So, we are subjected to the talk radio and tv go-to talking points to bide the time. We all know what they are, repeat after me: "Steriods" "Favre" "Pete Rose in the Hall (really? still?)" "NFL players and the Law" "
So, here, for the last time is the reality of Mike Tyson.
Mike Tyson was the most over-rated Heavyweight boxer of all time, possibly the most over-rated professional athlete ever.
He was a media creation. Young, scary, black kid from horrible circumstances. Juvenile delinquent, taken in by a kind, old white man who molded him into a champion. Oh, how white American ate it up. He was indestructible King Kong being mentored by a septegenarian Fay Wray. Upon further review, the facts are a little different. His childhood wasn't as bad as advertised. He wasn't abused, overly poor ar homeless. He wasn't a "dangerous" criminal, unless you happen to be an old lady with a purse. Yes, that's right, the "baddest man on the planet"'s first KOs were on old ladies to steal their loose change.
Cus D'Amato did a great thing in training this young punk and turning him into a credible fighter,
but indestructible? In his first couple of years as a pro, Tyson did indeed go 19-0 with 12 KOs. These were all against fighters nobody had heard of, a parade of tomato cans that Heinz would have rejected. It wasn't until May of 1986 that Tyson fought someone with a name; a washed up James Tillis (Tyson deposed of this "legend" by 10 round decision) Because his camp had him fighting almost every two weeks it seemed, he was to make a reputation against bums.
His belts were tainted. Don King ruled the Heavyweight championship belts after the two screw jobs of Larry Holmes in his fights with Michael Spinks. So, during Tyson's run to unification of these belts, the "champions" were: Trevor Berbick, vacant and Tony Tucker. not exactly Ali, Frazier and Foreman, hell, not even as realistic as Creed, Balboa and Lang! So, Tyson won his first belt by beating Berbick by 2nd round TKO to become the youngest heavyweight champ in history. Floyd Patterson, formerly the youngest heavyweight champ, only had to beat some guy named Archie Moore.
Tyson's second belt was granted after a 12 round snoozefest against another top-notch fighter, James "Bonecrusher" Smith. This fight resembled a slow dance marathon at Arnold's. Apparently the judges saw Tyson throw a couple of punches during the fight, so they awarded him a unanimous decision. Finally, the belts were unified with a win over Tony Tucker in another (YAWN) 12 round decision. Kid Dynamite indeed!
Tyson beat nobody. The best fighter Mike Tyson beat was Michael Spinks. Michael Spinks was a great Light Heavyweight. Michael Spinks was a good heavyweight. Michael Spinks did not beat Larry Holmes in either fight, in my and many others opinion. Michael Spinks believed the hype, went in scared and laid down for a payday. Again, not exactly the Thrilla in Manilla, the Rumble in the Jungle, or the Bowe-Holyfield trilogy. But Darren, he fought everyone available, he can't be blamed for his competition. Ok, he could have fought Holyfield when Evander moved to heavyweight. Instead, Tyson fought Tyrell Biggs, 40+ yr old Larry Holmes, Tony Tubbs and Carl Williams. When he faced a fighter that wasn't going to just roll over for him, namely James Buster Douglas, he got smoked. That was supposed to be a warm up for a Holyfield showdown. Good thing for Tyson, 8 months later, Holyfield destroyed Douglas in three rounds. Later, after Malik Abdul Aziz's (Tyson's Muslim name) prison stint for rape, Holyfield crushed him twice. Tyson's most stirring fights were against Donovan "Razor" Ruddock, another legend. This was 1991, he still had Holyfield waiting and now other up and comers, Riddick Bowe and Lennox Lewis. After Ruddock almost beat Tyson twice, Lewis fought him and bombed him out in less than 2 rounds. Because of his rape conviction, Tyson never fought Bowe, depending on which Bowe showed, it would have been Tyson getting knocked out, or probably winning a disputed decision.
How he would have fared against others. Since this always seems to be become a discussion, here are the answers:
-Tyson v. Joe Louis; you're kidding, right? Tyson wouldn't belong in the same ring, Louis by KO, early
-Tyson v. Muhammad Ali; see above. Ali would toy with Tyson, frustrating him, humiliate him and knock him out 7 or 8 rounds.
-Tyson v. Marciano; Rocky would wear him out, late round TKO.
-Tyson v. Holmes; both in their prime, Holmes jabs and defenses his way to a decision.
-Tyson v.Frazier; Frazier out-hearts him.
-Tyson v. Foreman; Foreman by KO.
