In his prime, was Mike Tyson the most feared fighter of all time, and do you now see him as a "tragic figure"?

Question

Mike Tyson's is a complex story. His highlight reels show incredible dominance and unbelievable knockouts - particularly for one who was smaller in stature than most of his opponents (though built like a tank). Viewing him as he was when undefeated, do you think he is the all-time most feared fighter in boxing?

And considering his background, rise to utter dominance as world heavyweight champ, and subsequent fall from greatness, do you see him as a tragic figure, with indifference, sympathy, sense of retribution, etc.?

Answer 1

He was feared until Douglas destroyed him! Dominance? for 3 yrs while the HW division was at a low point! Then Douglas exposed the myth! