Who in your opinion was the rarer talent? Manny Pacquiao or Mike Tyson?

[HitmanTommy]

Pacquiao has adapted to a new style and has learned how to hone his abilities. Who coulda/woulda/shoulda...Tyson. All day.

Both real good fighters and once in a lifetime talents.

Very true.

[a.rihn]

Tyson had such raw and pure talent, and all his instincts were actually working against that talent.

With Pac, it's all grit and willpower and grace. His instincts were to survive and keep moving forward.

This comparison is really interesting and well-thought out - thanks for bringing it up.

[NaijaD]

Hmm I can’t decide, will we ever see another 8 division champion or a 20 year old heavyweight champion. Both incredible feats that might not ever be repeated again.

[HitmanTommy]

Tyson had such raw and pure talent, and all his instincts were actually working against that talent.

With Pac, it's all grit and willpower and grace. His instincts were to survive and keep moving forward.

This comparison is really interesting and well-thought out - thanks for bringing it up.

Thanks!...

[jackson8]

Hard for me not to say both.

[Marchegiano]

Mike Tyson by a ****load.

Just because I vote Pac on p4p and FOTY and **** doesn't mean i'm deluded. He's pretty run of the mill in all time. Been loads and loads of ant sized men who were really good and would be something special if they were not the size of a child.

It's just not that impressive. Being the size of a child they have the energy of a child and athleticism of a child. Far as child-sized men goes Pac's not even all that special. I'd favor basically any past great. Robinson, Armstrong, Walcott, Gans, Nonpariel so on.


Mike Tyson on the other hand was phenomenal. How many fights did he have in his debut year? How many rankings did Tyson stomp through? Dude dominated very quickly. Just because he didn't last long doesn't mean that for a time he wasn't one of the most special fighters of all time. Head to head Mike Tyson has a strong chance against anyone.


Got to love how Pacquiao gets guys to the ropes then bounces around like Bruce Lee only to give them enough space to get away. Some real high level boxing that. He got son'd by Floyd because he's just not that good. His lost win streak is about as long as Tyson's debut run before he's just not that good. Got whooped by no names, robbed JMM until JMM felt he had not other option but to KO him and got said KO, put up nothing against Mayweather and tried to cry his way into a win. Got his ass handed to him by Bradley and did cry his way into a win. Got smacked around by Horn and cried about it too. And, his resume is mostly leftovers.

More I think about it the more I convince myself Pac's an ATG-B-side. The A-side trounces the fool. Kid McCoy and ****...p4p...**** Pac.

[HitmanTommy]

Bump.......

[PRINCEKOOL]

I am not voting on the pole.

But the answer to the question is Mike Tyson.

With smaller fighters people usually **** on about 'Oh they have come up through the weight classes'. Well if most heavyweights drained themselves, then I am sure Mike Tyson could of fought at 175, 190 and then went in to heavyweight'.

It is a culture down in the lower weight division to drain yourself, then to move up when you can no longer make the weight.

Overall I just think technically Mike Tyson was a better fighter, and also physically he was more impressive.

[hugh grant]

Pacman and to not go for the easy choice is to overanalyse. Pac just fought much better fighters and you just can't look much beyond that. Tyson was a phenomenal punche r though

[HitmanTommy]

Looking back at it, I probably have to go with Pacquiao.