If Mike Tyson was around 1963-80, would he have won a title?

[The_Demon]

Ye more than likely,the guy was a helluva talent regardless of how overrated he gets nowadays

[Holtol]

I think Tyson wouldn't have much difficulty with Liston and Foreman. Foreman is overrated and I think Tyson could knock him out. He was a big puncher but he lacked the technical skill that Tyson had perfected and lets not even compare them in speed, as Tyson is arguably the fastest, hardest hitting heavy of all time. His handspeed is on par with lightweight guys.

Liston had a good jab and two handed power but again Tyson has the edge in technical boxing skills, movement, speed, footwork, and power.

I like those guys and I know in this section a lot of guys love those fighters but Tyson was a 1 of a kind fighter. He was a phenom, whereas the guys you mentioned above were just great fighters. Tyson had an x factor that made him unique and IMO he could beat any heavy in boxing history when he's at his absolute best.

Ali I think would beat him, but Ali has admitted that he would not be able to beat Mike Tyson. He said Mike would knock him out - "if he could catch me."

I think you underestimate Forman and Liston, Don't forget that Forman out performed Tyson in a common opponent in Holyfield. I know Tyson best days were behind him but Formans were even further behind him. He had a 10 year lay off plus was in his 40s with 30 pounds of extra fat. Forman's hand speed was not as good but obviously he had other things going for him that allowed him to be a great fighter.

[Great John L]

You have to look at the years and who was fighting at the top level in those years and who was at the top or at the end of their game if such a fight could happen.

1978-1979: Tyson wins titles easy. Destroys Leon Spinks and Ken Norton, as well as a shot Muhammad Ali in 1979 to win World Titles for WBC and WBA.

1968: Tyson could easily beat Mathis and Ellis for World titles in eliminators.

1969-1973: Tyson could win a World Title with a victory over Joe Frazier.

1965-1967: Tyson would, in my opinion, lose to Muhammad Ali at his peak.

1974-1977: Tyson could defeat a 32-35 year old Ali to win a World Title without too great difficulty. Ali won't be able to evade and keep away and Rope a Dope simply will not work against Tyson.

1963: I think Tyson could edge a very tough win over Liston.

[Joeyzagz]

if Tucker, Bruno & Ruddock were just another days work for Lennox and wouldn't make his top 6 of the best opponents... name for me who you think Lewis Top 6 opponents ahead of those 3 fighters was.

1. Vitali Klitschko
2. Evander Holyfeild
3. David Tua
4. Mike Tyson himself
5. Ray Mercer
6. Tommy Morrison

^^I put Bruno, Ruddock and Tucker in the same class as Mason and just ahead of Briggs.

[Scott9945]

I would definitely pick Tyson over Ali anytime past the 3rd Frazier fight.

[sonnyboyx2]

1. Vitali Klitschko
2. Evander Holyfeild
3. David Tua
4. Mike Tyson himself
5. Ray Mercer
6. Tommy Morrison

^^I put Bruno, Ruddock and Tucker in the same class as Mason and just ahead of Briggs.

1/. Vitali Klitschko - steroid freak/quitter, who has never beaten a fighter rated above Class D with Herbie Hide being his biggest win.

2/. Evander Holyfield - Over-the-hill who Lewis fought to a draw then won very debatable decision over.

3/. David Tua - Fattest man to ever fight for title who lost every time he fought an opponent rated above Class C

4/. Mike Tyson - 12yrs past his best since losing to Douglas & 6yrs since being finished off by Holyfield, served several lengthy prison sentences during that time and was also well publicized narcotics abuser as well as prescribed anti-depressant user and a shell of the once ATG fighter of the mid 1980s

5/. Ray Mercer - On the decline and slipping down the rankings after being schooled by 41yr old Larry Holmes then out-boxed & out-fought by journeyman Jesse Ferguson and coming into fight off back of a brutal beating from come-backing Evander Holyfield yet lost highly debatable decision to Lewis.

6/. Tommy Morrison - Hard-core steroid abuser who was HIV positive and badly on the slide after brutal KO loss to Mercer then suffered humiliating one-round KO beating to limited journeyman Michael Bent and could only draw with clubfighter Ross Purity who's record was 8-8

Coming into their fight with Lennox Lewis all the above fighters was exposed and none was "At The Top of their Game" with 5 of them being well past their best and on the downside of their careers.

Lets look at Mike Tysons best 6 opponents in comparison:

1/. Tony Tucker - undefeated IBF Heavyweight Champion 34-0 and at the Top of his Game

2/. Pinklon Thomas - Former WBC Heavyweight Champion 29-1-1 and at "The Top of his Game"

3/. Michael Spinks - undefeated Linear Heavyweight Champion 31-0 who was at "The Top of his Game"

4/. Trevor Berbick - Reighning WBC Heavyweight Champion 34-4 and "At The Top of his Game"

5/. Larry Holmes - 49-2 former long reigning Heavyweight champion who went 23-2 after losing to Tyson

6/. Tony Tubbs - Former WBA Heavyweight Champion 24-1 and who was at "The Top of his Game"

Now you can look at this anyway you want but it does not take rocket science to see who fought the better opposition

[Celtic_Warrior]

1/. Vitali Klitschko - steroid freak/quitter, who has never beaten a fighter rated above Class D with Herbie Hide being his biggest win.

