The Injustice of Iron Mike Tyson

Before Kid Dynamite went Kaboom and essentially detroyed a once all time great career, boxing historians, fans, and boxers alike were clamoring to predict where young Michael Gerard Tyson would place when he ended his promising career. The youngest boxer ever to win a heavyweight title at the age of 21, Tyson's reign was ended on a Februrary night in Tokyo at the ripe age of 23. By the age of 25 the faded Young ex-Champion was sent to prison a convicted rapist. The same experts that predicted greatness, were now predicting a erosion of skills due to the inactivty Tyson would experience from being incarcerated in a penile sysytem that had no boxing program. His record was still an amazing 37-1.
While Tyson was not the same fighter that showed the awsome abilty to throw four punch power combinations on a bob and weave counter, he still diplayed awesome power generated from his abilty to comand punching angles. Don King laid out a plan to get Tyson ranked and then lined up marginally talented boxers with the alphabet belts to get Mike Tyson back his two of the three titles he had held before his loss to James "Buster" Douglas in 1990. Tyson in his second title defense as Champion, was exposed as a unprepared fighter whose skills were greatly eroded. Tyson was defeated by Evander Holyfield, in a fight he lost more due to his time away from his proper training regime and time away from the ring. It would be Tyson's last fight as Heavyweight Champion of the world.
Tyson's career was then beset with streches of inactivity, suspensions, and a jail term over a traffic dispute. With his personal life deep in turmoil for over 10 years and Tyson openly taking multiple anti-depressents. The former Champ was a shell of former self. He would go one to fight for the Heavyweight title twice more getting disqualified for bitting Evander Holyfield's ear in a fight that was still up for grabs. Then at the age of 36, losing to Lennox Lewis by KO. Tyson looked like a old and out of shape impersonation of self-proclaimed "Baddest Man on the Planet".
The rest of Tyson's career was a global tour in which Tyson fought to pay back the Internal Renvenue Service for 22 million dollars in back taxes. After coming out strong against journeyman Danny Williams, Tyson tore the Medial Collateral Ligament in his knee midway in the first round. While most people after sufffering the injury to the ligament that pads the thigh bone from the shin bone in the knee would be unable to stand due to extreme pain and instability the injury causes, Tyson slugged out for 4 round until he could no loner defend himself and was knocked out.
Tyson in his return against Kevin McBride was so uninspired to train that he quit on his stool, after being ahead for 5 rounds. Tyson retired immediatly after the fight, claiming he had disrespected the sport he loved so much. His career record would stand at 50-6 with 44 KO's.

There are three ways Tyson is often observed:
1 The Boxing Historian- Generally a sports jounalist with a expertise in boxing or a Boxing novelist often rank Tyson far behind fighters like Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Jack Dempsey, Evander Holyfield, Rocky Marciano, Lennox Lewis, and George Foreman. The great Boxing historian Bert Surgar has Mike Tyson ranked as the 100th greatest fighter of all-time, he also has Roy Jones Jr. as the 88th greatest fighter but that is a seperate crime. He points out that Mike Tyson's resume resembles that of Joe Louis' "Bum of The Month Club". You cannot fault a fight for the era that they fight in, they train to be the best fighter, period. Mike Tyson dominated his era, he beat every champion and top contender of his time in more than convincing fashion. the fighters that survived rounds with Iron Mike, more often lost the rounds on the scorecards. If Mike Tyson didnt knockout his opponant, he built up huge leads on scorecards to make the decision a forgone conclusion.
HBO boxing commentator Max Kellerman said of the young Mike Tyson "He had 9 quick title defenses before the of 23, you can't take anything away from him on that. It's pretty impressive."
The same Historians that consider Evander Holyfield a better fighter base it on these few factors;
A) The courage he displayed against bigger fighters, often going deep into battles with more natural heavy weights.- Holyfield had the amzing ability to counterpunch at heavyweight which made him dangerous, he made fighter pay for bad punches. He also was semi elusive that though he moved slightly side to side, he slipped his head when he threw punches, making him hard for the bigger fighters with lees boxing skills to find with their premenditated bombs. The slugfest that he got into were never adivised by his corner and were at times a act of desperation to win close fights. Holyfield was actual;lly most under control against Tyson, a fight in which he did little brawling and alot more combinations to clinching and pot-shoting (Punch and clinch).
