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

[HewJohnson]

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.

Well ask this.

What seems more unlikely, a 20 year old heavyweight champion or a 41 year old WW champion?

[hugh grant]

Probably Pac really although I love mike. If people thought Mike was rare talent h ed be rated higher

[bojangles1987]

How is it not Pacquiao? He's done things that barely anyone in boxing history could do. Tyson didn't do that.

[bojangles1987]

Threads like this are where the myth of Tyson ends up being way overblown and annoys even people who do recognize how talented he was. People talk him up to be so much more than he really was.

[bojangles1987]

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.

Pacquiao became a p4p name off of raw, pure talent. He was a goddamn whirlwind of speed and power enough to overwhelm ATG fighters.

[STREET CLEANER]

Hard to say, both guys have different talents.

Tyson came up furiously over in the ranks. Speed, power and aggressiveness. The youngest champion ever.

Pac got better with Roach. His balance got better and he was able to use that right hook more. Also he wasn't falling into his left when he used his straight left. In the Barrera fights Pac used to get hit with a lot of jabs, that is not the case no more.

Pac training habits are simply better and he loves what he does. Tyson lost interest and it was just business for him.

[SplitSecond]

Pacquiao is rare in heart. The sht this guy has been through, elite warrior.

I’d say Tyson was a bit more physically gifted, stocky, tank kid with ridiculous speed and power.

[TonyGe]

Tied I'd say. Tyson more sound technically at the start of their careers but he had a great trainer from the beginning. Tyson was a human wrecking ball untill he lost focus. During that time he was the best fighter in boxing. Manny maintained his intensity throughout his career. We were lucky to be able to see both guys in action.

[thesmokingman]

Both guys are incredible fighters. But on the point of talent I'd have to lean towards Pacquiao. Tyson was groomed from an early age by one of boxings greatest minds and it didn't hurt that Tyson has the physique to go with it. And even though Tyson did not have the height, Cus developed him and adapted a style that worked for Tyson to become the fighter that he was in his early twenties. However w/o the dedication he needed he fell from the stratosphere hard.

Pac on the other hand, came from nothing and literally scrapped and willed his way to success in the early half of his career. His fundamentals were terrible, one armed, but his freakish speed and stamina kept him competitive before coming under the tutelage of Roach.

I love both guys but I have to say Tyson had the golden ticket to be a world champ, hell that was their goal (Cus) from the very beginning. Pac's goal was just to feed his family at the age of 16 and stay alive.

This win goes to Pac.

[JakeTheBoxer]

Pacquiao was laughable when he started. His every loss helped him to become an ATG level fighter.

So, fighters shouldn`t avoid challenges to avoid losses., if they want to be like Pacquiao.

Mike was bigger talent, but his first loss and also a jail time ruined his career. he was never the same again.