20 Years ago today

[Gemmill 44258]

 

Ali would still have boxed his head off in his prime though.

Everyone always says that...but I'm not so sure

 

 

Tyson was vithciouthneth perthonified

 

So were Foreman and Liston and both had bigger punches than Tyson. Ok they weren't as quick, but they still got what was coming to them.

 

It was more the sheer violence I was thinking of

 

I've never seen such an aggressive boxer.

 

Fair do's though...we'll never know for sure

 

We will though, I've TOLD you.

[Jimbo 172]

 

Ali would still have boxed his head off in his prime though.

Everyone always says that...but I'm not so sure

 

 

Tyson was vithciouthneth perthonified

 

So were Foreman and Liston and both had bigger punches than Tyson. Ok they weren't as quick, but they still got what was coming to them.

 

It was more the sheer violence I was thinking of

 

I've never seen such an aggressive boxer.

 

Fair do's though...we'll never know for sure

 

We will though, I've TOLD you.

 

 

Its hard to compare Tyson with Liston or Foreman, Tyson was much shorter than those two, and as rightly pointed out, much quicker, Liston and Foreman had one punch knock out power, whilst Tyson finished opponents off with clusters of punches, very different styles to compare.

[Guest alex]

As the excellent BBC 3-part series 'The Fight' alluded to, Tyson was probably closer in style, stature and punching power to Jack Dempsey (his hero btw).

[manc-mag 1]

I was working in the nightclub when Bruno beat McCall to win the title. I had taped it and planned on watching it when I got home, but somebody told me the result before I finished at work. I remember sitting in a taxi on the way home thinking how strange it was to live in a world that Frank fucking Bruno was the heavyweight champion of.

 

Fantastic bit of boxing entertainment though. I remember watching it with my dad and the last round was painful, Bruno was totally fucked to the point he was having difficulty standing and McCall was punching the shit out of him. I bet the entire nation was sitting there screaming 'HANG ON FRANK YOU FUCKER!' People's champ tbh.

 

Aye it was quality. I never got to see the fight before I knew the result, so I knew he would hang on, but I know what you mean about that last round. He was completely dead on his feet. The confetti and all the lights and that at the end was hilarious.

 

McCall was crying on his way into the ring IIRC. The fucking drip.

[sweetleftpeg 0]

I was working in the nightclub when Bruno beat McCall to win the title. I had taped it and planned on watching it when I got home, but somebody told me the result before I finished at work. I remember sitting in a taxi on the way home thinking how strange it was to live in a world that Frank fucking Bruno was the heavyweight champion of.

 

Fantastic bit of boxing entertainment though. I remember watching it with my dad and the last round was painful, Bruno was totally fucked to the point he was having difficulty standing and McCall was punching the shit out of him. I bet the entire nation was sitting there screaming 'HANG ON FRANK YOU FUCKER!' People's champ tbh.

 

Aye it was quality. I never got to see the fight before I knew the result, so I knew he would hang on, but I know what you mean about that last round. He was completely dead on his feet. The confetti and all the lights and that at the end was hilarious.

 

McCall was crying on his way into the ring IIRC. The fucking drip.

 

That was the Lewis fight where he refused to throw punches.

[Jimbo 172]

As the excellent BBC 3-part series 'The Fight' alluded to, Tyson was probably closer in style, stature and punching power to Jack Dempsey (his hero btw).

 

 

Dead right Alex, if you ever see the Dempsey Vs Willard fight, its like watching Tyson.

[Guest alex]

As the excellent BBC 3-part series 'The Fight' alluded to, Tyson was probably closer in style, stature and punching power to Jack Dempsey (his hero btw).

 

 

Dead right Alex, if you ever see the Dempsey Vs Willard fight, its like watching Tyson.

That punch when he broke Willard's jaw/face/head. Christ on a bike! He kept going for about 2 more rounds after that I think.

[Gemmill 44258]

 

Ali would still have boxed his head off in his prime though.

Everyone always says that...but I'm not so sure

 

 

Tyson was vithciouthneth perthonified

 

So were Foreman and Liston and both had bigger punches than Tyson. Ok they weren't as quick, but they still got what was coming to them.

 

It was more the sheer violence I was thinking of

 

I've never seen such an aggressive boxer.

 

Fair do's though...we'll never know for sure

 

We will though, I've TOLD you.

 

 

Its hard to compare Tyson with Liston or Foreman, Tyson was much shorter than those two, and as rightly pointed out, much quicker, Liston and Foreman had one punch knock out power, whilst Tyson finished opponents off with clusters of punches, very different styles to compare.

 

I was referring more to the aura he built up re "viciousness personified". Liston was supposed to have something similar and Foreman was seen as unbeatable when Ali was getting ready to fight him - he'd absolutely brained Frazier. You'll have seen When We Were Kings and the likes of Plimpton and Mailer and all the boxing writers genuinely feared for Ali's health. Tyson was fast as owt, but I'd like to think that Ali's legs would have got him out of bother as he just jabbed Tyson's head off.

[Jimbo 172]

As the excellent BBC 3-part series 'The Fight' alluded to, Tyson was probably closer in style, stature and punching power to Jack Dempsey (his hero btw).

 

 

Dead right Alex, if you ever see the Dempsey Vs Willard fight, its like watching Tyson.

That punch when he broke Willard's jaw/face/head. Christ on a bike! He kept going for about 2 more rounds after that I think.

 

Willard was down 7 times in the first round, Dempsey and his manager had a huge bet on a first round KO, Willard hung on until the 3rd, a brutal fight.