B) What he accomplished in the ring- Evander Holyfield for the four times he has worn the Heavyweight Crown, has only 7 totla title defenses. Mike Tyson had 9 title defenses in his first go-around as heavyweight Champion of the world and 7 defenses ass the Unified Heavyweight Champion of the world. Holyfield's career record at Cruserweight and Heavyweight is 42-9, but only 24-9 as a heavyweight. Mike Tyson has more Knockouts in the Heavyweight division than Evander Holyfield has wins in his professional career. Holyfield also fought fighters that Tyson fought, often fairing better, but fighters were considered never the same after being hit by Tyson. Holyfield also lost to John Ruiz (who Tyson probably would have beaten had he not ducked Mike Tyson), Lennox Lewis ( He should've lost twice to Lewis had it not been judged by complete incompetant judges), and Riddick Bowe(The owner of one unsuccesfull title defense). Bowe gave alot of credibilty to the Warrior image that affectionaly given to Holyfield due to the size and power differnce Evander overcame in their wars. Bowe was simply not that good, he padded a nice record and then was unimpressive against the top contenders of his time, before eventually getting in top notch shape to squeek out a decision against the champion Evander Holfield. Holyfield won his title three times by beating fighters who took him lightly and didn't train right; James Buster Douglas (showed up for their fight at 246 lbs, 15 lbs heavier than his previous fight against Mike Tyson), Riddick Bowe ( was a very soft 246 lbs, 11lbs heavier than the lean 235lbs he weighed when he beat Holyfield), and Mike Tyson (weighed 5lbs above his regular fight weight of 217 and who was so eroded and fixed on fight for his third belt that he looked past Evander).
C) Holyfield is well-regarded for his conquering of Tyson in their first fight- While the recent fights in which Holyfield has shown a erosion of skills are often scratched for his record when spekaing of Holyfield, it is the bond that hold truth for theargument against Tyson. Holyfield will never be remebered for the fighter that was fighting to salvage his once championship career that November night in 1996 against Tyson. Holyfield is not remebered for his loss against Michael Moorer (Who made the larger jump from Light Heavyweight to Heavyweight) and two to Riddick Bowe. The second loss to Bowe was after Big daddy's skill had faded past the point they were even respectable on a championship level. Bowe soon showed this against Andrew "The Foul Pole" Golota in his next two fights by getting daved by the refereee from sheer dimination. The Fole Pole earned his name by losing both fights on low blows after dominating the faded champ.
Tyson on the other hand in his prime before the spit from his Cus D'Amato team of Kevin Rooney (trainer) Steve Lott (Assistant trainer), Jim Jacobs and Bill Cayton (Managers) had compiled a undefeated record 35-0 and was 14 wins away from tying Rocky marciano's heavyweight unbeaten streak. While Tyson won his next two fights, he was not the same fighter in his approach. New trainer Richie Giachetti, a Don King henchman, had Tyson utilizing a more straight up orthadox stance. No more was he fight out of the crouch bobbing and weaving, counter punching four punch combinations with "bad intentions". Tyson was now parrying punches (blocking with his gloves) and looking to land the one big punch. Tyson could still command angles better than anyone before him he was 6-1 between the split from his dream team to his incarceration.

2 The fan.
Fans who observed Mike Tyson are seperated by two generations; Fans who saw Ali fight and fans who were born after Ali's Era. Lucky for the modern fan Ali was on television and his accomplishments can be judged and disected by video. The fan of Ali will tell you Ali would have gracefully danced aroud the ring and peppered Tyson with jabs until Tyson faded and then surprised the tired champ with his unforseen power much as what he did to Sonny Liston. Muhammad Ali is generally regarded as the top heavyweight for his prime and his few losses during his prime are blamed on the inactivity during his suspension and a erosion of skills due to the lay off. He is excused for the losses to Ken Norton and Frazier because of this. If you do this for Ali then you have to do his for Tyson against Holyfield. Ali lost to Spinks in a fight a did not take serious most observers point to, other speculate Ali wanted to win the title a third time to pass Floyd Patterson as most time won Heavyweight title. Max Kellerman points out when determineing Ali's greatness that he fought George Foreman, Joe Frazier, and Sonny Liston six times. Any of those fighters are better fighters than most fighters fight in a career. Ali had a record of 5-1 in those fights. When Ali beat Foremaan to regaint the Heavyweight title, he then defended it 11 times.
