Who Might Be The Next Mike Tyson?

By Boxing News - 11/23/2016 - Comments

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By Adam Hayes: Boxing is not what it used to be. Anyone who watched the dance-off between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao can tell you that. It wasn’t even remotely the epic bout that we were promised.

Boxing has been like that for a while. Gone are the days of exciting bouts like The Thrilla in Manila or The Brawl in Montreal, with great boxers like Frazier, Ali, or Sugar Ray slugging it out in a true test of wills. Ask someone about George Foreman, and they’re more likely to think of the grill than his boxing career.

The last great boxing match we got is best known for ending with Mike Tyson biting Evander Holyfield’s ear. Holyfield would go on to dominate the sport to a degree, but he was never as polarizing or as memorable as Iron Mike.

Part of the issue has been a lack of great heavyweights, which always provide the most power and entertainment value. With the growth of MMA, boxing loses popularity, both among fans and the athletes that would normally fill the ranks. However, there are a few young guns who might become the next Mike Tyson, and it starts with a man who shares that name.

Tyson Fury (25-0 with 18 knockouts) held two of the four major heavyweight belts until just over a month ago, but vacated the WBO and WBA belts after withdrawing twice from a rematch with former champion Wladimir Klitschko. Fury later admitted to struggling with issues outside of the ring, most notably using cocaine to treat his depression. He’s currently working on recovering from his depression and should return to boxing, although it’s not known when his return might happen.

When he does return, Fury might have a shot at the WBC title. Current WBC champion Deontay Wilder (37-0 with 36 knockouts) has his eyes set on the British fighter, even stating that he’s willing to fight Fury even if Fury doesn’t have a title for Wilder to win.

In the meantime, one of Fury’s vacated crowns might be filled soon. Klitschko (64-4 with 53 knockouts) is set to fight Anthony Joshua (17-0, all by knockout so far), who holds the fourth and final belt. This fight is contingent on Joshua holding his IBF title through a December 10 fight against Eric Molina. Should Joshua win both fights, that gives him a second belt and the inside track to becoming the next undisputed champion, although that title could be considered taken already.

That’s because, in a way, Fury has already claimed the title of The Next Mike Tyson. Iron Mike’s career was full of ups and downs created by the mix of Tyson’s unparalleled ability and unusual personality. Fury was more than capable of fending off an aging Klitschko, which would then leave him free to chase the titles currently held by Joshua and Wilder, and essentially bit his own ear off with his depression.

Hopefully he returns soon. Boxing needs a new face to recapture its lost glory.