Tua-Tyson 1996

[clark]

This was a fight that should have been. Let's say June 1996.
Tua's previous fight was a KO of John Ruiz in one. Tyson's was a TKO
of Frank Bruno in 3. This would have possibly been a war. Any comments?

[SuzieQ49]

Tyson was very washed up by 1996, we dont know what would have happened. He was a rusty ill prepared unpredictable mental mess by 1996.

[BlackWater]

co sign.
co secant.

[clark]

It seems like this was the only time they could have met. Tua wasn't around in the late 80's. Well, let's say that both fighters are on that night. Tyson is quick but Tua can take a punch and has power.
If all systems were go and there was no meltdown, I see a good fight here.

[punchy]

Tua wasn't slow and ponderous until later, I think this is not peak Tyson and Tua wins by outlasting and out blasting.

[ChrisPontius]

Tyson was very washed up by 1996, we dont know what would have happened. He was a rusty ill prepared unpredictable mental mess by 1996.

Very washed up?


Have you seen Ali vs Holmes? Did he look washed up like Tyson was vs Bruno?
Tyson showed enormous speed and power, more than he ever did perhaps against Bruno in the rematch.

[Pat_Lowe]

Tyson was very washed up by 1996, we dont know what would have happened. He was a rusty ill prepared unpredictable mental mess by 1996.

Washed up? He held 2 titles and performed pretty damn good against Holyfield despite losing. Its obvious from that fight he still had quite a bit left. He also continued to beat contenders until the Lewis fight. Hardly the sign of a washed up fighter.

[BlackWater]

Washed up? He held 2 titles and performed pretty damn good against Holyfield despite losing. Its obvious from that fight he still had quite a bit left. He also continued to beat contenders until the Lewis fight. Hardly the sign of a washed up fighter.
He was washed up compared to his formed glory.

[Pat_Lowe]

He was washed up compared to his formed glory.

No he was still a very capable fighter and was only 29 (?) years old.

[ironchamp]

He was still by and large a very capable fighter. I give Tyson the edge on teh basis that Tua would not have offered anything to Tyson that would trouble him stylistically.

Tua would be right infront of him; without a coherent jab and without clinching. He'd be there to slug. Tyson did have pretty quick hands, IMO had a better chin than Tua.

Tyson TKO 6

[BlackWater]

No he was still a very capable fighter and was only 29 (?) years old.

Tyson wasn't the same after prison.

[BlackWater]

the fact that a 30% tyson is still that good gives you a rough approximation of what the 1987 MegaTyson™ was.
God?

[clark]

Would Tua K.O. Tyson?

[lefthook31]

Tua was knocked out in the amatuers and shook by Chris Byrd as a pro, but man this would be an interesting fight. The way to Tua was accurate punching and I think Holyfield would have knocked Tua out in 96, but not sure about Tyson, he was a technical mess coming out of prison, especially against the shorter fighters, where his telegraphed bombs sailed over his smaller opponents heads more times than not.

[Bad_Intentions]

Tyson still had something left post-prison...

Tyson TKO10.

[TommyV]

At this time this could be tough for Tyson. Tua evidently had power and a chin, and Tyson had gone gung-ho looking for the big finishes by this point really. Stylistically as has been said earlier in the thread, Tua offered nothing that would really worry Tyson. I'd edge towards him because he had the speed to beat Tua to the punch. The late 80's version though would of beaten Tua far more convincingly due to the defense, jab and technical skills he had over Tua, funnily enough.

[zadfrak]

Tua sure did have a few things Tyson would have to worry about. 3 big advantages and those are the kinds of things that become bigger factors the longer the fight goes on.


1. he kept his power throughout the fight and had shown the rare ability to be a heavyweight getting the late ko's.

!A. tua was often in close fights or behind and still got the wins late. Very dangerous and most heavyweights are front runners and when they get behind they stay that way.

2. endurance and pace. Legs aren't a factor here. Tua would wing away and moved his hands in there and does anyone really think the Tyson gastank isn't emptied if he bothered to try throwing the same amount of big shots Tua threw against Ike?

3. whiskers. Tua is far better and the Tyson resistance drops the longer the bout goes and the more he absorbs.

