Was Tyson Mentally Weak?

[Nigel_Benn]

In the ring and outside?

[PowerPuncher]

Being physically very short had more impact on him than being mentally weak in the ring. Having physically less stamina post-prison had more impact on him than being mentally weak in the ring

[McGrain]

I consider him mentally frail, yes.

Outside the ring, unquestionably.

[mr. magoo]

His emotions led to his dawnfall, but to be fair his life circumstances didn't help.

[McGrain]

Life circumstances aren't an excuse i'm interested in for Mike. He had his chance at the good life, he had many chances.

NICE avatar.

[mr. magoo]

Dito with the avatar. Certainly better than the evil clowns.

Anyway, growing up getting bullied on in the streets of Brownsville NY, losing both your mother and father as a child, dropping out of highschool at 14 years of age, then all of a sudden having an overload of wealth and success shoved down your throat at an age typically still considered to be a child by modern day standards. Then losing the closest guardians that one has to family via firing or death, then an ugly divorce followed by the death of a sibling.

Sounds like a lot for a 21 year old kid with no guidance, education or family......

[TommyV]

Being physically very short had more impact on him than being mentally weak in the ring. Having physically less stamina post-prison had more impact on him than being mentally weak in the ring

I would strongly disagree. It's arguable that his height wasn't really a great hinderance. His mental state clearly was.

[Chinxkid]

The short answer? Obviously.

Mike strikes me as the boy who never grew up, sensitive and vulnerable, nothing wrong with it in most businesses. In some circles it's a gift to be that childlike. But he could break in the ring, and was naive and gullible and could be easily taken advantage of in the world. As tough as he is, as volatile as he is, as dangerous as he is, there is something to me anyway, moving, heartbreaking about the guy...

Though that said, the only way I'd want to have a substantive conversation with him was if I had a shotgun in my lap.

[mr. magoo]

I would strongly disagree. It's arguable that his height wasn't really a great hinderance. His mental state clearly was.

His loss to Douglas had more to do with the lack of motivation to fight to his fullest capacity along with the diminishing of skills that came from the discovery that he could knock a guy out with one punch. Incompetant managment had a role to play in both..

The Holyfield loss, was a result of two fighters who were both out of prime along with the fact that I firmly believe the other guy had his number stylistically.

[McGrain]

Anyway, growing up getting bullied on in the streets of Brownsville NY, losing both your mother and father as a child, dropping out of highschool at 14 years of age, then all of a sudden having an overload of wealth and success shoved down your throat at an age typically still considered to be a child by modern day standards. Then losing the closest guardians that one has to family via firing or death, then an ugly divorce followed by the death of a sibling.
.....


I understand, but you miss out the part where Tyson is plucked from the streets because of his exceptional talent, taken to a home where he was relatively nurtured in relative safety by people to whom cared for him. That's his chance to turn his hard life around right there.

Think of all the kids in Brownsville who suffer as badly, worse even, and are denied that shot. I'd wager not all of them grow up to have rape convictions. The difference, IMO, is mental strength to carry such heavy burdens.

[Chinxkid]

I understand, but you miss out the part where Tyson is plucked from the streets because of his exceptional talent, taken to a home where he was relatively nurtured in relative safety by people to whom cared for him. That's his chance to turn his hard life around right there.

Think of all the kids in Brownsville who suffer as badly, worse even, and are denied that shot. I'd wager not all of them grow up to have rape convictions. The difference, IMO, is mental strength to carry such heavy burdens.

Yeah, and I guess it's true that anybody who gets a tatoo that takes up one full side of his face has a spring loose. I think I would argue that the dye was already cast by the time Cus plucked him off the streets of his Brownsville neighborhood. Psychologists, and I ain't one, would claim that we are all of us molded by the time we hit six years old. Alotta guys who grow up in those kind of neighborhoods if they don't have the wherewithal to see beyond, are stunted socially. You ever spent any time a place like that? Some of those neighborhoods, especially the projects, are world all their own. Some of those people are as socially disadvantaged as if they would have grown up out in the middle of nowhere.

[Silver]

His loss to Douglas had more to do with the lack of motivation to fight to his fullest capacity along with the diminishing of skills that came from the discovery that he could knock a guy out with one punch. Incompetant managment had a role to play in both..


thats a good point you brought up. once tyson became a one-punch ko artist instead of being a combination puncher, he became very beatable. it happens to alot of punchers. they rely on their power more then their skill and become one-dimensional

[El Cepillo]

No, not weak.

