Most Overhyped Boxer you can think of...

[koolbubbaice]

Re: Most Overhyped Boxer you can think of...

I would put Tyson circa 1986 against any heavyweight. The only one that would have a chance against him would have been Ali because of his speed and ability to throw effective punches while backing up.

Skill wise, Tyson was maybe 50% of what he was when he got out of prison. His fights against Holyfield are not a true indication of what he was in his prime.

On the Night Tyson Koed Spinks, he could of had a 50/50 chance with the all time greats that night.. Tysons Style was totally different then Fraziers.. Frazier was a face first fighter.. Lot of torso rotation & crab like defense.. In his prime Tyson had the peek a boo style..

[Yosemite Dan]

Re: Most Overhyped Boxer you can think of...

With all due respect Spinks was a light heavyweight who barely outpointed an aging Larry Holmes. He threw one jab and went down from the breeze of one of Tyson's punches. It was a classic case of take the money and run. He didn't even attempt to get up and the replay showed Tyson barely hit him.

As to one of the earlier posts Tyson did fight Evander(Olympic qualifying I beleive) and while I have no tape it was continually mentioned during the hype before their 1st fight as Tyson was heavily favored and they were trying to buildup Evander's chances as the underdog by mentioning how he handled Tyson then.

As for Lewis fighting Tyson when they were teens I've never heard that and Lewis was fighting as an amateur in Canada and didn't go pro until after the 1988 Olympics after he beat Bowe for the Gold medal. Being Canadian I would of thought that it would have been publicized in Canada as we still consider him one of our own.

Tyson was impressive early on but he didn't fight anyone of note and only kept it up for several years. Beating a 40 year old Holmes and a scared ****less Spinks doesn't define a career. You can't call someone an all time great on a few years of fighting guys like Mitch Green (who went the distance) or a Pinklon Thomas. After he got destroyed by Buster the only guy of note that he ever beat after that was Razor Ruddick (and that's stretching it). Tyson has fought 15 years (taking the prison years away) but only was great for maybe 5 of those. That would be like calling Lennox an all time great because he had a productive last few years. Good but not great.

[grunt]

Re: Most Overhyped Boxer you can think of...

With all due respect Spinks was a light heavyweight who barely outpointed an aging Larry Holmes. He threw one jab and went down from the breeze of one of Tyson's punches. It was a classic case of take the money and run. He didn't even attempt to get up and the replay showed Tyson barely hit him.

As to one of the earlier posts Tyson did fight Evander(Olympic qualifying I beleive) and while I have no tape it was continually mentioned during the hype before their 1st fight as Tyson was heavily favored and they were trying to buildup Evander's chances as the underdog by mentioning how he handled Tyson then.

As for Lewis fighting Tyson when they were teens I've never heard that and Lewis was fighting as an amateur in Canada and didn't go pro until after the 1988 Olympics after he beat Bowe for the Gold medal. Being Canadian I would of thought that it would have been publicized in Canada as we still consider him one of our own.

Tyson was impressive early on but he didn't fight anyone of note and only kept it up for several years. Beating a 40 year old Holmes and a scared ****less Spinks doesn't define a career. You can't call someone an all time great on a few years of fighting guys like Mitch Green (who went the distance) or a Pinklon Thomas. After he got destroyed by Buster the only guy of note that he ever beat after that was Razor Ruddick (and that's stretching it). Tyson has fought 15 years (taking the prison years away) but only was great for maybe 5 of those. That would be like calling Lennox an all time great because he had a productive last few years. Good but not great.

You can go through any boxer career and say who he didnt fight. From Jack Johnson, Joe Lewis, etc. You have to judge a fighter relative to his era. Moke Tyson made short work on the best in his era. Spinks wasnt scared he was overmatch, that same Holmes years later took Evander 12 rounds in a close fight, Mike Tyson sparring partner gave Lennox Lewis his first loss, Tyson beat Tony Tucker(had better skill sets than Lennox, Douglas, and Bowe) who beat buster douglas, etc. He destroyed Tyrell Biggs who was the best boxer coming out of the games.

Tony Tucker was the best boxer Tyson fought IMO and Razor Ruddick was the toughest. Tony Tucker laid the blue print how to beat Mike with a heavy jab with a mean upper cut. Tucker missed the 80 games because of the boycott. For a small heavyweight Tyson did work. (fighting at 218) giving up between 10-20 pounds per fight.

There are few all time greats but the topic is the Most Overhype Fighter" and clear Iron Mike doesnt fall under this label.

[grunt]

Re: Most Overhyped Boxer you can think of...

Good stuff, mang, very good stuff on B-Hop.

If Jones didnt fight anyone who the heck did Hopkins fight. Felix was a blown up welterweight but Hopkins is a great boxer/puncher with excellent skill sets. He fought everyone out there but when he had a chance with Jones, he lost.

[koolbubbaice]

Re: Most Overhyped Boxer you can think of...

With all due respect Spinks was a light heavyweight who barely outpointed an aging Larry Holmes. He threw one jab and went down from the breeze of one of Tyson's punches. It was a classic case of take the money and run. He didn't even attempt to get up and the replay showed Tyson barely hit him.

As to one of the earlier posts Tyson did fight Evander(Olympic qualifying I beleive) and while I have no tape it was continually mentioned during the hype before their 1st fight as Tyson was heavily favored and they were trying to buildup Evander's chances as the underdog by mentioning how he handled Tyson then.

As for Lewis fighting Tyson when they were teens I've never heard that and Lewis was fighting as an amateur in Canada and didn't go pro until after the 1988 Olympics after he beat Bowe for the Gold medal. Being Canadian I would of thought that it would have been publicized in Canada as we still consider him one of our own.

Tyson was impressive early on but he didn't fight anyone of note and only kept it up for several years. Beating a 40 year old Holmes and a scared ****less Spinks doesn't define a career. You can't call someone an all time great on a few years of fighting guys like Mitch Green (who went the distance) or a Pinklon Thomas. After he got destroyed by Buster the only guy of note that he ever beat after that was Razor Ruddick (and that's stretching it). Tyson has fought 15 years (taking the prison years away) but only was great for maybe 5 of those. That would be like calling Lennox an all time great because he had a productive last few years. Good but not great.

Say what you want... Spinks was still highly regarded as a heavyweight when he fought Tyson.. No one expected a total blow out.. I knew it would be over quickly when I seen the fear in spinks eyes.. & Spinks just didn't roll over for the cash.. He was a great fighter as a light heavyweight & proved his worth in the Heavyweight division.. Yes, he did beat an old Holmes.. But remember, Holmes was still undefeated at the time.. Tyson fought Spinks cause he was the only 'competitive' fight for Tyson..

Lewis & Tyson sparred as teens.. I seen this on a show called after the glory (or somthing) They had a Lennox Lewis documentry..

& you say Tyson didn't fight anyone of note? Maybe because the Heavyweight Division was pure crap in the 80's.. Tyson beat the best the division had to offer.. You can't fault him for that.. It wasn't like the 70's when you had Foreman. Fraizer. Norton. Ali. Shavers. Quarry. etc..