Who could beat 86-89 Tyson?

[VG_Addict]

Is there anyone in HW division history who you would pick to beat the Tyson from 1986 to 1989?

[Rahat]

muhhamad ali,george foreman,joe frazier.earnie shavers

[The Old LefHook]

Is there anyone in HW division history who you would pick to beat the Tyson from 1986 to 1989?

Sure. No man is invincible. And no man lives up to his own public's mega mania, either, which just lives on and on.

Bigger men such as Bonecrusher who were not ultra-talented, were able to partially nullify Tyson's effectiveness. The ugly game plan Smith and others layed out would have been perfect for Jack Johnson against Tyson. Johnson would have fought a similar game plan much better IMO. Great opponents would have hit Tyson more.

If I had to lay my life savings down, I would pick Ali, Foreman and Johnson over Mike immediately. Liston, Lewis, Dempsey and Holmes would get my nod, as well.

Tyson is unlikely to KO these gentlemen quickly. They are taking him to the trenches where they are strong.

Tyson was a great heavyweight. You can be great and be overrated at the same time. His style was and still is so entertaining that it can confuse the issue slightly. Tyson could put B-level fighters out faster and prettier than anyone. The guys he KO'd for championships were not bona fide heavyweight champions of the ilk we consider worthy of heavyweight crowns except from divided, corrupt boxing organizations vying and scrambling for dollars and prestige. He dispatched them well enough to prove that he was of that higher class.

The thing is, others are in that class, too. Tyson is not in a class by himself. In my opinion, no fighter in history has shown himself to be in a class by himself when compared to the other greatest fighters in history. They were all vulnerable, none was perfect.

[VG_Addict]

Sure. No man is invincible. And no man lives up to his own public's mega mania, either, which just lives on and on.

Bigger men such as Bonecrusher who were not ultra-talented, were able to partially nullify Tyson's effectiveness. The ugly game plan Smith and others layed out would have been perfect for Jack Johnson against Tyson. Johnson would have fought a similar game plan much better IMO. Great opponents would have hit Tyson more.

If I had to lay my life savings down, I would pick Ali, Foreman and Johnson over Mike immediately. Liston, Lewis, Dempsey and Holmes would get my nod, as well.

Tyson is unlikely to KO these gentlemen quickly. They are taking him to the trenches where they are strong.

Tyson was a great heavyweight. You can be great and be overrated at the same time. His style was and still is so entertaining that it can confuse the issue slightly. Tyson could put B-level fighters out faster and prettier than anyone. The guys he KO'd for championships were not bona fide heavyweight champions of the ilk we consider worthy of heavyweight crowns except from divided, corrupt boxing organizations vying and scrambling for dollars and prestige. He dispatched them well enough to prove that he was of that higher class.

The thing is, others are in that class, too. Tyson is not in a class by himself. In my opinion, no fighter in history has shown himself to be in a class by himself when compared to the other greatest fighters in history. They were all vulnerable, none was perfect.

Biggs and Tillis had some success against Tyson using their jabs.

[Kenchiro]

Is there anyone in HW division history who you would pick to beat the Tyson from 1986 to 1989?

Jesus Christ! Y do you guys make it like the prime Mike Tyson was a second coming of Ray Robinson?! Although Tyson was always a joy to watch because of his explosiveness and determination, the guy was not the most skilled and versatile boxer. Im not sure I put him in my top 20HWs of all time...If he doesnt get you out of there after he blitz you, he was done...Here r some fighters I pick to beat him just on top of my head...

Foreman, Klitschkos, Lewis, Holyfield, Jack Johnson, Tua, Bowe, Ali, Frazier, Liston, Louis, etc..

[F l i c k e r]

Holyfield. Lennox.

[BKM-]

Sure. No man is invincible. And no man lives up to his own public's mega mania, either, which just lives on and on.

Bigger men such as Bonecrusher who were not ultra-talented, were able to partially nullify Tyson's effectiveness. The ugly game plan Smith and others layed out would have been perfect for Jack Johnson against Tyson. Johnson would have fought a similar game plan much better IMO. Great opponents would have hit Tyson more.

If I had to lay my life savings down, I would pick Ali, Foreman and Johnson over Mike immediately. Liston, Lewis, Dempsey and Holmes would get my nod, as well.

Tyson is unlikely to KO these gentlemen quickly. They are taking him to the trenches where they are strong.

Tyson was a great heavyweight. You can be great and be overrated at the same time. His style was and still is so entertaining that it can confuse the issue slightly. Tyson could put B-level fighters out faster and prettier than anyone. The guys he KO'd for championships were not bona fide heavyweight champions of the ilk we consider worthy of heavyweight crowns except from divided, corrupt boxing organizations vying and scrambling for dollars and prestige. He dispatched them well enough to prove that he was of that higher class.

The thing is, others are in that class, too. Tyson is not in a class by himself. In my opinion, no fighter in history has shown himself to be in a class by himself when compared to the other greatest fighters in history. They were all vulnerable, none was perfect.

Smith didn't win a single round against Tyson I don't think. I suppose you could make the argument that his size-induced half arsed greco roman clinches frustrated Tyson, and that Johnson who is one of the best grapplers ever in Boxing could have made Tyson look very bad, but how is he supposed to catch Tyson's blazing power combo's with his gloves like he usually did? Dangerous game for Jack.


@ the topic, I'm quite sure on Ali, relatively sure on Lewis and Foreman, Holmes, Vitali and Holyfield could go either way. Tyson could beat them too but I definitely don't think he'd beat Ali especially not in a trilogy.

[DMD3]

I don't believe there is anyone who could have defeated Tyson in the late 80's. His amazing head movement, footwork and combos were overwhelming.

If he hadn't fired Kevin Rooney, who knew how to train him in the peek-a-boo style properly, it's my opinion he would have retired undefeated. He'd have blitzed through all his opponents in the the 90's and afterwards (including Holyfield and Lewis) the same way he went through everyone else in the 80's.

[lopetego]

Vitali and Lennox both would knock that glass hearted, no stamina having midget out

[IronDanHamza]

Does it stop at 1989 solely because Douglas beat him from pillar to post in 1990?