If top 50 of all time he would be in the top 75 without question but you have to ralize we are talking about since the 1920 until now. With the modern era(1960 to now) he would be top 50 but in the lower rankings. I have hime 43rd.
No disrespect, but I have qualms about ranking Tyson in the top ten at hvywgt - yet alone top 10 lb4lb AT.
His weaknesses were glaring ones: indolence when on the inside (watch his fights with, say, Tony Tucker and James "Bonecrusher" Smith when they put him in a loose bearhug-like clinch and he "co-operated" with them and stopped punching INSTEAD of bending his knees, ducking out and to the side, and letting his hands go - compare these and other performances against those of, say, Joe Frazier, a fireplug who did his best work in close) and a major problem with jabbers (for ex, James "Quick" Tillis, Tucker, Buster Douglas, Lennox Lewis, etc, none of whom could jab as well as Joe Louis [when he employed the "shotgun" jab that he used vs Max Baer], Sonny Liston, Ali, or Larry Holmes).
Furthermore, he had a bully's mentality and when someone didn't back down, he lost his nerve.
Last but not least, he never demonstrated the ability to fight while giving ground (aptly illustrated when he fought Evander Holyfield). At some point, EVERY fighter, no matter how tough and powerful, will meet someone whom they can't force backward. As much as I like Rocky Marciano, he never demonstrated this ability either and, aside from his weight (just 184 lbs in his prime), this is the reason why you can't rate him ahead of boxer-punchers like Louis and Liston (the latter's boxing fundamentals have always been underrated - watch his first bout with powerpunching and quick-fisted Cleveland Williams for confirmation).
His competition was terrible, Trevor Berbick, James Bonecrusher Smith, Tony TNT Tucker, an ancient Larry Holmes, Razor Ruddock, Bruce Seldon Frank Bruno, Jose Ribalta, and Mitch Green. These opponents were hand picked, of course he is going to look good, But when he fought an opponent with good lateral movement,a good left jab,and swift combinations, it spelled disaster, identified as James Buster Douglas, who knocked out Tyson in the 10th round, on Feb 10,1990, in Tokyo. And figure this, Tony Tucker stopped Douglas in 1987. Tyson can beat anyone who wears a sign that says: "Hit Me." He beat ham and egg fighters, mediocre, but beat great ones, no way. Douglas knocked out Tyson in his prime, I do not care about the referees count, excuses does not get anyone anywhere. If he was so tough, he would have finished Douglas, in round 8. The top ten of all rime would have cleaned his clock, Holyfield and Lewis did.
Mike Tyson was a brilliant Boxer, one of the best in History.
Although he is not very clever when it comes to other issues like money.
Could you respect someone who earnt 500,000,000 USD and ended up with nothing?.
surely he should be a billionaire now.
I was watching some old Tyson fights and after watching Tyson fight I realized Tyson was really awesome to watch.Did he lose????Yes but he showed some real talent.His chin was awesome also I saw him get clocked with some big shots and still be standing.Razor Rudduck hit him with some hooks that would finish anyone and Tyson never stopped.I think yes he lost by Ko a couple times but he was never floored by 1 shot.I saw Lennox Lewis say that he was impressed by Tysons chin saying he was shocked by some of the shots Tyson walked through.but It was normally exhaustion that finished Tyson.
So my question Where do you put Tyson in the top 50 fighters???I have him at #6 all time
