Ahh, that makes more sense. If there’s any sense in boxing anymore! It’s been a long time since either AJ or Fury fought. Surely they aren’t going to meet without a warm up at least? Time will tell I suppose.
People get hung up about how ‘wide’ the scorecards are, but that’s not how boxing scoring works. The fight could be incredibly close and one of the boxers could shade every round by just one punch and win 120-108. Boxing, along with cricket, are my other favourite sports, but I lost touch with boxing when the TV deals started splintering off. I used to watch all the fights on Sky and terrestrial TV, and initially subscribed to Box Nation. But then when it started popping up on other things that required subscription it knocked the first nail in the coffin, and then when any half decent fight started being PPV in went the other nail. And PPV has got so expensive. I miss the glory days of Sky Sports, Ringside and Boxing Monthly, with PPV saved for mega fights. I’ve lost touch with it now. Couldn’t even name most of the champions.
I can’t really comment on Ali, Foreman & Holmes as they’re before my time but I don’t see Tyson beating Usyk. Tyson was the ultimate on top fighter & once it went past the first 3 rounds he would fade. He seems absolutely made for Usyk. For all the criticism you make of this era, Usyk has a far better resume than Tyson. What are ‘prime’ Tyson’s best wins?
I’ve watched folk out-punch their opponent in every round and somehow not get the decision. But of course, I understand how boxing scoring works and fully agree with your point. Without the knockdown in the undisputed clash, it’s a Fury win. No arguments from me there. 115-112, 114-113 and 113-114 made sense. Close. But that key round proved decisive. Rematch, 116-112 on all three cards didn’t feel right to me. But again, it’s a couple of rounds isn’t it? As I said last night, I think he lost both fights but they were closer than a lot have since suggested. For a four to five round run in the first bout, Tyson was making him look silly. Which we’ve never seen before and certainly didn’t see last night. But, not as silly as Fury wobbling around the ring a round or two later.
They’re before my time too, but I’ve watched all of the greats’ fights in full, if they’re available. And most are. I think it’s tough to compare eras. I just enjoy them for what they are/were. There’s a great YouTube boxing channel called Rummy’s Corner. Within his collection, he has a video about the complete history of the lineal heavyweight title. From John L Sullivan to Oleksandr Usyk. It’s a fascinating watch. From the 1880s to the present day. Era to era. I grew up watching Iron Mike. Mostly on VHS until I was allowed to watch the first Bruno fight. He beat Trevor Berbick, Bonecrusher Smith, Tony Tucker and Michael Spinks. All champions of the various alphabet titles. He beat Pinklon Thomas, Larry Holmes and Frank Bruno who were all champs at some point. He beat Razor Ruddock twice who was a fighter I’d compare to someone like Dillian Whyte. Title contender but not elite. Sadly, his life and career went off the rails as is well known before the defeat to Buster Douglas. And he was a shadow of his former self when losing to Holyfield and Lewis. I’d back prime Tyson (87 to 89) to be a nightmare for any heavy. Ever. But I don’t think I’ve ever known a heavy like Usyk. He’s very unique. Those feet are unreal. And he can take a punch like the best of them. It’d have been some fight! Alternatively, I think such as Fury would handle Mike no problem. But as I say, it’s like comparing the 80s Liverpool side to today’s version. How do you do it?
"You either think its ok for blokes to whack each other in the head or you dont." An argument about 'consenting adults' might be used though.
The two consenting adults is a great argument. There’s a UFC fighter, Sean Strickland (a very questionable character) whom openly admits through his childhood abuse and hard living as a kid that if he could not focus/channel his trauma and violent tendencies from the abuse into fighting then he would have probably been convicted as a murderer right now. That’s a strong thing to say mind, but the fact he’s been able to make himself a lot of money while relieving himself of some pain is commendable imo.
What level would you ban it at? Just the pros? Or Ban the thousands of clubs keeping kids off the street and active keeping childhood obesity down, giving confidence to kids who have none, or giving young adults and kids a safe place to go on a night even if they don't complete just keep fit and abit of sparring ban the lot?
Fought Berbik, Holyfield, Lewis,Pinklon Thomas, Douglas, Ruddock and Larry Holmes who was the same age as Usyk is now when Tyson was only 21. My opinion is that this class of opposition was better but as I always say it's just my opinion...
I completely agree, the heavyweights of the last few years would only have made the undercard in days gone by.
I'd phase the whole thing out. You might feel I'm harsh and just about everyone on this thread will disagree with me cos they all seem to like boxing. However, two people hitting each other for the entertainment of others, consensual or not, is not something I can condone at all. Yes, there are some people who make a living out of it and some people go to clubs and get a sense of community from it no doubt. There's also skill involved as well, obviously. However, all those things aren't the bottom line as far as I'm concerned. If you disagree and think any positives outweigh my views that's fair enough and its up to you. I just dont think boxing is civilised at all, so on balance, I'd get rid of it. Won't happen of course as its embedded and there are vested interests. Anyway, if you enjoy the boxing and the related banter fair enough. I've had my say and as someone earlier intimated I dont really want a row (in spite of my terse response to one person). Cheers and regards.
