither was holy. I firmly believe that the 96 clash between tyson and holyfield had the same outcome as would a prime vs prime matchup

Neither fighter was in their prime, agree, but Tyson was rotting in prison, while Holy always kept in shape.

Tyson said it once before, it doesn't matter how tough you are, how strong you are, if you don't know your **** (art of boxing), then you are going to get your ass kicked.

Tyson after prison looked like an amatuer compared to when he was with Rooney...One of my favorite fights of Tyson is actually his first fight with Bruno...I've watched it many times and compared it to his other fights when he was with Rooney, and always use this as an example of how fast a fighter can decline in technique/skill without the proper training.

[Abe Attell]

I dont see Holyfeild being able to take Tysons body punches.
But it would have been interesting.

I've always wondered this as well.

I can see Rooney telling Mike to throw to the body, especially in the fight they had (although it was a declined Holy), where Tyson hurt him to the body, but didn't follow up. Rooney would of been in his face.
Then again, Rooney would of been in his face for not using the jab, and doubling up on his punches.

In his prime, Holy had trouble with other fighters that weren't as skilled and powerful as Mike, so it does make you wonder.

[Abe Attell]

Anybody with a good uppercut would give even a prime Tyson problems. I dont think Tyson would ever be able to beat Holyfield on his best day.

The Uppercut is definitely the one punch that can slip past
Tyson's peek-a-boo defense.

But Ruddock had a tremendous uppercut, and he didn't win...you are going to need more.

[Abe Attell]

There are many fighters that could stop tyson. Dempsey, johnson, tunney, baer, louis, marciano, liston, ali, frazier, foreman, holmes, holyfield, lewis... Heck, maybe even v. klitschko. tyson dont rate high in my book.

If you are going to list that many, please enlighten why for each?


But you do say "Could" so that is fair since this is boxing and anything can happen...plus, you didn't say if it was a prime Tyson so...

[Pugilistic™]

prime ali could definitely beat prime tyson. also james "buster" douglas can beat a prime tyson.

[Tysonisgod]

Buster Beat A Prime Tyson

[The Noose]

The thing about holyfield is that he was too damn tough for tyson. one might argue that tyson was not in his prime when he fought holyfield, but neither was holy. I firmly believe that the 96 clash between tyson and holyfield had the same outcome as would a prime vs prime matchup

Yea, he was tough, and blocked and countered very well.
I just think that he could block Tysons single big shots easily. But Tyson throwing combinations, body head, uppercuts. I can see Holyfield in trouble. Whereas Holyfield took 10 rounds to stop him.

Its a real tough fight for Tyson. But he was just too vicious at his best. If he fought back he wins.

[Abe Attell]

Buster Beat A Prime Tyson

Prime is when you are still at your best, Tyson was not...just look at how soon after he left Rooney he fell apart.

[Yogi]

Prime is when you are still at your best, Tyson was not...just look at how soon after he left Rooney he fell apart.

I hope that you're not implying that Tyson had things "all together" when with Rooney & co, because Mike's documented (by those close to him) history suggests anything but that...

**** and other numerous ***ual assaults, two attempted suicides (one very much believable), beating up parking lot attendants, fighting in the streets in early morning hours, attacking more than one cameraman, throwing furniture through windows, physically assaulting his wife, threatening his mother-in-law and chasing her & security personal around in a fit of rage (in Moscow), getting "violent and abusive" with that Albany sales clerk, etc., etc., and that's not including all the dumb **** the "******" (according to the employees at Tryon School) did before moving into Cus' home...

The guy has always been ****ed in the head, and he certainly wasn't given mood altering (calming) drugs by Dr. McCurtis for no reason, you know.

[Abe Attell]

No not at all...Tyson had one foot off the ledge but getting rid of Rooney was his way of committing suicide basically.

Not sure on the whole story, maybe Tyson felt he needed a breather, I don't know.

but, you can't deny, no matter what problems Tyson had, even as he was going down hill after D'amato and Jacobs died, he was still there up till the Spinks fight, after that, ****.


Can't remember if I read it or I saw it in a documentary, but Tyson supposedly was seeing a Psychiatrist/Hypnotist while he was with Rooney& Co. but gave that all up after he left.