I could never figure this one out myself, Mike was a heavy puncher with little or no lateral movement who couldn't fight backing up, had little or no head movement and a thug's mentality instead of any ring savy. Truth be told he was at best a mediocre boxer, no where near even a good boxer, let alone a great one. As a young criminal Mike would mug little old ladies under the guise of helping them carry their groceries. He was an abusive rapist long before he was a cannibalistic ear biting disgrace in the ring, and I have never had much positive to say about him. No true "champion" would have quit on his stool against the likes of Kevin McBride, but his fans seem to be blind to Mike's lack of character and complete disregard for himself or others. I barely have Mike in my top fifty heavyweight champs, let alone in any type of all time great status. He was the youngest heavyweight champ in history, and that is at least noteworthy, but as an individual I have more respect for John Ruiz than I do Tyson.

Some times I see questions on here and I think I am being punked, then I think is this person really serious,do they know anything about boxing.All boxer have a shelf life just like a great band or singer and it last about 3-8 years in both cases. When you manufactor a champion it does not last because you can't fool all the people all the time . Let's take the Kletchko brothers when they retire you will never hear from them again that will be it. When Mike fought are if the fight everything stopped people did not care the if the fight only lasted 90 seconds they wanted to see this train wreck and say oh my God. We all knew that we were going to see someone get there a$$ kick good by Mike thezy person n bonus after Cu's died Mike would go crazy and we all knew that we were watching a real crazy that was a wrecking machine.. Please don't say he did not fight the best fighters out there he is the youngest heavy heavy weight champion in the history of the sport that has to count for something are you kidding me lol. We all know that no one ever beat Mike Tyson he beat him self oh about the Buster fight Mike should have won that fight if not for the ref not counting Douglas out let's not for get this point. If you could not see the type of fighter Mike was then there is nothing anyone can say that will make you believe he was a great fighter. You don't know me or what type of fighter I was but when I play fighter in my head against Mike I lose everytime he was too strong too fast punched too hard and he could take a great punch.I said all this to say Mike Tyson is one of the greats of all time it's a shame we never got a chance to see the very best of him because the one person he would listen to died Cu's RIP.

He was a incredible aggressive and exciting boxer who always finished his opponent, and he came during a time when heavyweight boxing was on the down turn and lacked excitement, all the excitement was in the welterweights and middleweights then. He was also a man who came from nothing, who rose to the heights of stardom, who was manipulated by assholes around him, who's father figure died, and was cut down by the issues surrounding him in his prime.

I personally respect Iron Mike Tyson, because he was not just a explosive but technically sound boxer, one of the most explosive boxers to ever live, but he hits me as real. He was a normal person, not prettied up for the, he had flaws, but not as big as people make them out to be, no more bigger than other major athletes that put on a media friendly face but that is completely different from what they actually are.

Mike Tyson has many flaws that were exposed by James Buster Douglas and Evander Holyfield. However, he was a good puncher and his fights were not boring. Either he KO his opponents or he was TKO himself. When people come to see a heavyweight fight they expect fireworks, knock downs, knock outs and Mike gave them that excitement. He may have many flaws but he will swing from the floor, he will go for the knock out. I rather watch Mike fight than heavyweight champions like Chris Byrd or John Ruiz light hitting, boring, go the distance fights any day.

Let us not judge Tyson by his crazy life outside the ring. Just look at his natural gifts, his talents, his physical prowess and the way he dominated the heavyweight division during his prime or heyday from 1986 to 1990. And don't judge him too because of his "mediocre" competition because it wasn't his fault. Consider this, whether people loved him or hated him, they watched him. And they watched him 'til his very last fight when he was all but wasted. Why? Because Mike Tyson generated excitement whenever he fought.

Wow,you are good Irene. I am new at yahoo answers when it comes to answering. I agree with you. I always thought Tyson was overrated also. Mediocre competition for many years. Bone crusher rocked him in the last round years ago. Time ran out otherwise bye bye mike. You are right about mayweather Irene. This guy is a coward .threatening his wife and kids. He ducked so many people . There was at least five,including winky wright years ago. Old time fighters fought the best ,most of the time. Tyson fought in a terrible heavyweight era,not like the1970s ,the last great era.

People like to see stories of redemption. Mike Tsyon is a perfect example of this. He was a poor kid from the projects that rose to the top, only to fall back down again. People like to see their idols rise. They also love to trash them on the way down. But, most of all we love it when come back on top. What makes him so popular as well is the fact that he was able to transcend the sport of boxing as Ali and Foreman. He is seen more as an entertainer these days. I grew up in the ghetto and the majority of the people there usually end up in jail for life or dead. Just the fact that he is where he is now is far better for society than if he were still commiting crimes or being in jail where we the taxpayers have to foot the bill. It is easy to pass judgement on the who grew up in such harsh conditions as he because all we see is the result of his actions and not what made him that way. His dad abandoned him and his mom early in his life. Tysons mom had to prostitute herself out to support her kids. All this is so psychologically damaging to anyone. Tysons current wife is somebody who actually understands him and helped transition his career to Broadway and ven wrote his act for him. When you are 19 like he was when you win the championship people show up to take advantage of you like Don King and Robin Givens.

His intimidating persona along with te numerous first round KO'S grabbed at peoples imagination as he being one of the best.However, many saw the flaws and it eventually became very evident.

Everybody loves the big knockouts and nobody sent folks flying like Tyson.

because he was exciting and had the potential to be greater than he was

This intense love affair that everyone has with Iron Mike Tyson, is it because they see themselves as him and wish to be transformed into him, his Thuggish lifestyle ? He was not that great, only with mediocre opposition in front of him. He was severely exposed by James Buster Douglas, and knocked out in round 10, and lost his title. He beat up his spouse, raped a woman, and fought a bruising battle with his then mother in law, Ruth Roper. He and Leon Spinks were the worst drivers. He could have not have handled the prime top ten heavyweight champions of all time. Is it because his fans were not exposed to the great fighters of the past to make a comparison ? Once a week the question is brought up, A prime Ali vs a prime Mike Tyson, Ali was a million times better than Buster Douglas, go figure. Or do people like to make excuses for him, just curious?

MAN HATER alert