Iron Mike's aura surviving for so long is one of the most impressive things in sports

[Yapdatfool]

Some would say Riddikk Bowe was also mentally weak on the same level

Man had a outstanding career despite that.

Outside the ring however...

 

[mastermind]

You might be right, but golota literally would quit in fights.
I don't remember bowe just stopping and quitting in a fight like golota.

Man had a outstanding career despite that.

Outside the ring however...

in the ring, he ain't really beat anyone but Holyfield. He was shook of fighting Tyson because he was one of the kids who bullied Tyson and dropped a title because he didn't want to fight Lennox Lewis cuz he was scared of him.

 

[David_TheMan]

in the ring, he ain't really beat anyone but Holyfield. He was shook of fighting Tyson because he was one of the kids who bullied Tyson and dropped a title because he didn't want to fight Lennox Lewis cuz he was scared of him.

He didn't beat holy field
No one elite was shook of fighting Tyson.
If you are talking about bowe they just didn't match up.

Tyson was scared of fighting foreman though.

 

[Erratic415]

Some would say Riddikk Bowe was also mentally weak on the same level

Bowe was lazy in training, but fought with lots of heart in the ring. The Holyfield fights, especially the 3rd one when he was dropped and seriously hurt. He took a horrendous beating from Golota in the rematch and stayed in there until Golota pulled a Golota and threw away another win.

 

[mastermind]

He didn't beat holy field
No one elite was shook of fighting Tyson.
If you are talking about bowe they just didn't match up.

Tyson was scared of fighting foreman though.

That post was about Bowe

Bowe was lazy in training, but fought with lots of heart in the ring. The Holyfield fights, especially the 3rd one when he was dropped and seriously hurt. He took a horrendous beating from Golota in the rematch and stayed in there until Golota pulled a Golota and threw away another win.

idk

I just think Bowe was kinda mentally weak, although not on Tyson and Golata levels.

For me, the laziness shows he was mentally weak.

 

[David_TheMan]

That post was about Bowe


idk

I just think Bowe was kinda mentally weak, although not on Tyson and Golata levels.

For me, the laziness shows he was mentally weak.

Nah he stayed into actual fights never quitted or looked for a way out.

You can say he was undisciplined or lost his desire to be the best, but never mentally weak imho.

Tyson and golota would literally look to find ways to quit in fights they were in. Golota worse than Mike.

 

[QuarterCenturyLegend]

If Cus D'Amato was 10 years younger, Mike would have beaten Buster easily; Lewis/Holyfield is another story, but at least 4-5 more years of focused boxing. When Cus was around, he had Tyson so mentally locked in that he was winning before he entered the ring... it was just how brutal the fight was going to be.

This is the real answer of why he didn’t do well in his “big fights.” Mike has always been the toughest fighter, meanest on the block, and actually bred from the streets. He’s an incredible person before I place him as a fighter. If you have the money and time, you should read his autobiography

 

[QuarterCenturyLegend]

I’m wearing black shorts right now

 

[SunZoo]

Iron Mike died when Cus died.

What were left with was still a very dangerous pit bull of a human being with no leash lol, but anybody who watched Tyson early on knows that once he stopped REALLY training and going in with a game plan, having the guidance and focus of an authority figure can see that even before he got caught by Buster he was nowhere near the same fighter. Nobody could tell him shyt besides Cus.

 

[Devil Plisken…CMS]

I think Tyson is an all-time great, but he also greatly benefited from sports/pop culture explosion that happened around his era.

And Quick fights and knockouts made him exciting to people who weren't attracted to long bouts or decisions.

Mike was great for business
Mike was great for the news cycle
Mike was great for the stereotypes

As the decades went we understand more & more he made ppvs an experience the same way Jordan & Magic made NBA games

He was the zenith of hype, showmanship & ability

 

[concise]

I think Tyson is an all-time great, but he also greatly benefited from sports/pop culture explosion that happened around his era.

And Quick fights and knockouts made him exciting to people who weren't attracted to long bouts or decisions.

Mass media programming is why he has the aura he has

Mich like MJ it was the first time you had a mass media world wide campaign promoting someone as the face of a sport.

Would you then also say that the entertainment industry of the 1980s also made this guy who he became?

 

[MushroomX]

This is the real answer of why he didn’t do well in his “big fights.” Mike has always been the toughest fighter, meanest on the block, and actually bred from the streets. He’s an incredible person before I place him as a fighter. If you have the money and time, you should read his autobiography

One of the things I like about Mike, is he is pretty candid. Deep down he still holds himself as the scared little boy with a lisp, who just had hands of stone. When you train him athletically, he can defeat ANYONE... but the problem was... was that unlike other fighters... Tyson admitted that he was fragile; Cus though was a father figure, someone who would shelter him and be able to help him when he had his down days.

When he was gone, that mental support was lost... and he was just a boxer on limited time because his entourage wouldn't be the support that Tyson needed to keep it up.

I hold Tyson's career, personally of, "If Cus was maybe 30-40. How long would Tyson continue to be Kid Dynamite?" because eventually he would lose but at least it was never a "what could have been" in terms of a Heavyweight Title victory. He did it, and at such a young age.

 

[David_TheMan]

Would you then also say that the entertainment industry of the 1980s also made this guy who he became?

sure why not

 

[David_TheMan]

Iron Mike died when Cus died.

What were left with was still a very dangerous pit bull of a human being with no leash lol, but anybody who watched Tyson early on knows that once he stopped REALLY training and going in with a game plan, having the guidance and focus of an authority figure can see that even before he got caught by Buster he was nowhere near the same fighter. Nobody could tell him shyt besides Cus.

Stop it. He won the title without cus. They had transitioned to rooney in the corner before the title fight because Cus didn't think he would get to see him win the title.

As for him being a slacker, that's common, look at broner, spinks, bowe. It happens

 

[97Pac]

BECAUSE HES CRAZY
AND COULD SNAP
AT ANY MOMENT.

THOSE OTHER nikkaS
WERE JUST BOXERS

MIKE THE TYPE TO
HAVE A FEW BODIES
ON HIS JACKET PRE BOXING


​

This

Boxers like Hollyfield and Lennox seem like decent people outside of the ring. But Tyson was knocking nikkas out in the street even after becoming a professional