Post: #126

Hey G,

Obviously the 90's boxing era was much better than now. But I came across a column by a boxing writer who argued that the 90's were underrated at the time - and was actually a 'great' era that can stand up to alot of previous eras.

That is my sense as well.

Tyson, Lewis, Holyfield, Ruddock, Bowe and George Foreman (who was past it of course - but still in the game somewhat).

The era ended with the rise of Klitchsko. But he fought Lewis. So even he played a small part in that era.

I think the era didn't get a chance to really stand out in history since Lewis and Tyson never fought at their peak. And neither did Holyfield and Tyson (who only fought him after coming out of prison).

If those two fights had taken place - the era would have been on a par with any other.

But I'll admit I'm no boxing expert.

Post: #127

Well, Tyson had a rough 1990's. His best work was in the 80's.

He started off the decade with a KO loss and it could be argued that he never really had a significant win after.

The fact that George Foreman won 2 Heavyweight titles in 1994 proves that the era was pretty weak.

----

Talking Heavyweights here to be clear.

Other divisions were phenomenal in the 90's.

Hell, the 70's babies from the 90's are still dominating the sport today.

But then again, 70's babies are ten times as tough as 80's babies.

Post: #128

Bernard Hopkins interview regarding his career.
Great parallels to building one's game and value.

Oldest Boxing Champ Bernard Hopkins on Wealth & His Future

Post: #129

I don't rate Lewis, talks a great fight but only fought Tyson under the stipulation he was medicated.
Watch the Jack Johnson autobiography and tell me that guy did not have stones.
I met Tyson in a store In NYC once, scary to say the least.

Post: #130

(12-03-2013 07:41 PM)rudebwoy Wrote:  I don't rate Lewis, talks a great fight but only fought Tyson under the stipulation he was medicated.
Watch the Jack Johnson autobiography and tell me that guy did not have stones.
I met Tyson in a store In NYC once, scary to say the least.

Please elaborate on meeting Mike.

Come on man, Lennox was, as Tyson himself put it "a masterful boxer, a prolific fighter'. The only Tyson who could have possibly beaten Lennox was the 80's one. George Foreman said he think LL is the best heavyweight of all time. Whilst I don't necessarily agree, I think if he was American, that would be the consensus.





Certainly if we're talking 'would he have beaten XYZ'. People like Joe Louis just weren't big enough to beat someone as big AND skilled as Lewis.

It's why I don't hate on the Klitschko's - they're not just big, they're talented and dedicated too. Wladimir is too fearful (smart?) and defensive and someone like a prime Tyson would have intimidated him before the first punch. He also is chinny. For these reasons he isn't in that top club, although in my opinion he surely rules the pantheon of fighters just outside those elite few.

Vitali on the other hand, an inch taller, iron chin and an unshakeable mentality. He gives any HW in history problems. Not saying he beats the very elite of them necessarily, but he gives them a lot of problems for sure.

Post: #131

Something that is rarely mentioned.

Tyson had an amazing chin and could take punishment like a lion.

Look at the beating he got in the first fight against Holyfield - and in his defeat to Lennox Lewis.

I have never seen a guy get a beating like that and still keep coming back for more. Indeed - according to Tyson the referee was drunk in the first Holyfield fight and should have stepped in and ended the fight much earlier on. Yet - Tyson still kept on coming back for more punishment. Even at the end of the fight - Tyson was on his feet ready to fight on.

Even at the end of the Lennox Lewis fight - he was practically pushed over and almost too tired to stand back up. As opposed to being too scared or hurt to continue.

Also - we should forget about the Buster Douglas fight. Since Tyson didn't train - and he was robbed of the victory (due to a slow count on his KO of Buster Douglas). Hell - for the first few hours after the fight the judges were staying the fight was abandoned/no contest since they knew the referee had fucked up. It was only the outcry from the media that led to Buster Douglas being awarded the victory.

Here is the Tyson/Lewis KO:





On top of all that - in his autobiography - Tyson said that he was proud to take his beatings like a man. Since all of his boxing heroes took a beating from time to time.

Post: #132

You need to put a spoiler alert before you post all these gems from the book!