Sorry I was meaning his best wins. He lost to Holyfield twice, lost to Lewis. Holmes might have been the same age but was many years past his best. Douglas wasn’t a top fighter & again he lost. I don’t think Tyson has a single top level win & he looked for a way out everytime it got tough. Did he ever come through adversity in a fight to win? He was a bully, don’t get me a wrong he was a bloody good bully but I don’t think he belongs at the very top table of heavyweights & I don’t think many boxing historians who know far more than me see him as one either
No row, your entitled to your opinion. I do think especially at amateur level and boxing clubs in communities do alot of good like I said, a safe place for kids, giving them confidence, keeping them active and fit, all different races mixing. Maybe you should one day go to a gym and see for yourself. Big fan of all sports especially in young of today many spend too much time on there xboxs, eating ***** or upto no good.
It’s quite interesting that there’s been quite a few boxers & people who are involved in boxing who have been recently charged & sentenced for drug crimes dating back to Covid times when they couldn’t fight & earn money. It certainly gives credence to the idea that many people in boxing may have gone down a much worse path if they didn’t have boxing.
" I don’t think Tyson has a single top level win" Up to meeting Holyfield, he'd beaten virtually every top level heavyweight. L, DQ3 11/09/1996 Evander Holyfield L, TKO11 09/07/1996 Bruce Seldon W, TKO1 03/16/1996 Frank Bruno W, TKO3 12/16/1995 Buster Mathis Jr. W, KO3 08/19/1995 Peter McNeeley W, DQ1 06/28/1991 Donovan Ruddock W, UD12 03/18/1991 Donovan Ruddock W, TKO7 12/08/1990 Alex Stewart W, TKO1 06/16/1990 Henry Tillman W, KO1 (ESPN 02/11/1990 James "Buster" Douglas L, KO10 07/21/1989 Carl Williams W, TKO1 02/25/1989 Frank Bruno W, TKO5 (ESPN+) 06/27/1988 Michael Spinks W, KO1 (ESPN+) 03/21/1988 Tony Tubbs W, TKO2 01/22/1988 Larry Holmes W, TKO4 (ESPN+) 10/16/1987 Tyrell Biggs W, TKO7 08/01/1987 Tony Tucker W, UD12 05/30/1987 Pinklon Thomas W, TKO6 03/07/1987 James Smith W, UD12 11/22/1986 Trevor Berbick W, TKO2 (ESPN+) 09/06/1986 Alfonzo Ratliff W, TKO2 08/17/1986 Jose Ribalta W, TKO10 07/26/1986 Marvis Frazier W, TKO1 07/11/1986 Lorenzo Boyd W, KO2 06/28/1986 William Hosea W, KO1 06/13/1986 Reggie Gross W, TKO1 05/20/1986 Mitch Green W, UD10 05/03/1986 James Tillis W, UD10 (ESPN+) 03/10/1986 Steve Zouski W, KO3 (ESPN+) 02/16/1986 Jesse Ferguson W, TKO6 (ESPN+) 01/24/1986 Mike Jameson W, TKO5 (ESPN+) 01/11/1986 David Jaco W, TKO1 12/27/1985 Mark Young W, TKO1 12/06/1985 Sammy Scaff W, TKO1 11/22/1985 Conroy Nelson W, TKO2 11/13/1985 Eddie Richardson W, KO1 11/01/1985 Sterling Benjamin W, TKO1 10/25/1985 Robert Colay W, KO1 10/09/1985 Donnie Long W, TKO1 09/05/1985 Michael Johnson W, KO1 (ESPN+) 08/15/1985 Lorenzo Canady W, KO1 (ESPN+) 07/19/1985 Larry Sims W, KO3 07/11/1985 John Alderson W, TKO2 06/20/1985 Ricardo Spain W, TKO1 05/23/1985 Don Halpin W, KO4 04/10/1985 Trent Singleton W, TKO1 03/06/1985 Hector Merced W, TKO
Sadbrewer done a much better reply than me but I'm happy to acept your oponion, sadly we'll never kno and some of the others on my list had losses to people we never expected to beat them. Out of my list I'd have loved to see Usyk v Holyfield. KO to Holyfield for me...
That’s just a list of his fights. I class top level wins as beating quality fighters in their prime not just title defences & beating gatekeepers. Wladimir Klitschko reigned for over a decade & through no fault of his own as the division was crap he didn’t have any top level wins. Haye & Povetkin were the closest thing to it but I felt they fell just short. With Usyk I don’t consider beating Dubois last night or Bellew when he was at cruiserweight as top level wins as they were belt holders rather than the best.
This is a really decent era compared to what we’ve had in the 20 years prior. Chagaev, Ibragimov, Maskaev, Liakhovich, Briggs, Stiverne all held belts in the Klitschko years before the emergence of Fury, Joshua, Wilder & then Usyk. Zhang, Kabayel, Parker, Dubois underneath. Plenty of good scraps & entertainment domestically through Joyce, Whyte, Chisora etc. I remember the dark days of Williams, Audley, Skelton & Sprott. This really is a golden era in comparison.