I'm not trying to insult Tyson, but I honestly believe he was mentally ill and never got treatment, perhaps that is still the case.

[GPater11093]

i think he was mentally unstable

but lok at it he had a hard up brining and had no father figure at all after cus died so his biggest influence was DK who IMO robbed him blind

tyson wasnt careful with money and ruined himself finaceiully.

but what ruined him was fame, everyone knowing him and wanting to speak to him and saying hes great it cant be good for a 22 year old or however old he was.

[mr. magoo]

Yeah, and I guess it's true that anybody who gets a tatoo that takes up one full side of his face has a spring loose. I think I would argue that the dye was already cast by the time Cus plucked him off the streets of his Brownsville neighborhood. Psychologists, and I ain't one, would claim that we are all of us molded by the time we hit six years old. Alotta guys who grow up in those kind of neighborhoods if they don't have the wherewithal to see beyond, are stunted socially. You ever spent any time a place like that? Some of those neighborhoods, especially the projects, are world all their own. Some of those people are as socially disadvantaged as if they would have grown up out in the middle of nowhere.


Agreed.

Fame, fortune and success do not remedy some of the problems Tyson had. In fact, if a person is unprepared to receive these things in large doeses as Tyson did, they can often make things substantially worse.

[Silver]

even with cus in the picture, tyson had little discipline. he was never repermanded when he got in trouble in school. tyson always did what he wanted to do and it later got him into more trouble then he could have ever imagined

[GPater11093]

even with cus in the picture, tyson had little discipline. he was never repermanded when he got in trouble in school. tyson always did what he wanted to do and it later got him into more trouble then he could have ever imagined

IMO if cus had got Tyson instead of Patterson, in other words when cus was young

Tyson would be consensus ATG as he would have discipline

teddy atlas said cus let tyson of the hook as cus didnt have alot of time left and wanted tyson to acheive things fast and didnt think he ould need discipline to achieve it quick

but imagine if cus had disicplined him with tyson going inot all fights at a peak he would have been an ATG

[mr. magoo]

thats a good point you brought up. once tyson became a one-punch ko artist instead of being a combination puncher, he became very beatable. it happens to alot of punchers. they rely on their power more then their skill and become one-dimensional

If we study his earlier fights such as Trevor Berbick, Pinklon Thomas, Tony Tubbs, etc. We see a guy who's doing a lot more bobbing, weaving, jabbing, throwing combos etc. By the first Bruno fight, there seemed to be a lot more holding back and waiting for open opportunities. Frankly, I think that Jay Bright and Aron Snowel took a very " if it ain't broke, don't fix it, " type of approach and resulted in his skills diminishing. Rooney and D'amato were true students and believers of the old school. A tradesman keeps various tools in his tool box for a reason, and if you don't use em' you lose em'.

[GPater11093]

No, not weak.

I'm not trying to insult Tyson, but I honestly believe he was mentally ill and never got treatment, perhaps that is still the case.

i have heard taht afew times and i can see where your coming from

i dont personally think that i just think he never grew up and didnt have discpline

but you could easy be right

btw tyson is supposed to be a real nice guy if you meet him so that could explain if he had a dual personality or sudden mood swings

[Chinxkid]

Agreed.

Fame, fortune and success do not remedy some of the problems Tyson had. In fact, if a person is unprepared to receive these things in large doeses as Tyson did, they can often make things substantially worse.

Amen. What a disconnect, right? Like the Woody Allen movie "Sleeper" where he wakes up and has no idea how to live in the world.

So with Mike you got a guy (boy), who never grew up, and what's more the butt naked emperor was constantly being complimented on his high fashion wardrobe. Happens everywhere I guess. But in America, in the worlds of sports and entertainment, it's rampant.

[GPater11093]

look at all the young champions they always all go off the road at one point

wilfred benitez
aaron pryor
etc...

[Silver]

If we study his earlier fights such as Trevor Berbick, Pinklon Thomas, Tony Tubbs, etc. We see a guy who's doing a lot more bobbing, weaving, jabbing, throwing combos etc. By the first Bruno fight, there seemed to be a lot more holding back and waiting for open opportunities. Frankly, I think that Jay Bright and Aron Snowel took a very " if it ain't broke, don't fix it, " type of approach and resulted in his skills diminishing. Rooney and D'amato were true students and believers of the old school. A tradesman keeps various tools in his tool box for a reason, and if you don't use em' you lose em'.incidentally, the first bruno fight is the first time you saw vulnerability in tyson as bruno rocked but again, its an example of a man who no longer was concerned with head movemant and haveing a balanced attack tot eh body and head. tyson really relied on good trainiers like rooney and cus because he was too young and simple to understand that ko power along was going to sustain his championship reign.