Post: #133

Sorry! Still - what I mentioned isn't that a big secret.

All the good stuff is still waiting to be read about.

Really great book - I have a hundred pages left.

Post: #134

Teedub - a buddy and I were in NYC for NYE, this would have been around 1995. My friend was looking at expensive handbags for his married gal (beta move) and the sales clerk started acting weird. There was a bit of a commotion brewing and I turned around to see Tyson right next to me, my mouth opened wide and I touched him and said "your Mike Tyson". He gave me that weird look, probably thought I was a fruit loop.lol
Credit to my buddy who quickly grabbed two business cards and managed to get his autograph.
Dude is listed at 5 feet 10 but he seemed taller, his chest was massive and he wore a elephant pendant full of diamonds.

As for Lewis, I simply cannot take him seriously. It is not his fault the heavyweight division lacked talent. Didn't he run from a rematch from Klitcshko? I put him in the same league as Haye

Post: #135

Post: #136

Great thread, and can't believe this hasn't been asked… who wins:

Mayweather vs Leonard
vs Durán
vs Hearns
vs Pryor

Post: #137

There's going to be a new film next year called "Hands of Stone" which is about Sugar Ray Leonard's legendary match with Roberto Duran. Usher has been tapped to play Sugar Ray.



Smart in that they look reasonably similar to each other. Usher is also athletic and with a dancing background, he shouldn't have a problem mimicking Leonard's footwork. The big question is whether Usher can act.

Either way, should be interesting. Read about it here.

Post: #138

Boxing is an art much older than humans (With some rear naked choke thrown in for good measure at the end)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_P8-Foi...page#t=245

Post: #139

(12-04-2013 08:48 PM)rudebwoy Wrote:  Teedub - a buddy and I were in NYC for NYE, this would have been around 1995. My friend was looking at expensive handbags for his married gal (beta move) and the sales clerk started acting weird. There was a bit of a commotion brewing and I turned around to see Tyson right next to me, my mouth opened wide and I touched him and said "your Mike Tyson". He gave me that weird look, probably thought I was a fruit loop.lol
Credit to my buddy who quickly grabbed two business cards and managed to get his autograph.
Dude is listed at 5 feet 10 but he seemed taller, his chest was massive and he wore a elephant pendant full of diamonds.

As for Lewis, I simply cannot take him seriously. It is not his fault the heavyweight division lacked talent. Didn't he run from a rematch from Klitcshko? I put him in the same league as Haye

Tyson is actually 5 feet 9, but I've 'met' a few famous people and they seem taller than they are because they have an aura about them. I bumped into Cristiano Ronaldo in a club when he played for United in '08. He was a lot broader and a much more physical presence than I had imagined. I've met David Haye twice and it's likewise. I also saw Beckham when he played for United in a supermarket, had a weird sort of 'glow'. I think it's basically having the freshest clothes, super confidence combined with the fact I was a teenager and was thinking 'Wow, that's David Beckham'.

As for Lewis, you're chatting absolute rubbish! I think (hope) you're joking about comparing him to Haye! The division was good in the 90's. Bowe threw his belt into the garbage to avoid him, Tyson opted for Holyfield for the same reason. He beat every man he ever faced, conclusively outpointed Holyfield in that scandalous draw, ended Grant's career and won Olympic Gold...for your current country!

My only criticism is that sometimes he lacked a killer instinct, but that's the sign of an intelligent person who wants to leave the game with faculties intact and not engage in a war.

He's not my favourite fighter either, I'm just calling it as it is.

(12-05-2013 12:44 AM)Rotisserie Wrote:  Great thread, and can't believe this hasn't been asked… who wins:

Mayweather vs Leonard
vs Durán
vs Hearns
vs Pryor

It has: /thread-30328.html

Post: #140

Finished the Mike Tyson autobiography. One of the best books I have ever read.

What a life he had!

And it covers alot of stuff left out of his show. It is well worth getting.

Post: #141

I'm not really into boxing, but I saw two videos today that I think would be appreciated here. They're more inspirational than actually about the sport itself.

Post: #142

(12-05-2013 01:18 PM)cardguy Wrote:  Finished the Mike Tyson autobiography. One of the best books I have ever read.