[Gemmill 44258]

I was working in the nightclub when Bruno beat McCall to win the title. I had taped it and planned on watching it when I got home, but somebody told me the result before I finished at work. I remember sitting in a taxi on the way home thinking how strange it was to live in a world that Frank fucking Bruno was the heavyweight champion of.

 

Fantastic bit of boxing entertainment though. I remember watching it with my dad and the last round was painful, Bruno was totally fucked to the point he was having difficulty standing and McCall was punching the shit out of him. I bet the entire nation was sitting there screaming 'HANG ON FRANK YOU FUCKER!' People's champ tbh.

 

Aye it was quality. I never got to see the fight before I knew the result, so I knew he would hang on, but I know what you mean about that last round. He was completely dead on his feet. The confetti and all the lights and that at the end was hilarious.

 

McCall was crying on his way into the ring IIRC. The fucking drip.

 

That was the Lewis fight where he refused to throw punches.

 

That was fucking hilarious. I remember Lewis in the interview afterwards blaming it on the white shorts he'd worn. He reckons McCall saw him in white shorts and pictured him as an old fashioned gladiator and just started bubbling.

 

Pathetic fucking fight though. McCall clearly had issues.

[Jimbo 172]

 

Ali would still have boxed his head off in his prime though.

Everyone always says that...but I'm not so sure

 

 

Tyson was vithciouthneth perthonified

 

So were Foreman and Liston and both had bigger punches than Tyson. Ok they weren't as quick, but they still got what was coming to them.

 

It was more the sheer violence I was thinking of

 

I've never seen such an aggressive boxer.

 

Fair do's though...we'll never know for sure

 

We will though, I've TOLD you.

 

 

Its hard to compare Tyson with Liston or Foreman, Tyson was much shorter than those two, and as rightly pointed out, much quicker, Liston and Foreman had one punch knock out power, whilst Tyson finished opponents off with clusters of punches, very different styles to compare.

 

I was referring more to the aura he built up re "viciousness personified". Liston was supposed to have something similar and Foreman was seen as unbeatable when Ali was getting ready to fight him - he'd absolutely brained Frazier. You'll have seen When We Were Kings and the likes of Plimpton and Mailer and all the boxing writers genuinely feared for Ali's health. Tyson was fast as owt, but I'd like to think that Ali's legs would have got him out of bother as he just jabbed Tyson's head off.

 

I agree, the only thing I'd add is that Joe Frazier is probably the closest Ali got to a Tyson as an opponent, and as we all know Frazier beat Ali in 71 and gave him huge problems in the next 2 fights and I'd say Tyson was better than Frazier, but we will never know.

[Gemmill 44258]

 

Ali would still have boxed his head off in his prime though.

Everyone always says that...but I'm not so sure

 

 

Tyson was vithciouthneth perthonified

 

So were Foreman and Liston and both had bigger punches than Tyson. Ok they weren't as quick, but they still got what was coming to them.

 

It was more the sheer violence I was thinking of

 

I've never seen such an aggressive boxer.

 

Fair do's though...we'll never know for sure

 

We will though, I've TOLD you.

 

 

Its hard to compare Tyson with Liston or Foreman, Tyson was much shorter than those two, and as rightly pointed out, much quicker, Liston and Foreman had one punch knock out power, whilst Tyson finished opponents off with clusters of punches, very different styles to compare.

 

I was referring more to the aura he built up re "viciousness personified". Liston was supposed to have something similar and Foreman was seen as unbeatable when Ali was getting ready to fight him - he'd absolutely brained Frazier. You'll have seen When We Were Kings and the likes of Plimpton and Mailer and all the boxing writers genuinely feared for Ali's health. Tyson was fast as owt, but I'd like to think that Ali's legs would have got him out of bother as he just jabbed Tyson's head off.

 

I agree, the only thing I'd add is that Joe Frazier is probably the closest Ali got to a Tyson as an opponent, and as we all know Frazier beat Ali in 71 and gave him huge problems in the next 2 fights and I'd say Tyson was better than Frazier, but we will never know.

 

Aye true. His bobbing head would have done your nut in. Hold it still so I can hit you you little shit.

[Guest alex]

 

Ali would still have boxed his head off in his prime though.

Everyone always says that...but I'm not so sure

 

 

Tyson was vithciouthneth perthonified

 

So were Foreman and Liston and both had bigger punches than Tyson. Ok they weren't as quick, but they still got what was coming to them.

 

It was more the sheer violence I was thinking of

 

I've never seen such an aggressive boxer.

 

Fair do's though...we'll never know for sure

 

We will though, I've TOLD you.

 

 

Its hard to compare Tyson with Liston or Foreman, Tyson was much shorter than those two, and as rightly pointed out, much quicker, Liston and Foreman had one punch knock out power, whilst Tyson finished opponents off with clusters of punches, very different styles to compare.

 

I was referring more to the aura he built up re "viciousness personified". Liston was supposed to have something similar and Foreman was seen as unbeatable when Ali was getting ready to fight him - he'd absolutely brained Frazier. You'll have seen When We Were Kings and the likes of Plimpton and Mailer and all the boxing writers genuinely feared for Ali's health. Tyson was fast as owt, but I'd like to think that Ali's legs would have got him out of bother as he just jabbed Tyson's head off.

 

I agree, the only thing I'd add is that Joe Frazier is probably the closest Ali got to a Tyson as an opponent, and as we all know Frazier beat Ali in 71 and gave him huge problems in the next 2 fights and I'd say Tyson was better than Frazier, but we will never know.

Ali was past his best though and had to suffer 3 years out of boxing prior to that. The amazing thing about Ali was that he could beat a compact accurate boxer like Frazier (albeit with great difficulty) and beat a monster like Foreman in his prime when he himself was slightly over the hill.