[HomicideHenry]

Yeah he was. He was spoon fed opponents to build his confidence, much like Patterson was. And as time wore on, he believed in his own press and did okay, until Douglas. After that I dont think he ever quite believed in himself again. After his retirement following his loss to McBride, I remember him saying "My career was over in 1990". I think its an accurate statement.

[Silver]

IMO if cus had got Tyson instead of Patterson, in other words when cus was young

Tyson would be consensus ATG as he would have discipline

teddy atlas said cus let tyson of the hook as cus didnt have alot of time left and wanted tyson to acheive things fast and didnt think he ould need discipline to achieve it quick

but imagine if cus had disicplined him with tyson going inot all fights at a peak he would have been an ATG
yeah, because tyson had the gifts to bea able to fight, he used that to do what he felt like. cus pampered to an extent and it resulted in a completely meltdown for tyson later on. its truly a shame.

[Chinxkid]

Guys with deep, unaddressed psychological issues will sooner or later unravel. It's in its way, healthy. It's part of the natural healing process. It happens in every walk of life, but when it happens to a fighter, while he's in the ring, it can be a big problem.

[Silver]

Yeah he was. He was spoon fed opponents to build his confidence, much like Patterson was. And as time wore on, he believed in his own press and did okay, until Douglas. After that I dont think he ever quite believed in himself again. After his retirement following his loss to McBride, I remember him saying "My career was over in 1990". I think its an accurate statement.
he got too arrogant because of his knockout power. cus always taught him let the knockout happen naturally, not to chase after it. pateitn agressiveness. by 89' tyson had abandoned all of that.

[mr. magoo]

Yeah he was. He was spoon fed opponents to build his confidence, much like Patterson was. And as time wore on, he believed in his own press and did okay, until Douglas. After that I dont think he ever quite believed in himself again. After his retirement following his loss to McBride, I remember him saying "My career was over in 1990". I think its an accurate statement.

In 1985-1986, men like Jesse Ferguson, Jose Ribalta, Marvis Frazier, James Tillis and Mitch Green were not exactly hand picked opponents for an 18-19 year old kid who only stood 5'11". Those guys are hardly what I would have called cherry picking.

[Silver]

at his best, tyson can give any atg a run for their money, at his worst, well you saw him at his worse in tokyo 1990

[GPater11093]

In 1985-1986, men like Jesse Ferguson, Jose Ribalta, Marvis Frazier, James Tillis and Mitch Green were not exactly hand picked opponents for an 18-19 year old kid who only stood 5'11". Those guys are hardly what I would have called cherry picking.

they were hard opponents

fighting them at such a young age led him to his metoric rise

[apollack]

Tyson had the confidence of a bully and a front runner who knew in his heart that he was better than everyone else. However, when he met opposition that could really stand up to him, take it and give it right back, his confidence got shattered, and you saw his weak inner mind come out, particularly via fouls.

That said, I don't want to totally get in on the anti-Tyson bandwagon. Although I think Holyfield had a better mind and always believed that he could win a fight, even when he was losing, no matter what the odds or punishment, I think that was only WHILE HE WAS FIGHTING IN THE RING AT THE TIME OF THE FIGHT.

OUTSIDE THE RING, I too think Evander had a weakness that not many address enough. He had a weak mind in that he didn't really believe that he could win without the help of steroids and human growth hormone. Therefore, he did not have the great mind or confidence of guys of yesteryear who fought and won without cheating.

[Silver]

Tyson had the confidence of a bully and a front runner who knew in his heart that he was better than everyone else. However, when he met opposition that could really stand up to him, take it and give it right back, his confidence got shattered, and you saw his weak inner mind come out, particularly via fouls.

That said, I don't want to totally get in on the anti-Tyson bandwagon. Although I think Holyfield had a better mind and always believed that he could win a fight, even when he was losing, no matter what the odds or punishment, I think that was only WHILE HE WAS FIGHTING IN THE RING AT THE TIME OF THE FIGHT.

