Drawing Comparisons between Mayweather and Tyson

By Nick Hagan - 09/25/2013 - Comments

floyd784By Nick Hagan: Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are from different errors, one achieving so much in boxing and financial terms and the other regarded by most of the general public as being a true ‘Hall of Fame’ champion.

Mike Tyson was the marquee boxer in the mid to late 80’s. He had a great amateur career and after just eighteen months after turning professional, (at the tender age of 20) became the WBC world Heavyweight champion, in defeating Trevor Berbeck. Tyson then went on to Unify the division (and destroy in the 1st round) at the age of 22, the well respected Michael Spinks.

There is no doubting even at this stage that Tyson was a troubled young boxer, unfortunately having many brushes with the law. However, If you put these negatives aside and just reflect on his boxing, we can all remember the greatest young talent that has ever graced a ring.

Tyson had Cus D’Amoto to thank for his early career and even though D’Amoto passed away before Tyson became a champion, it was his training and personal guidance that moulded Tyson into the champion that we later saw.

The Tyson between the ages of 19–22 was just unbelievable. He was one of the most complete boxers I have ever seen. He had lightning hand speed, immense power, great counter punching ability and a very much underrated defense, a bobbing, weaving style, which made him somewhat elusive to hit.

Unfortunately as we all know, none of this was to last and although he made a comeback after his imprisonment, he was never quite the same. It’s my view Tyson was a victim to greedy promoters, hanger-ons and had a lack of education. With the right mixture of all three, he should/would have been regarded quite possibly the best boxer of all time.

Tyson only really had about 9 years of world class boxing between (1986 – 1990 & 1995 – 1997). His career did last longer than this, but in most people’s opinion he was washed up after his defeats in 1996 & 1997 to Evander Holyfield.

I personally like to remember the “great” Tyson, from his early career, but with a feeling of sadness that all of the negative stuff, actually happened to him. This is a boxer who earned $250 million dollars, but with now hardly a $1 million to show for it. If all had gone well for him, he could have been the world’s first billionaire sportsman and easily reigned supreme for a decade as a World champion.

Moving on to Floyd Mayweather. It doesn’t matter what all the haters say about this boxer, he is without a shadow of doubt the greatest active fighter today. This is a boxer who has all the skills. He has the best defense we have ever seen, (near impossible to hit flush) great hand speed, fantastic counter puncher and an impeccable ring IQ.

Mayweather Is still “Top of the Tree” after a 17 years run as a champion and without a loss to his name. All of this success has come, due to incredible commitment to his profession, brilliant promoting/ marketing ability, great training from father and uncle and a boxing Brain like no other.

Mayweather has also had his own problems with the law and was himself imprisoned in May 2012. I feel that Mayweather was lucky, that the sentence was only for three months. If it had been longer, it could well have affected his long term well being and eroded boxing ability.

This is a boxer who has already earned approx $300 Million and “Barring a miracle”, I can only see Mayweather retiring with a perfect 50-0 record within the next three years.

Overall there are many comparisons that can be drawn between Tyson and Mayweather. They have both been young amateur and professional champions, both had/ have incredible skills within the ring, (namely defence and hand speed) have both been imprisoned, both were/ and are the biggest names of their errors and have both amassed more money during their careers than any other boxers.

There is however one fundamental difference, between these two. Mayweather with the help of others has been able to turn his boxing career into a very successful, promotional money making ‘TMT’ business and Tyson unfortunately was just the opposite. He was badly managed and financially scrounged from every direction he turned.



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