Boxing fans?

Question

What is your opinion of Mike Tyson?

Answer 1

a young powerful and gifted fighter with the potential to be the greatest heavyweight fighter we might have seen and a true classic case of what might have been, had he stayed will bill clayton, teddy atlas, and kevin rooney, he might still be holding the title today and challenge the joe louis record for most title defenses.

Answer 2

Once upon a time Mike Tyson could have been a great champion, Once his mentor passed away and Atlas was fired Mike fell into the hands of Don Kings, which exploited the kid. Mike needed to be almost cuddled like a child. Tyson was basically a gentle giant just wanting to belong.
Don King had to get full control of Tyson, like an abusive husband, he needed cut all ties from Tyson's supporters. So took this naive, simple man. Made him to believe all the others were not looking out for his welfare, people like Rooney. Maybe the only trainer that could have kept Tyson on the right path. Tyson fired managers. Once Tyson lost what was familiar to him. Don King abused the Kid. Putting the radar sight of the Robin Giviens, Donald Trump and others. Tyson was to naive and gullible to be able fight off all that attention. He thought these people cared for him, not just what he could do. Just like a child of old he began to act out, resulting in what we see day. A broke confused Man Boy.

Answer 3

I'm going to put it in a simple way mike Tyson could have been the greatest heavyweight boxer of all times but when everybody around him started dying his career went down but there is not one fighter in the world that could have stopped a 20 year old mike Tyson.

Answer 4

from this site's self-proclaimed biggest, unabashed tyson fan. mike had the talent, the skills, the temperament, and the training to become the best heavyweight ever! he never would have beaten ali, but he would've made some very exciting and dramatic fights w/the greatest! had he had his head straight, he'd still be champ today, knockin out all the chumps, er, champs and pretenders, er, contenders. we all know the sad story of mike's descent into hell, as it was played out on the world stage. i so wish mike had reached out to emanuel steward after cus died. methinks this is the only trainer who could've put mike back together again, surrounded him w/the love and attention and care he needed, and fulfilled the great promise he had as a fighter..and helped him to develop as a man.

as for all of you who write mike off as a "stiff-beater," tyson was brought along the same as any other fighter. his handlers put him in w/gradually better class of fighters in order to expose him to a variety of styles. mike was not carried, and his record was not fluff. he was a real good prospect and the problem w/him, was that he matured faster than anyone expected, i believe. he seemed to peak at the age of 19, when most of his contemporaries were still fighting club fighters and trying to figure out their respective styles. there's a reason everyone in the heavyweight division feared mike; it's because he brought the pain and built the reputation of being the baddest man on the planet through hard work and dedication. despite how he turned out, give the man his due. he was knocking out the big boys the way a heavyweight should...i miss him and wish he was back and knockin' 'em out again! boxing needs mike tyson, bec no one has been able to carry the torch of the sport since he went downhill.

and, to mr. tyson, if you're reading this, no apologies, no pity. love ya, man - your reign may have been short, but you were the last great light in a room that has been cold and dark ever since you left the party!

Answer 5

Jacobs and Clayton did the greatest marketing job of all time selling Mike to the public, and like everything else in his life, Mike managed to destroy that as well. He was a mediocre boxer with limited skills who was spoon fed terror stricken stiffs untill the public believed he was a decent boxer. I have no respect for thugs who abuse women, and consider Tyson unworthy of anything other than contempt.

That said, Mike looked impressive KOing all those tomato cans, and was good for boxing untill Cus and Jacobs died, and the vampires decended on him. Once Don King sunk the fangs into Mike, his decent into hell was insured. Tragic figure in boxing with a legacy of criminal disgrace.

Answer 6

Well Mike was a bad *** back in his prime. The only problem is that everything has to come to an end. Unfortunately mike didn't know how to retire like Champ. Just like the great legend of Mexico Julio Cesar Chavez he was the best of the best until the young gun De La Hoya stepped in and took his throne away. He would keep on fighting making his greatest fans feeling sorry for him.

Answer 7

1. Weightlifting in prison ruined him
2. near retard who could of got out of prison a lot earlier if he could of passed his GED.
3. Unified heavyweight championship. Cant take that away from him
4. Youngest heavyweight champion. Again cant take that away from him.
5. Was a hell of alot better boxer then given credit for. See his amateur video`s on you tube.
6. Had a great chin
7. Suffered later in career as does most short heavyweights
8. Would of whooped Ali`s butt
9. brought boxing a ton of attention and fans both good and bad
10. Ultimately could of been one of the greatest fighters in history, but instead is now more well known for his circus antics and inspiration to punks like Mayweather who belittle boxing with their street corner persona`s.

Answer 8

A waste of talent due to bad management and personal issues. Could have been the greatest heavyweight ever. I sort of feel sorry for him.

Still, I would consider him a legend.

Ken: Don't we have enough "Tyson vs Ali" discussions? Why bring that up in this thread?

Answer 9

It is a shame Tyson didn't have the brains to know people wre treating him like a puppet . Namely Don King !

Answer 10

Mike had a mental and social Iq level pretty close, maybe a little above mental retardation. you can not fault him for that or his upbringing. this is a real general question but to be brief; he was a great fearless fighter, greatest early in fights. would fight close and had an iron chin. threw hard fast accurate punches. would never have stood a chance against Ali but I think Ali is the only one in history that could beat him consistantly and i've watched them all.

People did take advantage of him, no doubt. I told my roomate one time that if he goes to the pin for a little while over this coke incident I want to find his release date, time and place and try to be there and make sure he has someone to pick him up.