OUTSIDE THE RING, I too think Evander had a weakness that not many address enough. He had a weak mind in that he didn't really believe that he could win without the help of steroids and human growth hormone. Therefore, he did not have the great mind or confidence of guys of yesteryear who fought and won without cheating.
thats a common misconception that people get about tyson. if you saw that ruddock fights you saw a guy with ruddock when when toe to toe with tyson trading bombs. and tyson porevialed, twice. so that line "all you had to do what stand up to tyson" is old and tired. and its just not factual. tyson had problems when he was getting outboxed and outmanuvered. he relied on power punching more then anything after the spinks fight so he became a fighter who was easy to figure out.

[mr. magoo]

thats a common misconception that people get about tyson. if you saw that ruddock fights you saw a guy with ruddock when when toe to toe with tyson trading bombs. and tyson porevialed, twice. so that line "all you had to do what stand up to tyson" is old and tired. and its just not factual. tyson had problems when he was getting outboxed and outmanuvered. he relied on power punching more then anything after the spinks fight so he became a fighter who was easy to figure out.


Bingo.

Tony Tubbs, Tony Tucker, Pinklon Thomas, Frank Bruno and Razor Ruddock all stood up to Tyson and were all much bigger men, yet he defeated all of them. Some of those guys were outjabbing him or landing big powerful shots within the opening round(s) of the fight and he found a way to slip the jab and either score a KO or regain control of the match enroute to a decision win. Most of these men were better career fighters than Douglas was as well. This misconception that any tall rangy fighter with halfway decent foot work and a good jab could beat Tyson no matter what his name was, is nonsense.

[janitor]

Above all he was a verry damaged individual and will always be so. I have done some work with young ofenders and can see some of the paterns. I think that if you ever tested his IQ it would come out well above average. Inteligent children born into that kind of background find outlets for their inteligence and they are often violent and disruptive.

Chinxkid summed it up better than I can. The guy was born into a background where past a certain age he was always going to be a timebomb waiting to go off.

I would hesitate to say that he was weak mentaly. I think he must have been able to discipline himself and overcome adversity to a substantial extent to get as far as he did. I cant interpret it any other way.

[Nigel_Benn]

I think Tyson was mentally weak outside the ring because he didnt have the discpline once Cus and Jacobs were gone to continue to be champion,IMO Tyson cant use the exscuse of his background Lennox said "Iv had it hard growing up but i dont act like Tyson does" And hes right he was 13 and moved to a predominant white country with a london accent.However back to Tyson Tysons heart can not be questioned in my opinion yes he fouled his way out of the fights with Holyfield and McBride but lets not forget he took 10 rounds of brutal Punishment from Douglas without looking to quit and against Lewis when he was completly shot and unable to even do anything he took a vicious beating without looking to foul out of the fight.

[janitor]

IMO Tyson cant use the exscuse of his background Lennox said "Iv had it hard growing up but i dont act like Tyson does"

I disagree.

Lennox Lewis grew up in extreme poverty like Mike Tyson and so did Joe Louis.

The crucial difference is that they had good families.

Lewis and Louis's mothers put food on the table and brought them up to repect moral values, despite their horiffic suroundings, while Tysons mother brought him up in an abusive environment.

[apollack]

thats a common misconception that people get about tyson. if you saw that ruddock fights you saw a guy with ruddock when when toe to toe with tyson trading bombs. and tyson porevialed, twice. so that line "all you had to do what stand up to tyson" is old and tired. and its just not factual. tyson had problems when he was getting outboxed and outmanuvered. he relied on power punching more then anything after the spinks fight so he became a fighter who was easy to figure out.


Good point. I too very much appreciate his performances against Ruddock, who was one hell of a big puncher, who took it and dished it back. But what I said, or meant, was that when a fighter gave Mike trouble, he couldn't just go about his business and overcome the challenge with hard work. Rather, he felt the need to cheat and foul, which I say displays lack of confidence, character, proper mental attitude.

Ruddock is a bit of a false example because Tyson was never behind in those fights, was the only one scoring the knockdowns, was generally giving Razor a beatdown, and most importantly, even all that said, because Razor fought back hard, Tyson still fouled him several times, including many low blows, for which I recall Mike losing a point or two. So, to a certain degree, I think that the insight into his foul character came out even in that fight.

