Tyson - Last Great Heavyweight

[embryo]

Just saying, I'm not a Tyson worshiper. I think he was amazing, obviously, because he was. But let's be honest, all you Tyson haters and you Tyson lovers and everyone in between.

Who is the last heavyweight that you and everyone at school or work were talking about full of excitement saying "we gotta get together this weekend and watch the (name fighter) fight, let's all throw in a few bucks, we can't miss it!"

Honestly, Tyson was the last guy. Lewis, Holyfield, Wlad, Vitali, all great, great fighters. But nobody came close to the electricity and mania that Tyson created, even at the end of his career. Am I wrong? Who was the last "Great" heavyweight who created this atmosphere in boxing, in SPORTS in general, that generated so much attention to the sport of boxing? Is it Tyson?

[beez721]

Just saying, I'm not a Tyson worshiper. I think he was amazing, obviously, because he was. But let's be honest, all you Tyson haters and you Tyson lovers and everyone in between.

Who is the last heavyweight that you and everyone at school or work were talking about full of excitement saying "we gotta get together this weekend and watch the (name fighter) fight, let's all throw in a few bucks, we can't miss it!"

Honestly, Tyson was the last guy. Lewis, Holyfield, Wlad, Vitali, all great, great fighters. But nobody came close to the electricity and mania that Tyson created, even at the end of his career. Am I wrong? Who was the last "Great" heavyweight who created this atmosphere in boxing, in SPORTS in general, that generated so much attention to the sport of boxing? Is it Tyson?

yea,,,,he sure put butts in the seats thats for sure. always loved his ferocity in there. threw every punch like it was his last

[billeau2]

Just saying, I'm not a Tyson worshiper. I think he was amazing, obviously, because he was. But let's be honest, all you Tyson haters and you Tyson lovers and everyone in between.

Who is the last heavyweight that you and everyone at school or work were talking about full of excitement saying "we gotta get together this weekend and watch the (name fighter) fight, let's all throw in a few bucks, we can't miss it!"

Honestly, Tyson was the last guy. Lewis, Holyfield, Wlad, Vitali, all great, great fighters. But nobody came close to the electricity and mania that Tyson created, even at the end of his career. Am I wrong? Who was the last "Great" heavyweight who created this atmosphere in boxing, in SPORTS in general, that generated so much attention to the sport of boxing? Is it Tyson?

In the East, the days of antiquity people had legends...When someone became sufficiently big they became a legend. Musashi the man who fought 100 or more duels, many of the samurai claimed they were taught by mountain demons, in China many families were known by their deeds in the boxing community of the day....but even in a culture that functions in that way legends inevitably are deconstructed. The Shaolin monastery was held in high regard yet many years later there were accounts of Chinese generals saying their stick work was garbage...

In our culture history is the validating force. As time goes on people are reevaluated....Lincoln was a hated man as president but he passed the litmus test and now he is known as a great man by the majority.

Tyson came on strong. I well remember the gestault you speak of. The finality of a Tyson victory which far surpassed the dry humping Vlad Klitschko experience. Lewis, like Holmes was never apreciated while he was champ. Everyone thought the next guy would take Lewis out. but as father time has passed we know say that Holmes was a great fighter, some even say he surpassed Ali...some say this! I notice that Lewis has started to get his due, and Tyson is often spoke of as lacking.

I guess it will balance out. Tyson was special and as long as the baby boomers are around he will have a voice!

[BKM-2010]

Who is the last heavyweight that you and everyone at school or work were talking about full of excitement saying "we gotta get together this weekend and watch the (name fighter) fight, let's all throw in a few bucks, we can't miss it!"

Lennox Lewis

And the few Slavic guys I've met were all Klitschko fans(some casual some more).

[rightsideup]

mike was exciting and was managed correctly with the highlights of his early knockouts against fairly easy opposition hitting sportcenter because of Jim Jacobs connections he continued to impress and was the youngest hw champ.
The last greatest I not sure but he was definably the last most famous heavy before him would be Ali, then Joe Louis and Jack Dempsey.

[K-DOGG]

Just saying, I'm not a Tyson worshiper. I think he was amazing, obviously, because he was. But let's be honest, all you Tyson haters and you Tyson lovers and everyone in between.

Who is the last heavyweight that you and everyone at school or work were talking about full of excitement saying "we gotta get together this weekend and watch the (name fighter) fight, let's all throw in a few bucks, we can't miss it!"

Honestly, Tyson was the last guy. Lewis, Holyfield, Wlad, Vitali, all great, great fighters. But nobody came close to the electricity and mania that Tyson created, even at the end of his career. Am I wrong? Who was the last "Great" heavyweight who created this atmosphere in boxing, in SPORTS in general, that generated so much attention to the sport of boxing? Is it Tyson?

Tyson was "electric"; but I would not agree he was the last great heavyweight. He was promoted well, and had knockout power, which always captures the public's attention, especially after the slog through the morass that was the heavyweight division of the post-Ali era.

"Electric" is more psychological, like John L. Sullivan, James J. Jeffries, Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, and Muhammad Ali. There has to be a tinge of "greatness" there; but that does not define the whole picture. Were Jack Johnson, Ezzard Charles, Larry Holmes, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, and Vitali Klitschko any less "great" because they didn't garner the attention/of the public? Were their skills and abilities any less impressive, or their list of accomplishments?

I would actually suggest of the post-Tyson era heavyweights listed, ALL were "greater" historically and in the ring.

Tyson's aura is greater than he ever really was, although he did have the potential/to outshine all. Maybe its the "what could have been" factor that still hypnotizes people so, for when you look at what actually "was", the bloom invariably falls from the rose.

[Suckmedry]

Fact is Tyson had the most explosive entry to the HW championship since Jack Dempsey stopped Willard.

[The Old LefHook]

Why not? Half the people leave Teddy bears at Holyfield's ****ing ear, don't they? But he was never any good once he ran off to the moslems. They were wrecking statues and he was very good all right. I challenge you all right. He was strong enough to pulp a young potato. You can ask anyone that. These guys pulp potatos and KO horses and you want to rib them? I suppose not. But if you see Mike coming half of you better leave town, the man will not endure Chinese food for big dollars if pork has even passed by the plate, or **** with discurteous strangers, for that matter, and most people could not be his puke. He just spits you out.

He was a great fighter with picnic hams for biceps, for Chrissakes. Yeah, he admitted it! So get on with yer business, you dingleberry on the c*nt lips of an infected mule. I had you over and you didn't like my booze. If you want Mike for the kid's birthday party, it might be a little harder now. What do I care? Yes, he was, hunchback.

[sonnyboyx2]

Tyson was the most exciting fighter of our lifetimes.

[Mugwump]

This question is a little more complicated, IMO. I mean, if we are talking purely in terms of talent, ability etc. I'd say no. Lewis and Holyfield were both better.

But I do think he might well be the last great heavyweight from the perspective of a cultural phenomenon.

Personally I think far too many people conflate the two and this is why so many around here rank Tyson way above the level his ability and results dictate.