When Mike Tyson Ruled The World

The Sweet Science ^ | 4/19/05 | Aaron Tallent

[Army Air Corps]

I still remember that! I recall the comedians, newscatsers, and sports reporters mining that event for material for weeks. I remember watching it on the news because it was short enough to fit into a slot big enough for a video clip.

[Ghengis]

Didnt Tyson decide at some time he didnt need Cus D'amato and thats started his slide?

Cus D'Amato died before Tyson won the title.

Tyson was co-managed by Jim Jacobs and Bill Cayton. Jim Jacobs had a close relationship with Tyson. Cayton did not.

Jacobs died of leukemia. Don King and Robin Givens wormed their way in and Cayton, Kevin Rooney and the rest were fired. Don King put Aaron Snowell in as trainer and a couple of sock puppets in as managers.

Tyson had a win against Frank Bruno and then the loss to Buster Douglas. Its been a long, slow ride downhill ever since.

[qam1]

I was at the same type of party, Though I was the kid who ran down the stairs

[dagnabbit]

Does he plan to "wrap Tyson in a cocoon of horror?"

[rdcorso]

I disagree with those who say Tyson was the best ever for reasons that had nothing to do with Tyson himself.It's hard to rate him when the competition was so weak in his division during those years.The first skilled heavyweight he fought was Douglas and he got knocked out by him.He was definitely a great fighter but calling him the best is stretching it in my opinion.

[Wycowboy]

Baddest man and biggest A hole. All at the same time, and on the same planet.

[This Just In]

Cacius Clay, later changing his name to Mohammad Ali, in his prime would have taken Tyson out. He had a chin. Mike Tyson doesn't.

I've followed both careers.

[gobucks]

The fact that they even write about Sir Ear Biter shows just how low a writer will stoop for attention ......

Tyson is a plain and simple thug.

[ßuddaßudd]

When is this punk going to the the UFC?

[1Old Pro]

there are a few boxing fans that still feel that Tyson has something left in the tank, though it may hinge more on nostalgia than rational thought.

Pure nostalgia. If Tyson trained seriously some might believe that he actually wants to win a fight.

[brightstar]

Tyson, in his absolute prime, would have beaten anyone.

Agreed.

Few people realize that at the height of his success, Tyson was not only the world's greatest offensive fighter, but he was also the best DEFENSIVE fighter. He was almost impossible to hit.

Things went downhill for Tyson a few months after he beat Michael Spinks, when he fired his trainer, Kevin Rooney. Rooney was training Mike in the style developed by Cus D'Amato. Not only did Mike not replace Rooney with an adequate trainer, but it seems that Mike decided that he didn't need to train at all. Sure, he cruised to a couple of easy victories after he beat Spinks, but in his fight with Douglas, it was clear that the fabulous Cus D'Amato boxing style that Mike employed to clear out the heavyweight division in the 1980's was completely gone. The defensive head movement was missing. The lightning fast choreographed combinations were absent. Mike now just simply attempted to walk in and knock out his opponent with a single power punch.

So those lightweight sports writers who like to comment how Buster Douglas "showed how Tyson could be beat with a jab" and how Holyfield beat Tyson by "bullying the bully" don't know what they're talking about. If anything, Holyfield and Douglas beat dissipated versions of Tyson.

Tyson's old trainer, Kevin Rooney, said that the Tyson who lost to Holyfield was only "one-tenth" of the vintage Tyson of the 1980's. And I have to agree.

[Lazamataz]

Tyson's the red one on the left.

[T.Smith]

"When is this punk going to the the UFC?"

He'd lose faster in the UFC than he would in the boxing ring. Andre Arlovski would destroy him quickly.

[ßuddaßudd]

That is exactly what I am wanting to see happen. Even BJ Penn would be fun to watch fight Mikey.