Don't you appreciate Mike Tyson so much more?

[613]

The only legitimate top guys he lost to were Evander and Lennox and he faced them after his jail time and his prime. Are we going to discount all his 37 consecutive wins before that?

His prime was 3 years and his best wins are lhw Spinks and old man Holmes coming out of retirement and 3 straight losses lol. I like Tyson, but he's the most overrated boxer in history

 

[welcometohavoc]

Looking how Jones had to beef up 50 pounds over 3 years to fight in the HW division and very few people dare to do this in the UFC,, I appreciate Tyson so much more as small HW who basically weighed in at around 220 on fight night, which is what the LHWs now coming in at. And he fought these guys who were monsters compared to him and KOed most of them.

I personally have a much deeper appreciation for him and still can't think of anyone who is more exciting in combat sports.

As far as weight goes, alot of Tyson's opponents were not significantly larger than he was and in some cases even weighed less

• Trevor Berbick: 212 pounds (96 kg)
• Pinklon Thomas: 221 pounds (100 kg)
• Tony Tucker: 218 pounds (99 kg)
• Larry Holmes: 233 pounds (106 kg)
• Tyrell Biggs: 228 pounds (103 kg)
• Michael Spinks: 212 pounds (96 kg)
• Frank Bruno: 228 pounds (103 kg)
• Buster Douglas: 231 pounds (105 kg)
• Evander Holyfield (first fight): 208 pounds (94 kg)

 

[Cooliox]

I remember reading in that infamous Lee Murray vs Tito brawl, word was Liddell put his back to a brick wall and 1 punch ko’ed about 4 fools who went after him!

That said, he’d been beaten a couple of times quite comfortably (Randy and Rampage) before his prime run, which lessened his sense of invincibility.

Chuck/Tito was seen as a 50/50 match up at the time, if memory serves.

Definitely remember everyone thought Couture would get thrashed by either, yet Randy whooped them both (TRT or not).

I think the Rampage loss can't be taken seriously. Chuck was legit. Remember he was on Entourage back when it was the shit? Liddell was larger than life.

The Randy loss was legit, but I think we all thought it was a fluke. Chuck comfortably avenged it.

In hindsight, LHW was so tough back then that it was easier for Randy to go to HW to grab the belt. HAH


Fast forward to today and I can't even spell the LHW champion's name

 

[kalabula]

Imagine if Tyson at his peak was fighting Jones at his peak.

Jones would have DESTROYED Tyson.

This is facts.

What a strange comparison. That’s like making a point that Jordan would beat Joe Montana at basketball. I mean, they both play sports where they throw balls.

 

[LEWIS540]

I think the Rampage loss can't be taken seriously. Chuck was legit.

Why not?

If ever was a bad stylistic match for an ATG it was Rampage>Chuck.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Imagine if Tyson at his peak was fighting Jones at his peak.

Jones would have DESTROYED Tyson.

This is facts.

in a boxing ring jones gets slumped within 2 rounds.

 

[Gigacardio]

Looking how Jones had to beef up 50 pounds over 3 years to fight in the HW division and very few people dare to do this in the UFC,, I appreciate Tyson so much more as small HW who basically weighed in at around 220 on fight night, which is what the LHWs now coming in at. And he fought these guys who were monsters compared to him and KOed most of them.

I personally have a much deeper appreciation for him and still can't think of anyone who is more exciting in combat sports.

Yep yep yep.

 

[rstringer]

Lennox was already getting upperhand when they were teens.. Tyson coach told Tyson he would see Lennox later at the top. So no, I don't think he would kill Lennox lol

You mean Lennox was dominating when they were amateurs?

 

[rivera]

The disrespect for Tyson in this thread is out of control. Half of these posters probably haven’t even watched a fight of 80’s Tyson. Dude in his prime was a monster.

I can’t even believe people are saying he didn’t fight anyone. He literally fought everyone he could by the end of his career.

What in the actual fuck LOL.

 

[rstringer]

As far as weight goes, alot of Tyson's opponents were not significantly larger than he was and in some cases even weighed less

• Trevor Berbick: 212 pounds (96 kg)
• Pinklon Thomas: 221 pounds (100 kg)
• Tony Tucker: 218 pounds (99 kg)
• Larry Holmes: 233 pounds (106 kg)
• Tyrell Biggs: 228 pounds (103 kg)
• Michael Spinks: 212 pounds (96 kg)
• Frank Bruno: 228 pounds (103 kg)
• Buster Douglas: 231 pounds (105 kg)
• Evander Holyfield (first fight): 208 pounds (94 kg)

Are you sure these numbers are correct , I thought Frank Bruno was over 240.

 

[LEWIS540]

You mean Lennox was dominating when they were amateurs?

