Mike was one of the last of the old school athletes...athletes that were protected and put on pedestals. He is the last superstar from when boxing was boxing from a mainstream perspective. He captured peoples hearts and imaginations in their youth with how he was dropping nikkas and for many that is frozen in time and nothing since has truly been processed. You see a similar phenomenon, albeit on a much smaller scale, with 3 peat Shaq. And his traumatic story only adds another layer. Its impossible for anyone else to check all the boxes Mike checks ever again.
Iron Mike's aura surviving for so long is one of the most impressive things in sports
- Thread starter chuckifubuck
- Start date
To me when it comes to boxing. Marvin Hagler is everything that Tyson fans think he is. But honestly, he lead a pretty stable life as a boxer. Half of his fights weren't even televised. You have to admit that Tyson lead a crazy life, is a quote machine and has aura.
Jordan’s aura in 50% Nike and 20% Gatorade. If Ron Harper didn’t stutter and didn’t get his early injuries they could have done the same for him
Erratic415
Superstar
Yep…Cus died 15 or so fights into Tyson’s pro career, at the end of 85’. Tyson beat Berbick for the WBC title 11 months later, then peaked as a fighter in 88’.
I say Tyson may have have been at the top a little longer if Cus is there, but he’d still have that self destructive side and psychological trauma. Sometimes I take what Teddy Atlas says with a grain of salt, but I do believe him when he says Cus was an enabler of sorts. Mike was still getting into trouble during those Catskill years, and Cus would make excuses for Mike because of his talent. Jose Torres said the same thing.
Emanuel Steward also said he didn’t expect Tyson to have that success after age 25 simply because that style is difficult for longevity.
Speaking of Kevin Rooney, it’s always brought up how it was a mistake to fire him. I agree somewhat…Rooney was the right trainer for Tyson. But I don’t think Rooney was some great pro trainer. Tyson probably just made him look better than he was. He didn’t have all that much success outside of Tyson, and had his own substance abuse issues too which probably hurt his career.
Aaron Snowell was awful in Tokyo, but he went on to become a solid trainer which some major successes.
Mister Terrific
It’s in the name
Mike didn’t like Sisqo
ReturnOfJudah
Veteran
Mike was a c00ning hard for Jake Paul. Just like Bob Sapp
Look at his surviving aura yall! It's leaking out his ass
Look at his surviving aura yall! It's leaking out his ass
David_TheMan
Banned
I think Mike always had a small peak due to talent coming up in the division and he struck at the right time.
As for Teddy Atlas, I take nothing he says on face value at all.
Man was trying to allude that cus was molesting children, because he was jealous that Cus didn't trust him and gave Tyson to Rooney.
I don't think Cus did anything negative to Mike or enabled him, boxing takes a person who is a little on the outskirts of society mentally to excel. You have to be a sadist to a certain extent. Mike had some of that but just a weak mental constitution on top of it and like a lot of boxers who get success he checked out after the money and fame.
I would disagree with Manny too, because Floyd Patterson is an example of what Mike could have been. same situation, similar body shape, Floyd a bit taller, yet Floyd had mental discipline and a want to be something better than what he was, so even fighting better comp he had a long career and success.
Rooney was a drunk, none of those guys really did well without Rooney overseaing them. Tokyo was a amateur hour shytshow. That said it wasn't the corner's fault.
Mister Terrific
It’s in the name
Ngl. Video makes Bob Sapp sound like a genius.
Because of the street persona mike kept
Mike continued to stay around rappers/street dudes win or lose and u talking about the late 80s and early 90s when gangster rap took off big time and everyone wanted to be surrounded by the biggest name and he from the streets of Brooklyn, so you knew the deal
Mike continued to stay around rappers/street dudes win or lose and u talking about the late 80s and early 90s when gangster rap took off big time and everyone wanted to be surrounded by the biggest name and he from the streets of Brooklyn, so you knew the deal
David_TheMan
Banned
A lot of boxers hung around steet dudes, didn't keep them relevant at all..
You can take the older George Foreman who did a 180 and see he mainted his relevance recaptured the title, got a tv show, got the grill, got big and tall endorsements for clothes. Stayed relevant as well. You all laugh but look at Larry Holmes,. Look at Ali.
Great fighters udring a certain era when being a HW champ was hyper valued stayed relevant.
Sadly that ended with the rise of Lennox Lewis. Lennox and the Klitchkos killed boxing as a major sport in the US.
This is why i used to contest his rating in fight night.
I was like, yeah i love mike too, but we don't know for sure he could be beat any of the hall of fame legendary fighters from history. None of them are taking an L to buster douglas. He low key Deontay Wilder level in terms of accomplishment. But just has the Ali fame and fandom
This is a really bad take...mike legit ruled his division and beat way more champions than wilder
Deontay at least got a draw once with one of the premier heavyweights of his era.
Draw isnt a win esp when most thought he lost..he only has 2 wins over champions