[Hydraulix]

If they fought in 1996, I'd give it to Tua because he wouldn't back down. Iron Mike wouldn't be the same after the early rounds. Tua carried his punch late in the fight.

[josak]

Interesting fight stylistically. Never really decided on this one. My gut tells me Tyson because he was technically a better fighter, even though he was quite past his best at that point. Tua was rather one dimensional relying on the big left hook, and I don't think he could land a fully loaded one on Tyson. This is a fight that would be fought in the pocket, Tua's work would be smothered as it was against Ibeabuchi. Tyson IMO was more skilled on the inside and carried more knockout power there.

[frankenfrank]

Tua was knocked out in the amatuers and shook by Chris Byrd as a pro, but man this would be an interesting fight. The way to Tua was accurate punching and I think Holyfield would have knocked Tua out in 96, but not sure about Tyson, he was a technical mess coming out of prison, especially against the shorter fighters, where his telegraphed bombs sailed over his smaller opponents heads more times than not.
holyfield could not KO moorer in their first fight , could not KO lewis , ruiz in 3 fights , vaughn bean , ray mercer , alex stewart , rahman , so he could KO tua
nonetheless ?
tua would have KO'd holyfield the worst he has ever been.
against tua he will not even be able to try to rise at least before 8 if he will regain his senses at all during the count. tua is not Bowe or Toney , he would have really destroyed holyfield , and yes , i saw their sparring , but it was a mere sparring and holyfiled is everyone's hero , probably tua's too.
bigger chance for tua KOing tyson the worst he had ever been.
if a slightly past prime holyfield could take tyson's punches at that time , a prime (or almost prime) tua by that time would have probably walk through tyson's best punches , land his own bomb and KO tyson badly.
a bad match-up for tyson.

[Buddy87]

Tyson had no head movement left in those days, he would have gotten hit taken for granted that Tua would have been scared only to forget the second sentence in his thought to be dropped to the ground, young 80's tyson would have had tua's number but not this one.

[lefthook31]

holyfield could not KO moorer in their first fight , could not KO lewis , ruiz in 3 fights , vaughn bean , ray mercer , alex stewart , rahman , so he could KO tua
nonetheless ?
tua would have KO'd holyfield the worst he has ever been.
against tua he will not even be able to try to rise at least before 8 if he will regain his senses at all during the count. tua is not Bowe or Toney , he would have really destroyed holyfield , and yes , i saw their sparring , but it was a mere sparring and holyfiled is everyone's hero , probably tua's too.
bigger chance for tua KOing tyson the worst he had ever been.
if a slightly past prime holyfield could take tyson's punches at that time , a prime (or almost prime) tua by that time would have probably walk through tyson's best punches , land his own bomb and KO tyson badly.
a bad match-up for tyson.
Doesnt matter. Evander Holyfield dropped pressure fighters with good chins. He was just very good at handleing guys that came forward because he was such an accurate counter puncher and Tua was so predictable with what he was going to throw. Heres some footage of the two sparring for Holys preparation for Tyson.
[Only registered and activated users can see links]

[natonic]

Holyfield would've beat Tua like a red headed step child. He would've landed clean COMBINATIONS on the ponderous Tua and his great chin would've absorbed the ocassional shot from Tua. Tua's face would be a mess and he's be stopped around 10.

[Jaws]

Tua doesn't have the style or savvy to break down the still faster, more technical '96 Tyson.

Tyson by early stoppage or decision.

[techks]

Tyson still had something in the tank in 96 & possibly 97. I though he won rounds 1 & 3 in the holyfield rematch before well you know. Tyson by late stoppage.

[Genesis]

a 1996 Holyfield KO's Tua but Ike and Lewis could not?

[Genesis]

Who did Holyfield in that time period stop apart from past prime Tyson, which says he could stop the granite chinned Tua?

[itrymariti]

co secant.

Arc sin x

[natonic]

a 1996 Holyfield KO's Tua but Ike and Lewis could not?

Who's Ike? Who'd he beat? I'm sure he's undefeated in prison......................Tua fought like a bitch against Lewis or Lewis would've knocked Tua out. Watch the fight. He pussied out. Styles make fights. Holyfield would be much busier than Lewis and Tua was pretty easy to hit.