By all accounts they were very competitive as teenagers. Don’t think I’ve ever heard LL dominated.

 

[Cooliox]

Why not?

If ever was a bad stylistic match for an ATG it was Rampage>Chuck.

I'm talking about the first loss in Japan.

Chuck was in Japan, Pride rules right? Tournament too.
And his corner threw in the towel to save his ass.


I remember these were the things that UFC Fanboys were saying at least.

All in all, Rampage put an exclamation mark on that soon enough in the UFC




But come on... Chuck Liddell era was awesome. Tito Ortiz era was awesome too.

Machida Era was up there for sure. Machida VS Shogun, man. Machida was considered unbeatable to remember? There were even talks about Machida VS Lensar. That's how insane it was.


Good trip down memory lane.

 

[rstringer]

By all accounts they were very competitive as teenagers. Don’t think I’ve ever heard LL dominated.

Yup, I think so too , not sure where this guy got this idea from.

 

[LEWIS540]

I'm talking about the first loss in Japan.

Chuck was in Japan, Pride rules right? Tournament too.
And his corner threw in the towel to save his ass.


I remember these were the things that UFC Fanboys were saying at least.

All in all, Rampage put an exclamation mark on that soon enough in the UFC




But come on... Chuck Liddell era was awesome. Tito Ortiz era was awesome too.

Machida Era was up there for sure. Machida VS Shogun, man. Machida was considered unbeatable to remember? There were even talks about Machida VS Lensar. That's how insane it was.


Good trip down memory lane.

Maybe I’m remembering it wrong, but I remember at the time Pride 205 was regarded higher than UFC.

Granted people dismissed Tito > Wand, Babalu > Shogun etc.

People always underestimated the effects of the ring/cage thing, different rules, etc.

 

[Cooliox]

Maybe I’m remembering it wrong, but I remember at the time Pride 205 was regarded higher than UFC.

Granted people dismissed Tito > Wand, Babalu > Shogun etc.

People always underestimated the effects of the ring/cage thing, different rules, etc.

Pride was definitely more elite

I'm with you on this. But the UFC fanboys definitely did their part to discredit the Liddell loss

So yea, Chuck was still very highly revered in the US for sure in his prime. Sure, it wasn't the level of Mike Tyson... but it was definitely something. Like I said, Liddell was very famous for being able to beat your ass up, He even went on Entourage as the tough badass - himself


I don't think anyone else in the UFC was that feared, other than Royce Gracie who put fear into every man who watched him. Then again, not that many watched him. But man, that JiuJitsu shit was something else. I was legit scared for Ken when they fought in the rematch. I took the draw as a victory, as a Shamrock fan. Not losing to Royce was success.

 

[LEWIS540]

Pride was definitely more elite

I'm with you on this. But the UFC fanboys definitely did their part to discredit the Liddell loss

So yea, Chuck was still very highly revered in the US for sure in his prime. Sure, it wasn't the level of Mike Tyson... but it was definitely something. Like I said, Liddell was very famous for being able to beat your ass up, He even went on Entourage as the tough badass - himself


I don't think anyone else in the UFC was that feared, other than Royce Gracie who put fear into every man who watched him. Then again, not that many watched him. But man, that JiuJitsu shit was something else. I was legit scared for Ken when they fought in the rematch. I took the draw as a victory, as a Shamrock fan. Not losing to Royce was success.

Yeah. When I first got into MMA in the late 90s, the guy who was considered indestructible was Mark Kerr.

Then when the Pride 2000 GP came around, a lot of people still expected Royce to dominate.

Weird in hindsight.

 

[OldBoy91]

No because Tyson wasn't even the best in his own era. He lost every time he fought an elite fighter close to their prime, and he isn't close to being in the boxing GOAT talks.

I have no idea why Americans hold him in such high regard. His career is very average. He was dominant against good fighters, but fell short against great ones.

 

[djacobox372]

Francis reminds me of Tyson in a way
Massive monster who was feared by everyone and knocked people dead on such short time

Francis is more like a young George Foreman.

 

[LEWIS540]

No because Tyson wasn't even the best in his own era. He lost every time he fought an elite fighter close to their prime, and he isn't close to being in the boxing GOAT talks.

I have no idea why Americans hold him in such high regard. His career is very average. He was dominant against good fighters, but fell short against great ones.

Too harsh, imo.

Definitely overrated by casuals, but more of a “what if” than a “never was” , for me.

 

[Siciliansavage]

Depends what you class as his era. Mid to late 80s, Tyson was clear #1.

It’s why prime and age don’t always conform.

Lennox was actually older than Tyson, but peaked 10 years later.

Lennox was always better than tyson at every point of his career