By Tony Crooks: When I first watched Mike Tyson fight, I thought that this guy has a lot of potential. As time went on Tyson beat better opponents. He had speed, punch power, great footwork, great head movement and a much underrated left jab and above all he was exciting and great TV entertainment.
Forget his demise, this is reflected in other fighters that had the misfortune to be allowed to behave in inappropriate ways. Tyson was a champion at a very young age and probably not mature enough to handle all of the attention that was placed upon him.
I watch unbeaten heavyweight contender Deontay Wilder (28-0, 28 KO’s) and in all honesty, I am unable to see how he has progressed as a fighter. Compared to Tyson, Wilder is going backwards. There are some that will say “how can you compare Tyson to Wilder” very easily is the answer. Tyson’s KO record was very similar to Wilder’s; not exactly, but in the same vein.
Tyson’s promoters sent a video of all his fights to the American media, Tyson became famous within days, the whole of the USA were talking about this monster that will destroy any heavyweight in the world. He didn’t let us down, he was the youngest heavyweight champion in history.
Now here is a point, the TV networks took to Mike Tyson like ducks to water; they were unable to get enough of this marauding monster that could KO at any given time, mostly in the first couple of rounds. Very similar to Wilders accomplishments. So this is my next question: why is there not the interest in Wilder in the USA? There’s hardly any real coverage, and he seems a bigger draw in England than he is in his own country.
You have to ask yourself a question and a big question at that. Why? Do the American networks see something in Wilder that does not create the same enthusiasm as the young Mike Tyson did in his younger years?
Wilder has the same appeal in one respect that he has knocked out every fighter that he has faced. Again, I just cannot get this out of head, why are the networks not getting into Wilder? Do they know something that we don’t? Let me hear your thoughts?
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