This only pads Ali's resume, it does not mean he was better than Tyson in Tyson's prime or would've beat Tyson. What it shows is that Ali was the best fighter of the greatest modern Heavyweight era, and this can be stated by his record against the top fighters of the era.
The problem with comparing Tyson to Foreman, Liston and Frazier is that in his prime; Mike Tyson was simply a much better fighter than all three of them. This also does not dtermine what would have happened had Ali and Tyson fought in thier primes if they were in the same era.
Comparing Tyson to Ali's best opposition side by side is how Tyson would fare.
1)Against Frazier Tyson had more power, threw better combinationations, better defense and would have made quick work of him like his son due to the ability to match up against him like he did with Marvis Frazier. The 30 second KO of Marvis was no fluke, The Frazier style was tailor-made for Tyson and D'Amato knew it.
2) Foreman. against George Foreman Tyson would essentially be facing a similar fighter that he beat in Razor Ruddock. A tall, heavier punher albiet, but a stand still sluugger that was looking to walk his opponant down. Mike Tyson was the owner of a 23 inch neck, no single punch was going to knock out Mike Tyson fighting out of the Cus D'Amato peek-a-boo crouch stance. The Chin was tucked too deep. Tyson would have slipped and ducked Foremans bombs and tested a chin that was exposed way too often (ask Ali). Foreman did not punch correctly and would have never touch the defensive minded Tyson and would have paid for his wide punches with hooks to the body. Foreman was also 221lbs when he fought Ali, that would be considered small in Tyson's era.
3) Sonny Liston. SONNY LISTON WAS TOO SLOW. PERIOD. Tyson would have to be in a coma for Liston to hit him. If Liston couldnt hit a blind Ali, then he couldn't hit a weaving Tyson.
The problem with comparing Tyson to Joe Louis or any other fighter of the Stone Age Era (Before Ali) is that fightrers back then were more one demensional than any other era. Louis basically used his right hand to paqw the other fighter and set up his left hook. Tyson could punch with both hand so effectivly that he would dominate the stone age era on that ability alone. Louis fought a lesser degree of talent and was unimpressive inside the ring often getting knocked down or losing rounds before he finally landed that big left. While both are regareded for having fought in the Bum of The Month Club to pad their record, Tyson displyed awesome skills against what his era had to offer. Rocky Marciano is often compared to Tyson for his style of fighting out of the crouch and punch ferosity, but Marciano in his quest to 49-0 fought in only 3 title fights. Marciano at 6'0" and around 195 was too small for Tyson as were a lot of fighter in any past era.He also fought a 36 year old washed up Joe Louis. Marciano fought in the real Bum of the Month Club.
The so-called bum of the month club that Tyson beat were fighters that he fought to get a top ranking or fighters that held belts. After quickly disposing of these fighters, Tyson also would publicly diss' their skills as inferior, leading to perception he really was fighting bums. Against 1984 Superheavyweight Olympic Gold Medalist Tyrell Biggs, Tyson chose to punsh him, for 7 rounds beating him bloody, for winning a medal. Tyson wanted to beat all the Olympic fighters to prove he was the greatest and he should have been there though he lost to Henry Tillman in the qualifiers. Biggs was later regarded as a fighter who should've never been in the ring with Tyson, still at the time, the undefeated Biggs was considered the best shot to beat Tyson after Tyson's previous win. Tyson beat who ever was top ranked at the time during his era or whoever held a belt during his era. The 91 second demolition of Michael Spinks solitified Tyson as the most Brutal Champion of his era. Michael Spinks beat Hall of Fame Heavyweight champ Larry Holmes twice en route to his 31-0 record before the Atlantic City Massacre. Tyson would later say the look in Spinks' eye "didn't look too kosher" that night.