2/. Evander Holyfield - Over-the-hill who Lewis fought to a draw then won very debatable decision over.

3/. David Tua - Fattest man to ever fight for title who lost every time he fought an opponent rated above Class C

4/. Mike Tyson - 12yrs past his best since losing to Douglas & 6yrs since being finished off by Holyfield, served several lengthy prison sentences during that time and was also well publicized narcotics abuser as well as prescribed anti-depressant user and a shell of the once ATG fighter of the mid 1980s

5/. Ray Mercer - On the decline and slipping down the rankings after being schooled by 41yr old Larry Holmes then out-boxed & out-fought by journeyman Jesse Ferguson and coming into fight off back of a brutal beating from come-backing Evander Holyfield yet lost highly debatable decision to Lewis.

6/. Tommy Morrison - Hard-core steroid abuser who was HIV positive and badly on the slide after brutal KO loss to Mercer then suffered humiliating one-round KO beating to limited journeyman Michael Bent and could only draw with clubfighter Ross Purity who's record was 8-8

Coming into their fight with Lennox Lewis all the above fighters was exposed and none was "At The Top of their Game" with 5 of them being well past their best and on the downside of their careers.

Lets look at Mike Tysons best 6 opponents in comparison:

1/. Tony Tucker - undefeated IBF Heavyweight Champion 34-0 and at the Top of his Game

2/. Pinklon Thomas - Former WBC Heavyweight Champion 29-1-1 and at "The Top of his Game"

3/. Michael Spinks - undefeated Linear Heavyweight Champion 31-0 who was at "The Top of his Game"

4/. Trevor Berbick - Reighning WBC Heavyweight Champion 34-4 and "At The Top of his Game"

5/. Larry Holmes - 49-2 former long reigning Heavyweight champion who went 23-2 after losing to Tyson

6/. Tony Tubbs - Former WBA Heavyweight Champion 24-1 and who was at "The Top of his Game"

Now you can look at this anyway you want but it does not take rocket science to see who fought the better opposition

Why the Lewis hate?

Have you ever fought? If so was it at that level? I ask because you seem to disrespect many very good fighters here. Most if not all are classed as good to very good fighters by knowledge people.

[Joeyzagz]

Lets look at Mike Tysons best 6 opponents in comparison:

1/. Tony Tucker - undefeated IBF Heavyweight Champion 34-0 and at the Top of his Game

2/. Pinklon Thomas - Former WBC Heavyweight Champion 29-1-1 and at "The Top of his Game"

3/. Michael Spinks - undefeated Linear Heavyweight Champion 31-0 who was at "The Top of his Game"

4/. Trevor Berbick - Reighning WBC Heavyweight Champion 34-4 and "At The Top of his Game"

5/. Larry Holmes - 49-2 former long reigning Heavyweight champion who went 23-2 after losing to Tyson

6/. Tony Tubbs - Former WBA Heavyweight Champion 24-1 and who was at "The Top of his Game"

Now you can look at this anyway you want but it does not take rocket science to see who fought the better opposition

^^^None of these men had the heart of the Roided-Superman-Holyfield of the 90's, or the raw punching power of David Tua. None of them were as enormous and invincible as Vitali Klitschko.

Berbick, Tubbs and Pinklon Thomas were Don King created hoaxes and arent even worth mentioning.

Spinks was an ATG Light-Heavyweight and I consider it tysons 2nd best win. My problem with this is that it was a scared, bloated, LHW going up against a prime devastating Heavyweight. Tyson had a speed advantage as well as a weight advantage, Spinks had no chance.

Larry Holmes is Tysons best win, and he was two decades older. I thought it was an impressive KO victory and have nothing negative to say about it.

[MickyHatton]

Why the Lewis hate?

Have you ever fought? If so was it at that level? I ask because you seem to disrespect many very good fighters here. Most if not all are classed as good to very good fighters by knowledge people.

Well said bud.

I respect every man who has the guts to climb in the ring, having done it many times myself I could not disrespect any genuine fighter, certainly not in the manner this guy does.

Thus any respect I may have had for his opinions is now gone.

[sonnyboyx2]

Well said bud.

I respect every man who has the guts to climb in the ring, having done it many times myself I could not disrespect any genuine fighter, certainly not in the manner this guy does.

Thus any respect I may have had for his opinions is now gone.

thats because i have "opened-your-eyes" to how it actually happened.. i ain't after your respect or anyone else respect and i do not disrespect fighters like you claim i do, i tell it like it unfolded and how seen it unfold wether you like it or not is immaterial to me yet never do you say that i am wrong