By Marquise Bullock: If you want to experience how Mike Tyson’s opponents felt getting hit by him, run as fast as you can into a brick wall, face first, and that’s what it probably felt like. Or just put a stick of dynamite in your mouth. A lot of people say Mike Tyson was overrated…well it depends on which Mike Tyson your talking about. You see, in the 80s before Tyson’s first fight was televised, clips of his fights were being sent out all over the boxing world. It was this young kid form the Brownsville section in Brooklyn, New York, at the tender age of 18 knocking grown men out in three rounds or less.
Honestly I really can’t stand when people talk about “The Don King Tyson,” because that Tyson was just for entertainment. The Tyson that was trained under Cus D’Amato and Kevin Rooney was something that we might not ever see again. Seriously. And people have the nerve to call that Tyson overrated. Well overrated doesn’t make you the youngest heavyweight champion of all time and a 2011 Boxing Hall of Fame nominee.
Yes, I wont argue and say Tyson wasn’t overrated in the mid 90s, but I can’t name one heavyweight that would beat him when he was under trainer Kevin Rooney in the 80s. Even Lennox Lewis was quoted saying “Man I hope I never have to fight that guy.” Tyson put fear in people’s hearts and he had the skill too back it up.
Under Cus and Rooney, Tyson could’ve been the greatest heavyweight or boxer of all time. His work ethic was second to none, his athleticism was a natural physical gift from God, he sparred and trained seven days a week, he was as fast as a middleweight, he had beautiful combinations, and he had what most heavyweights don’t have, which is stamina and defense. Tyson for that brief moment was the greatest in my eyes, just for that brief moment. I can’t name to many heavyweights, let alone boxers that have flawless skill like a prime Mike Tyson. People say he could only beat fighters if their scared, if they fight back Tyson folds…well James “Quick” Tillis fought back and he wasn’t scared, but Tyson skill was just to good and he won a easy unanimous decision.
Holyfield and Lewis would’ve been doomed if they fought Tyson in the 80s. And that guy James “Buster” Douglas, would’ve gotten knocked out within the first few seconds of the bell. Holyfield was tough, but not more skilled than Tyson and Lewis was good but his jaw would’ve got ripped off by “Iron” Mike. And call me crazy, dumb, what ever you like, it’s my job to stir up controversy. So I say that to say this, Muhammad Ali would’ve got the same treatment. If Joe Frazier gave him life and death inside of the ring, Tyson would have beaten Ali easy. There, I said it for those who are afraid to. I mean who has Frazier beat? If it wasn’t for Ali, Frazier would still be a tremendous fighter, but not as know as he is for his rubber matches with Ali.
And this isn’t a article about would’ve, should’ve, and could’ve, thus the title, remembering Tyson. The skillful Tyson that made a name for him self, the man, the myth, the legend.
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