Most Mike Tyson fans either never saw Ali or saw him as a shell of his former self. regardless he is still considered immortal by all, including those who think Tyson was as great or greater in his skill set. Tyson fans are of biased opinion, that is fact. Tyson's 9 title defenses of his first reign also compare to ali no matter the opponant is also fact. The focus and dedication it takes to become Champion puts the top percentile of talented boxers over the edge from just being the elite to being Hall of Fame Champions. Tyson had that focus through 9 defenses and was able to regain it after prison under a lesser skill set. Ali was able to muster that focus and dedication twice in his career for long strecthes, Ali held the belt for 9 defenses before being stripped of the belt for not joining the military. Truly amazing.
Not to compare Ali and Iron Mike Tyson to decide the better fighter, but Tyson's title defenses put him in that company when you comsider his record and skill set (power, speed, defense, ring I.Q., counterpunching, intimidation factor, stamina,footwork,heart,preperation, focus, and training). They fought in different eras when fights were different lengths. Would the Superheavyweights of today be able to go 15 rounds like the fighter of Ali's era? Probably not. The fighters couldn't carry the extra weight into the 14th and 15th round without it taking a physical toll on their stamina. Tyson before his split from Kevin Rooney was still a very sound fighter deep into the 12th round in his few fights he had against James Smith, James Tillis, Mitch Green, and Tony Tucker.
It would be impossible to argue the number of times that Tyson won the title compared to Evander Holyfield and Ali, because Tyson was ducked by many champions he publically dismissed, he was suspended a few times and incarcerated during his career twice. had Tyson had as many shots or rematch clauses as other fighers he would have won the title more times. Tyson would have probably won his titles back from Douglas had he had a rematch clause to invoke. Then you test the chins of Michael Moorer, Riddick Bowe, and John Ruiz aganst Tyson's power and you have to assume he would have won another belt.
Tyson would have beat Foreman in his older years on by volume punching with power against Big George. Even at his best, the man who has sold the most electric grills, couldn't adecquetly guard his own grill.
The fighters that Tyson fought to rise to a quick top contender ranking were the usual tomato cazns that fighters pad their record with to get ranked. Unless the fighter is Pernell Whitiker and a few others, most management teams rpotect their young fighters from any danger in thier first 20 to 30 fights. Tyson fought for his first title in his 27th fight; which is right on par with any fighter with a knowledgable corner. No matter the opninion, the stradegy worked and the previous experience helped Tyson in his conquest of the alphabet belts.
3 The Fighter
Mike Tyson is most reveared by boxers around the world, from the once a week cardio fitness freak to the amatuer boxer to the professional boxers. Boxer's are drawn to Mike immediatly in envy over his power, Tyson's knockout punch was the ultimate exclamation point in sports. With the exception of Teddy Atlas, almost every trainer and ex fighter has high level of respect for Tyson for the the skill set he displayed in the ring.
Tyson was world renowned for his workout that he did in prepration for a fight. For 6 days a week Tyson ran 3 miles in the Catskill Mountains with a 50 lb vest. After the roadwork he rested for 3 hours and then ate oatmeal with a glass of OJ. He then did his 45 minutes of Jumping rope,45 minutes of Heavy Bag Work, and 45 minutes of speed bag work. Then Tyson had his Lunch of Pasta and/or Steak and OJ. Tyson did 10 rounds sparring without headgear on alternate days and worked on a slip bag ( a leather bag the size of a boxing glove that swings on a chain at the height of the fighters head)to master the art of illusion in the ring. Then Tyson did 30 minutes on a excercise bike. The floorwork that Tyson did daily was the most impressive of all. 500 shoulder shrugs with 20lb weights, 500 push-ups, 2500 sit ups with a 20lb weight on his chest and 500-800 dips. This was topped by a painful 10 minutes of neck exercises and another Steak and Pasta dinner with a glass of OJ. After dinner Tyson would ride the exercise bike for 30 minutes and then watch boxing films before going to bed to do this again.
