Mike Tyson could have been the greatest heavy ever if Cus D'Amato didnt past away.

[jaycuban]

I truly believe this.

After D'Amato died he started going down.

[Thread Stealer]

I truly believe this.

After D'Amato died he started going down.

Tyson peaked 2 and a half years after Cus died.

Tyson COULD have been, we don't know for sure, but Tyson was a headcase with serious problems anyway.

[psychopath]

Tyson peaked 2 and a half years after Cus died.

Tyson COULD have been, we don't know for sure, but Tyson was a headcase with serious problems anyway.

That's right we don't know for sure. :yep

[box03]

Tyson would of been fine with Kevin Rooney, he would of definitely been at his peak longer, at least until his mid 30s when his timing in speed would start to diminish.

[SteveO]

Kevin would have taken good care of Mike.

[Haggis McJackass]

D'Mato would not have prevented Tyson's fall. For all the work he did turning Mike into a boxing machine, he failed him badly by doing nothing to prepare him for the inevitable pressures and temptation that immense wealth and fame would bring. That was what brought Tyson down, not lack of in-ring coaching.

:hat

[JC2006]

D'Mato would not have prevented Tyson's fall. For all the work he did turning Mike into a boxing machine, he failed him badly by doing nothing to prepare him for the inevitable pressures and temptation that immense wealth and fame would bring. That was what brought Tyson down, not lack of in-ring coaching.

:hat

How do you know he did not teach him and Mike just didn't learn...?

[GazOC]

Tyson would of been fine with Kevin Rooney, he would of definitely been at his peak longer, at least until his mid 30s when his timing in speed would start to diminish.

I think mid 30's is a bit optimistic. I think for a fighter with Tysons style to stay anywhere near his peak after his early 30's is asking a lot. It would still be a hell of a prime though 21 to 31...most fighters don't get half of that!

[box03]

How do you know he did not teach him and Mike just didn't learn...? Most of what I read about Tyson says how Cus would make excuses for mike when he would get in trouble in school, and when he was finally kicked out of school Cus promised to get him a tutor which never happend. Cus wanted to be part of another champ before he died, there was no time for school when boxing was at the forefront.

[box03]

I think mid 30's is a bit optimistic. I think for a fighter with Tysons style to stay anywhere near his peak after his early 30's is asking a lot. It would still be a hell of a prime though 21 to 31...most fighters don't get half of that! Yeah I was going to say arounf 30 he would slow and in the mid 30s it would become very noticable.

[barneyrub]

Kevin would have taken good care of Mike.Im not sure that an alcoholic who is in and out of prison like Rooney has been would have been much use to an older Tyson!

[thewoo]

Tyson could have been the greatest heavy ever if his prime lasted longer. When guys rely on speed as much as he did they tend not to have long primes.

[SteveO]

Im not sure that an alcoholic who is in and out of prison like Rooney has been would have been much use to an older Tyson!

That's true. But maybe he wouldn't have become an alcoholic if he had Mike. In a way, perhaps they needed each other.