:: Nice ----- Yeah, I don't think the close ranking of Mike, Holy & Joe is so inappropriate (less than 2 points between the three of them!). For one, many of us think Mike's mental fragility was something that got significantly worse as his personal support network unravelled and while he was never anywhere near as tough as Holy or Joe he just-about had his shit together enough to put his superior physical gifts to use in a toughish fight. I definitely think he would have beaten Holyfield at his best, anyway. On the other hand you're usually right, my man, so maybe I'm letting my Mike-love cloud my judgement.:kidcool:
it's no myth... he was mentally weak... he could not stand being forcibly opposed... that is why he bit a guy
If this were true, he wouldn't have fought holyfield the way he did in the first fight, nor would he have taken the batterings he took in his losses.
he had a terrific chin, that's why he could take those shots but he was unable to overcome someone who confronted him... it was a fundamental weakness of his psyche
C'mon...it's not just a myth...but a "disgusting" myth? A bit dramatic, methinks ::. And not to mention there is truth in that notion. I wouldn't say that Tyson was totally lacking in heart, but when he found himself in a losing situation (not to be confused with getting hit with a few good punches by Ruddock in a fight Tyson won with room to spare), he didn't respond all that well.
That has more to do with his chin than anything else and also that Holyfield (and Douglas) were not "big" punchers.
Not to split hairs, but I don't think it was just confronting Tyson..it was getting the better of him that caused his issues. For example..Ruddock was in Tyson's face for two fights and landed some meaningful punches, but Tyson was never seriously hurt or in danger of losing. I would say that Ruddock confronted Tyson, despite losing by a wide margin.
jaws is going nuts right now, writing a viscious response he's so competetive, he just cant help it:bears:
What a disgusting post:: in all seriousness, maybe confronted isnt the right word... how about "forcibly opposed"?
To be fair to Tyson (and his dramatic fans), I don't think the mere act of "standing up" to Tyson was enough to cause his fragile house of cards psyche to crumble. It took fighters who were willing to stand up to him and had the skills and game plan to pull it off.
Oh definitley! I would never assume otherwise... you had to be tough enough to fight back in the first place, most werent