Please share some of your favorite stories with us..

(12-05-2013 07:30 AM)Teedub Wrote:  Tyson is actually 5 feet 9

A few years ago, I saw Mike inside of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. No one recognized him!!!

Why? Because he was about 300 pounds and no one could see his face tattoo because it was dark and his skin was dark. (He must have been in the sun)

He walked right through the crowd and no one noticed him.

He is also shorter than you might think. But, the thickest human being I have ever seen up close.

His legs, hips, and ass probably weigh 200 pounds by themselves.

Post: #143

(12-05-2013 04:34 PM)Giovonny Wrote:  

(12-05-2013 01:18 PM)cardguy Wrote:  Finished the Mike Tyson autobiography. One of the best books I have ever read.

Please share some of your favorite stories with us..

Haha, do it via PM, I'm getting the book for Xmas! Don't want too many spoilers!

Post: #144

I'm at a loss as to why Austin Trout's handlers threw him in with that good of a fighter for his "comeback" fight. We may not be seeing him too much in the future.

Post: #145

(12-03-2013 04:39 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  Well, Tyson had a rough 1990's. His best work was in the 80's.

He started off the decade with a KO loss and it could be argued that he never really had a significant win after.

The fact that George Foreman won 2 Heavyweight titles in 1994 proves that the era was pretty weak.

----

Talking Heavyweights here to be clear.

Other divisions were phenomenal in the 90's.

Hell, the 70's babies from the 90's are still dominating the sport today.

But then again, 70's babies are ten times as tough as 80's babies.

I remember watching some late 80s Tyson ESPN classics a few years back.

The announcer introduced him as "Michael Tyson", lol.

Post: #146

What are your guys thoughts about Broner VS Maidana?

That fight is a must watch.

----

Also Paulie Malignaggi Dominated Zab Judah last night.

Post: #147

(12-08-2013 01:50 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  What are your guys thoughts about Broner VS Maidana?

That fight is a must watch.

----

Also Paulie Malignaggi Dominated Zab Judah last night.

I've posted about Broner-Maidana quite a bit. The fight could really go either way. I wouldn't really be surprised by any result. Neither fighter is great defensively. Maidana hits a little harder. Broner is more accurate. Maidana cuts much easier. I think they can both take a punch, although we haven't seen Broner have to absorb too much punishment so far.

Post: #148

(12-07-2013 10:42 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  I'm at a loss as to why Austin Trout's handlers threw him in with that good of a fighter for his "comeback" fight. We may not be seeing him too much in the future.

I agree. I mean Lara gave Paul Williams (before accident) fits. Why take on Lara right after a major loss has me scratching my head too.

Post: #149

(12-07-2013 10:42 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  I'm at a loss as to why Austin Trout's handlers threw him in with that good of a fighter for his "comeback" fight. We may not be seeing him too much in the future.

Yeah man that was a schooling, I think super manager Al Haymon put him in that fight, Al is usually good about matching his guys, makes no sense.

Post: #150

(12-09-2013 09:24 PM)Mabina Wrote:  

(12-07-2013 10:42 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  I'm at a loss as to why Austin Trout's handlers threw him in with that good of a fighter for his "comeback" fight. We may not be seeing him too much in the future.

Yeah man that was a schooling, I think super manager Al Haymon put him in that fight, Al is usually good about matching his guys, makes no sense.

What seems to be increasingly happening is that you sometimes have two of Al Haymon's guys fighting each other. This happened in the Peter Quillin/Fernando Guerrero fight and happened again in the Austin Trout/Erismandy Lara fight. If that's not a conflict of interest, I don't know what is. The idea of managing a guy is that you are trying to get him the best share of the purse as possible. If you have one guy earning a huge amount, he may be taking money out of his opponent's pocket. I also think that at this point Haymon is running a mill and is really unable to give personal attention to the guys he manages. He started out in the music business, eased into the boxing business, and at this point, I believe he is overwhelmed. Most top boxers are either managed by him or wish they were. All I can say is that after New Years, I'm starting a new business which I'll run alongside my law practice. I'll keep the nature of that business to myself, but I think you guys can read between the lines.