Tyson vs. Tua! Who wins?

Question

Who wins this fight, the David Tua that destroyed John Ruiz or the Mike Tyson that flattened Michael Spinks? Tua vs. Tyson in their primes, who wins?

Answer 1

Pancho ~
This would have been a really good fight while it lasted. Tua had awesome punching power in his prime, especially his big left hook or should I say "only his big left hook" Tua was/is very one dimensional straight ahead fighter, left hook, left hook, left hook, overhand right, left hook and left hook. Tuas head movement is nonexistent. He has great chin, but he doesn't move his head.
This would be the biggest difference in this fight the head movement, no Heavyweight moved their head the way Tyson did, he was always in position to counter and let off five, six effective punches, especially in his prime. Cus Damato and Kevin Rooney had Tyson work literally thousands of rounds on the Mazie Ball (small speed bag filled with sand hanging by a rope from the ceiling, used for simulating slipping punches) This would make all the difference in this fight.
They both hit equally as hard but Tyson would slip more of Tuas bombs and counter effectively thus stopping Tua in the 6th round of a very acton filled fight. Thanks for a very good match up Pancho.

Answer 2

This is a fight I have often pondered. I think "prime" Tyson would have his hands full with "prime" Tua. The only advantage Tyson would hold over Tua would be his head movement (again in his prime). That would negate Tua's wide hooks. The lack of defense would be Tua's downfall. He would attempt to walk straight at Tyson and invite Mike to punch at his "neckless" head. However in the end, I think Tua would get the job done. Reason being, I do not think Tyson would have scared Tua. Most of the fights won by Tyson were won before the opening bell. He scared guys to the point of them wanting to just get out of the ring alive (see the look on Bruce Seldon's face as the first punch whizzed by his head). I do not think Mike could intimidate Tua, and Mike did not fare well against those he could not scare.
What a fight though!!!!!

Answer 3

I believe that Tyson would have too much hand speed for Tua although Tua does have quite a punch. Tyson would just land too many and the fight would probably have to be stopped in about 8 rounds.

Answer 4

Big Buddy - very funny comment about the pie eating contest.

You know, I always wanted to see this fight. As much as I rag on the overrated Tyson - in their primes I think Tyson would have his hands full, but gotten the job done.
Tyson in the eighties was the purest boxing machine I ever saw in my life. Fastest heavyweight ever, over and above Ali.
Pity how that all turned out.

By the way, did you guys know that Tua was one of Holyfield's chief sparring partners for his first fight with Tyson, because of the style approximation.

Answer 5

Prime Tyson of the late 80's would beat Tua at any point of his boxing career.

Answer 6

Oh boy, more Tyson questions! At least this one is a new hypothetical matchup...

Were they to fight now I'd give it to Tua by KO/TKO for a simple reason--he's a harder puncher and higher up the boxing food chain than the last two guys to KO Tyson (Danny Williams and Kevin McBride). My thinking is that if *they* can KO Tyson, why couldn't a harder hitting Tua?

In their prime (assuming that Tua has ever really *had* a prime) I'd give it to Tyson. Just a bad matchup for Tua, with Tyson's superior handspeed and aggressive workrate making it a short night...

Now I'll wait patiently to answer the *next* Tyson question--something like "Would Tyson beat the entire 1985 Chicago Bears *and* Coach Ditka?" no doubt... ; )

Answer 7

personally, this is an interesting matchup, not a great one! tua was a neo-tyson of sorts, but he didn't rise above his predecesor, in the way great fighters rise above/set themselves apart from their infuences(i.e. ali and sugar ray robinson), incorporating their influence and putting enough of their own talent together to produce their own unique style. that said, tyson would obliterate tua in just a few short rounds. he was too quick and, yes, too smart for tua to handle his game. tyson's defense was almost impregnable, back in the day, and tua would've been too slow to even catch mike with a bomb - in actuality, tua would be busy covering up from tyson's rapid fire attack to really mount one of his own. remember, tyson was relentless in his prime and overwhelming. to the capt, there's a rrrreal good reason guys were scared of tyson. he steadily built that reputation w/awesome talent and guys were shocked at how fast and powerful he was for his size, once they got in the ring w/him. one of the greatest quotes ever was tyson's, "yeah, everybody's got a plan...until they get hit!" and hit tua would be, often and hard, and he would've crumbled under the pressure like so many others did before him. in his prime, tyson had more trouble w/guys who held and smothered him, until he broke free, so tua's only chance would be to try and tie mike up, but that would've only bought him a few mins....tyson by early knockout, say, rounds 3-5(being generous)!

Answer 8

in their prime Tua would'nt last 30 seconds against Tyson. Back them old Mike can take a punch. Tua could'nt take Mike's punch.

Answer 9

in the event that they fought n their primes i might would desire to bypass with Tyson. Tua became right into a superb fighter with a monster left hook yet no longer plenty else, his protection became into ok,his velocity wasn't that great and he became into no longer no longer trouble-free to hit. In is best Tyson became into speedy,elusive and surprising at recognizing openings,Tua does not have been able to handle that. it may be a repeat of Tyson as against ruddock in spite of the undeniable fact that it might end plenty quicker, tyson might out punch and frustrate tua on his thank you to a UD or a KO

Answer 10

tyson would crush tua, and for the first one to say tua has a mental advantage not even close you cant have a advantage over someone who is pyshcotic