[Primadonna Kool]

I have never thought Mike Tyson was mentally weak, or was intimidated by any fighter. But he was easily fustrated, even in his Team Tyson days. And when he became fustrated, his sistimatic style would break down alittle bit. Quick Tillis did this to Mike Tyson, and also Bone Crusher Smith. Yes so Mike Tyson was far from Mentally weak, he came to fight. But near the end of his career, i believe anti-despresants had a serious affect on his mental aproach inside the ring. The only time i ever saw fear in Mike Tyson was pre Lennox Lewis, in the changing rooms.."when the ref was giving Mike Tyson the condition or rules or whatever" on the way to the ring you could see that Mike Tyson was trying to act as if, "I am still bad, still from the street" but it was forced body langauge. Also against Evander Holyfield in the rematch, Mike Tyson was fustrated because Evander Holyfield was immune to any kind of intimidation.

Watch his ring walks, against Razor Ruddock, Frank Bruno, Golota....

"That was not acting, that was for real"

Mike Tyson was not stupid and could manipulate fighters and the media. He saw no weakness in Lennnox Lewis's make up, so he decided to use the last resort. At the famous press con, Lennox Lewis made a massive statement. When he did'nt move......

When Mike Tyson came rushing towards him...and Lennox Lewis hit him back.

Massive statement.

The fight was a done deal, as early as that.

[leverage]

His mental toughness didn't match his physical toughness. When fighting someone who he couldn't knock out right away he seemed to get discouraged and it showed in the later rounds of some of his fights.

[gigogreco]

mr magoo, i think, just about all your post on this subject, are spot on..

its easy to forget, that a man who seemed invincible in the ring, was living in an emotionel mess.. because the baddest man on the planet, is offcourse indestructable..

by the time tyson was removed from his home and "normal" life, he was allready damaged goods.. these goods could be controlled in a certain amount of time, and perhaps only by very very few people.. those people dissapeared, when tyson might have needed them the most..

under those circumstances, it was inevitable, that some sort of breakdown would occur..

[Bokaj]

I think Tyson's got a bad a rap. While he doesn't compare with the likes of Johnson, Louis and Ali doesn't mean he´s weak. No weak minded minded sod stays in the middle of the ring like he did. Give him some f*cking credit, please.

It's a brutal sport, and while he didn't conduct himself like the true royalty of this sport did, it doesn't make him weak. If anyone has the cause to call him so, please tell my why.

[janitor]

I think Tyson's got a bad a rap. While he doesn't compare with the likes of Johnson, Louis and Ali doesn't mean he´s weak. No weak minded minded sod stays in the middle of the ring like he did. Give him some f*cking credit, please.

It's a brutal sport, and while he didn't conduct himself like the true royalty of this sport did, it doesn't make him weak. If anyone has the cause to call him so, please tell my why.

Good observation.

No poster here and few fighters would be in a position to call him weak.

[McGrain]

No poster here...would be in a position to call him weak.

:lol:

[Schmapps]

I think it's true that Tyson gets a bit of a bad rap, and sometimes held up to an extremely high standard where his mental abilities are concerned.

But, I think the reason for this is the desire to understand just what kept him from entering boxing royalty with the likes of Ali and Louis? I mean, the guy had all the tools to do it. SOMETHING held him back.

[Vanboxingfan]

I understand, but you miss out the part where Tyson is plucked from the streets because of his exceptional talent, taken to a home where he was relatively nurtured in relative safety by people to whom cared for him. That's his chance to turn his hard life around right there.

Think of all the kids in Brownsville who suffer as badly, worse even, and are denied that shot. I'd wager not all of them grow up to have rape convictions. The difference, IMO, is mental strength to carry such heavy burdens.


I'm not going to go into a lot of detail. But my brother is currently serving time, and it's safe to say that when you've been damaged as a child, it's not as correctable as many may think. I was fortunate in the sense that I had the mechanisms to detail with some of our childhood issues, but it's not a given that two people experiencing the same set of circumstances will handle it in the same manner.

You can't really grow up in a normal environment if you were born under the circumstances Mike was, all you can do is handle it the best way possible. Many males express this in anger and that usually is not the best way but they need to either heal, or age, to understand that. And a certain percentage end up doing neither.

[mr. magoo]

I'm not going to go into a lot of detail. But my brother is currently serving time, and it's safe to say that when you've been damaged as a child, it's not as correctable as many may think. I was fortunate in the sense that I had the mechanisms to detail with some of our childhood issues, but it's not a given that two people experiencing the same set of circumstances will handle it in the same manner.

