who could stop tyson back in the day?

[HOUDINI563]

Tyson quit by fighting a much more sedate fight once confronted with an opponent who would not back down and was dominating him. You just do not see the drive to win at all costs that is expected from ATG heavyweight champions. Give Tyson the determination, will, heart of Frazier you would have an ATG top 2-3 heavyweight champion. This was Tyson’s Achilles heel.

[HOUDINI563]

Marciano heart was certainly tested. Most would have folded from the beating Walcott gave him. He was way behind, beaten up and hurt, yet never gave up coming on like the ATG he was for the one punch ko win.

[billeau2]

Marciano heart was certainly tested. Most would have folded from the beating Walcott gave him. He was way behind, beaten up and hurt, yet never gave up coming on like the ATG he was for the one punch ko win.

Marciano was special in the capacity he had to hang in there. That is why I consider him a very special ATG. As M has said, he was one in seven generations. It does not mean he could not be beat by some of the better fighters that have ATG status, but in the capacity to hang in there he was one of a very few.

[HOUDINI563]

I’m no huge Rocky fan. My admiration of his abilities has come from actually spending time watching him fight rather than listen to all those who are the naysayers. Marciano would give most all other ATG hell. The idea he would just be eaten alive by the Ali or Holmes jab is pure hogwash. Marciano was constantly rolling bobbing crouching partying and coming back with TWO fisted power. He gives Ali, Tunney and Holmes hell. Probably gets put to sleep by Foreman however.

[Anthony342]

Marciano heart was certainly tested. Most would have folded from the beating Walcott gave him. He was way behind, beaten up and hurt, yet never gave up coming on like the ATG he was for the one punch ko win.

Also tested in that second Charles fight. And as for the original question, Robin Givens and her mom were pretty formidable opponents for Tyson back then. Bled him so much that one had to be stopped pretty quickly.

[HOUDINI563]

True about Tyson BUT heart and will to win is an intrinsic attribute. You either have it or you don’t. It’s easy to appear to have it if you are cutting through one opponent after another.

[HOUDINI563]

One example of this would be James hard rock Green who made a name for himself as an up and coming great. He was employing “modern” training and cut through his opponents with a 15-1 record. His lone loss was a decision to another up and coming fighter Robbie Sims.

So they then matched Green against the crude but exciting Frank the animal Fletcher. Franks aggression and urge to win kept Green passively at bey leading to a cut. Once Green saw his own blood the fight was over as he remained against the ropes unable to mount a counter attack.

So here was a fighter with what appeared to a very formidable skill set. What he was missing were intrinsic attributes. No toughness, lacking heart and will to win. Impossible to see these were missing until he was pushed to the breaking point. He was pushed by Fletcher...and he broke.

[Iliketofight]

After watching Lennox struggle with a fat, lazy Tyson, I'm convinced the only person that can really beat mike more than 5 out of 10 times is Muhammad Ali. If we're talking their best day vs his best day, I don't see anyone outside of Ali, maybe foreman, beating him.