These workouts wre ran with a military like percision in that Tyson was tought to do things within Cus D'Amato's systems of a punching number systems. Tyson was not only becoming a physical boxing machine, he was being taught to recognize how to throw combinations in all situations a fighter would encounter in the ring. His boxing I.Q. was off the charts for such a young fighter. Most fighters don't have the physical tools of a 21 year old with the mind of a ring veteran like Tyson had. This was most apparent after Tyson left jail and he went with the corner of Jay Bright (() fights outside of Tyson, was actulally a friend outside of boxing) and still regained the Heavyweight title.
While boxers such as Floyd Mayweather and Oscar DeLaHoya get HBO documentaries series to chronicale their intense training camp, it was Iron Mike that first garned attention of his era for his hard training. HBO first showed Tyson training often before his fights. While Mayweather smartly builds a uncanny marathon-esque training camps to buold stamina in preperation for a fight, Tyson was as fit with the explosive power never seen before in boxing. After his fight with Jesse Ferguson, he was asked how after 6 rounds he is not the slightest bit winded to which he responded that he wanted to strech it out to 12 and he was ready.
Boxers are also enamored with Tyson's ability to throw punches in bunces like a middleweight. Rarely has Boxing seen a fighter at 217lbs throw 4 punch combinations under one second. Tyson could flatten opponats with both hands. He had several Knockout combinations he used, the uppercut to left hook. Tyson often used the uppercut to throw the head back and follow with a brutal left hook. with his power this one was unstoppable. The Lefthook to the body and the hook to the head. Tyson used this after a jab, right combo and this was his deadliest, though later in his career opponants caught alot of elbows with this one, Tyson's hook to the body is not to be confused with a punch to score points.
Tyson in his earlier years was also a excellent defensive fighter for a heavyweight. He could slip jabs and straight rights and duck under and out of the way of power punches. He often came out of these illusive moves with a powerful two to four punch combination. Tyson worked hard on these moves, training rounds after rounds daily on the slip bag.
No fighter in recent memeory threw all their punches with the ability to maime the opponant. Tyson modelled this after watching Jack Dempsey. He threw his punches with what his camp called "bad Intentions", all of Tyson's punches were meant to knock out his opponants. With his style of bobbing and weaving out of the crouch and exploding out with power combinations in a style boxing historians hadn't seen in the modern era.
Mike Tyson was the fighter that influenced multiple fighters from champs to contenders and pretenders to enter the ring with the all black shorts and shoes. Tyson was so influential and charismatic that he grossed over $300 million in the ring. Mike Tyson was the top grosssing fighter in the history of boxing. That feat alone stands by itself atop of boxing. Mike Tyson also bookends the top earners list in sports between Michael Jordan's reign.
While Tyson did not accomplish enough to warrant the top slot in the all time boxing list or the top Heavyweight of all time, he certainly does not deserve to get dropped so low below fighters he was simply better than. During Kid Dynamite's reign he was certainly on of the top 5 pound for pound fighters of his era along with Roy Jones Jr. It is a injustice to consider Mike Tyson as a overhyped and over valued fighter. It is a crime to base Mike Tyson's place on his merits after his incarceration when his skills had so deteriorated from his championship form of 10 years earlier. If what Sugar Ray Robinson and Joe Louis did inside the ring to eat is all but forgotten about, If we coould forgive fighters like Roberto Duran for fighting past their prime and quiting, then we could forgive Iron Mike Tyson for letting Don King ruin the most promising heavyweight champion since Muhammad Ali. We could recognize Iron Mikle Tyson for his accomplishments during his reign as the Unified Heavyweight Champion of the World and his 7 defenses of the belts he unified. Tyson may be guilty of manny things he did outside the ring, but he is not guilty of being only the 14th best heauyweight of all time. If baseball stat-god and historian Bill James histically places value on a players peak and career to deterine value and give fans a understanding of the plyers value Iron Mike Tyson while flawed for career, in his peak was if not the greatest heavyweight then one of the greatest heavyweights. His career was also excellent at 50-6 with 44 Knockouts.