re: Where does Mike Tyson rank in boxing's pantheon?

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He knocked out 2 of the 5 that beat Ali and knocked out the brother of a 3rd that beat Ali.

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lol

Top 10 in my opinion. Tyson gets dinged for a so-called down division but some of that criticism can be absorbed by the fact that it was down because he plowed through it. He also is a big time case for "what if." Once Cus D'amato died, Tyson stopped boxing and became more of a rich man's Butterbean in terms of style.

He used to have a really good defense and was a superb counterpuncher. When he was getting all the pub for the knockouts and Cus wasn't there to ground him, he stopped having a well-rounded game. Then the money rotted him from within. To paraphrase Bane, victory defeated him.

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Disagree. Buster Douglas was a very solid boxer, just wasn't really a "fighter." He had a very good upbringing and never really needed boxing like a lot of boxers usually do. Hence, he always had motivation issues, except that one night.

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Dude was in fricking tremendous shape when he first fought and beat Tyson and fought a great fight there. I'd have given him a decent shot on that day against anyone else in this pantheon of boxing we are discussing. It's sad, for his sake, that most people think that he just got "lucky" in catching Tyson at the right time. Of course, I admit he didn't really help himself legacy-wise by letting himself go to complete shite almost immediately after. I just think a lot of people don't credit that for as a legitimate "win" as I feel it really was.

Neither SI or Ring Magaizine had Tyson in their Top 10 Heavyweights.

Louis, Ali, Marciano, Johnson, Foreman, Holyfield, Holmes, Lewis, Dempsey, Frazier.

Then Tyson would be on a group with Liston, Walcott, Tunney, Klitschko.

Liston and either Klitschko would whip Tyson's arse.

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The brother of that guy that beat Ali. You can't just brush that win under the rug.

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The fight between Spinks and Mike Tyson took place in June 1988, with Tyson knocking Spinks down twice on his way to a first-round knockout. Tyson was the only fighter to floor Spinks. It would be Spinks's first defeat in the professional ring, as well as his last, as he retired following the fight.

Spinks had a record of 31 wins and 1 loss, with 21 wins by knockout as a professional.

In addition to his success as a heavyweight, Spinks is generally considered one of the greatest light-heavyweight champions and fighters of all time. He was the only light-heavyweight champion to remain undefeated in the entire history of the division since its inception in 1903 (until Joe Calzaghe), as well as the only reigning light-heavyweight champion to win the heavyweight title.

The Ring Magazine in 2002 ranked Spinks as the third greatest light-heavyweight of all time, behind Ezzard Charles and Archie Moore, but ahead of Tommy Loughran, Bob Foster, Harold Johnson, Maxie Rosenbloom and Billy Conn. Furthermore, Spinks did what no other light-heavyweight champion was ever able to do: move up to win the world heavyweight championship, by decisioning IBF champion Larry Holmes in 1985.[11]

On The Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time, Spinks was ranked 42nd.[12]

On The Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years, released in 2002, Spinks ranked 41st.[13]

East Side Boxing said in its tribute to Spinks, "Michael Spinks went undefeated fighting during the deepest era in Light Heavyweight history. And he beat the real heavyweight champion to win the title, who was also undefeated. Michael Spinks is the most accomplished light heavyweight champion in history."[14]

Borderline top 10, I think his loss to Little Mac really hurts his resume.

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Dude was in fricking tremendous shape when he first fought and beat Tyson and fought a great fight there. I'd have given him a decent shot on that day against anyone else in this pantheon of boxing we are discussing. It's sad, for his sake, that most people think that he just got "lucky" in catching Tyson at the right time. Of course, I admit he didn't really help himself legacy-wise by letting himself go to complete shite almost immediately after. I just think a lot of people don't credit that for as a legitimate "win" as I feel it really was

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Well, I do think Douglas caught Tyson at the right time, but he still had to be good enough to beat a B+ Tyson. Tyson was still beasting guys before and after that loss. I think he declined after the Spinks fight but not appreciably between his next two fights and Douglas.

It's was a legitimate win. No fighter brings his A+ game every fight. And an A+ Tyson beats Douglas, but doesn't steamroll him that night. He always had trouble with those taller fighters with reach.

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He won a decision over an aging Holmes

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Holmes fought 24 more times after he lost to Tyson.

He was 69-6 with 5 of his 6 losses coming from fighters that held a championship belt.

Brian Nielson beat an aging Holmes.