You can't really grow up in a normal environment if you were born under the circumstances Mike was, all you can do is handle it the best way possible. Many males express this in anger and that usually is not the best way but they need to either heal, or age, to understand that. And a certain percentage end up doing neither.


Thanks for sharing your experience with us Van.

I will also ad to your points by saying that Mike grew up dealing with a lot more than just poverty and being at the mercy of the streets. He was not always the badass that he came to be known. He was beaten on daily as a young child at school, on the streets and even at home by his older brother Rodney. Studies have shown that bullying can do a lot of psycholigical damage to someone. In addition, he had no father, then lost his mother and sister at a young age. Cus D'Amato who took him in as a teenager and raised him practically as a son died when Mike was around 17 or 18. His long time trusted manager Jim Jacobs died not long after. This guy was orphaned more times than just about anyone I can think of.. Did he receive any counceling for his problem? No. He went from disturbia to hysteria and from rags to riches over night. That kind of rapid success is sometimes the worst thing that can happen to a young troubled individual. I haven't touched upon how he was a dropout at 14 and then later parted ways with Rooney when he was canned, or even his divorce to Givens....

People who have gone through far less than Mike Tyson have wound up murders or went to early graves themselves. Never mind showing up with their heads in the clouds for a freakin' boxing match.

[Vanboxingfan]

Thanks for sharing your experience with us Van.

I will also ad to your points by saying that Mike grew up dealing with a lot more than just poverty and being at the mercy of the streets. He was not always the badass that he came to be known. He was beaten on daily as a young child at school, on the streets and even at home by his older brother Rodney. Studies have shown that bullying can do a lot of psycholigical damage to someone. In addition, he had no father, then lost his mother and sister at a young age. Cus D'Amato who took him in as a teenager and raised him practically as a son died when Mike was around 17 or 18. His long time trusted manager Jim Jacobs died not long after. This guy was orphaned more times than just about anyone I can think of.. Did he receive any counceling for his problem? No. He went from disturbia to hysteria and from rags to riches over night. That kind of rapid success is sometimes the worst thing that can happen to a young troubled individual. I haven't touched upon how he was a dropout at 14 and then later parted ways with Rooney when he was canned, or even his divorce to Givens....

People who have gone through far less than Mike Tyson have wound up murders or went to early graves themselves. Never mind showing up with their heads in the clouds for a freakin' boxing match.


In many respects one has to put where he is into context and perhaps admire what he's achieved. Similarly, Lennox Lewis, who grew up with a single parent is also to be commended.

Which raises an interesting question. Do you punish and critize guys like Mike Tyson for not achieving what you perceive to be their full potential, or do you congratuate them for achieving as much as they did under their particular circumstances? Personally I prefer the latter approach.

[flamengo]

The short answer? Obviously.

Mike strikes me as the boy who never grew up, sensitive and vulnerable, nothing wrong with it in most businesses. In some circles it's a gift to be that childlike. But he could break in the ring, and was naive and gullible and could be easily taken advantage of in the world. As tough as he is, as volatile as he is, as dangerous as he is, there is something to me anyway, moving, heartbreaking about the guy...

Though that said, the only way I'd want to have a substantive conversation with him was if I had a shotgun in my lap.


Hmmmmmm..... one on one, without the press, and in a comfortable environment, I think Mike Tyson would be a great bloke to have a laugh with.

[TRUEBELIEVER 66]

He has shown severe psychological problems outside the ring, with Women, abusing people, drugs, dramatic mood swings, whoever said money buy's happiness is full of shit, Mike had millions and still didn't seem happy, just like Elvis and kurt Cobain, they all flamed out young..:patsch..
After Buster ko'd him that was it, if he didn't get the early ko, he looked to foul or fight dirty, he was not a god late round fighter and never had stamina:-(
People talk about the Ruddock fight's, how Tyson fought thru adversity, fuck Ruddock, what did he ever do?? Tommy Morrison beat his ass and Lennox KO'D him in 2 rounds, Ruddock was nothing..
He probaly would have had a better career if he stayed with Rooney, he seemed to change trainers like i change my shorts, but Rooney drank to much and i doubt Tyson would have tolerated a boozing drunk..

[Shake]

I'd peg Tyson as reasonably tough but unstable.

[Chinxkid]

Hmmmmmm..... one on one, without the press, and in a comfortable environment, I think Mike Tyson would be a great bloke to have a laugh with.


Just hyperbole. And I'm sure even at that based on old information. Just in reference to, and you're right, what I've seen in some older interviews and such when he was so volatile. Maybe now that he's out of the public eye and the spotlight of the media, it might be a different story. He does strike you as a down to earth guy when he's centered, a guy who doesn't do too well when he has to pose.

[josak]

first of all any guy who has the balls to get into the ring and fight it out, isn't mentally weak. And certainly someone who's won as many fights and dominated as many opponents as mike has, can't be mentally weak. He had mental issues, and a plethora of personal issues, sure, but he wasn't "mentally weak." In fact, at his best, he was an extremely well disciplined fighter. He dedicated himself to the sport, and was taught by Cus Dmato about self belief and discipline. Tyson knew about the psychological as well as physical aspects of boxing.

[p.Townend]

No, not weak.

I'm not trying to insult Tyson, but I honestly believe he was mentally ill and never got treatment, perhaps that is still the case.
I agree withthat,i heard at one time he had sought help and was on medication.It didnt seem to last though and he was soon in trouble again.

[teeto]

I agree he obviously seemed mentally weak, but this is a great man for me, just because of the great hrills he gave us. If i met him i'd be humbled.

[Bokaj]

I think it's true that Tyson gets a bit of a bad rap, and sometimes held up to an extremely high standard where his mental abilities are concerned.

But, I think the reason for this is the desire to understand just what kept him from entering boxing royalty with the likes of Ali and Louis? I mean, the guy had all the tools to do it. SOMETHING held him back.

He didn't have the extremely powerfully will that Ali and Louis had. But very, very few have. There's a large distance from not having their mental toughness to being weak.

[Bigcat]

Mike had to put a tough badass front on most things in life where he wanted to obtain some respect. Mike deep down is a nice feller, but fells if he allows too many people to see this , its carte blanche for them to take advantage of him, his life track record has patterned that way.. He was screwed by Don King in many ways, he was hurt by his own actions which resulted in The US judicial system taking a piece of Mikes freedom.. Mike was a victim of his own success in many ways, and when you come form a place where you can't trust anyone, to being able to trust very few, it must have killed a part of Mike to see those he found he could truly trust, were taken from him very untimely, Jimmy J, and Cus along with his so called loving wife.. Even his so called friend Rory Holloway was a con man, who used to take from mike every chance he could get, i was in Mikes camp more than once and saw first hand the wa people took mike for a cash rich fool who could be used for gifts etc.. Mike was in many ways very mentally tough, but with the massive pressures , he was eventually broked down by a lot of escalating troubles... Tyson is a lovely man, but it took a long time for him to feel like he could trust people again, he is close to broke but knows at least now , the people who choose to love him , love him for who he is and not for what he could possible (financially) do for them..

[eiregobrach]

imo tyson was mentally unstable and probably understandable considering the turmoil of his upbringing! This manifested itself in some fights for example biting Holyfield and quiting against Mc Bride when ahead after probably the most lacklustre performance of his career. Also against Danny Williams Tyson looked somewhere near his best in the first round but when Williams didn't disappear Tyson slowed took punishment and quit (although the Williams fight may have been the result of injury, age and stamina)

[RockyJim]

Never got off the canvas to come back and win a fight...as all great champions must do...
and have done...

[roscoe]

I agree rock. Tyson never once turned a fight around that he was losing to pull out the victory. I wouldn't say he was mentally weak but he definately lost self belief in all his losses.

[MAG1965]

I consider him mentally frail, yes.

Outside the ring, unquestionably.I think Mike is an exceptionally intelligent person who is rather soft hearted and kind. Many people on the board are going to disagree with me, but I am saying he seems like a kind person who does not know how to manage his emotions. So someone that stressed has so much going on in his head that when he is taking punishment I think it would be hard to really deal with that sort of stress on top of all the other stuff. When he is winning there is not much stress and he can use the ring as a sort of venting of his emotions. When he was losing, it was not that he could not handle it, it was just that he had so much else going on in his thoughts. Evander Holyfield seems colder and more matter of fact and not as sensitive to other people, so he could put his thoughts on one goal and can stay focused. As for Mike he had Cuz Damato who was like his father in everyway, and then he died, besides Cus, Mike really did not have anyone who he could count on who he trusted. I think DAmato loved Mike and Mike knew it, so I think had Cus lived Mike would have probably dealt with the adversity better since his mind would not have had to think about who he could trust and who he couldn't-so his mind would have been more free to focus. What I typed did not make much sense. I know. Maybe I will edit this later.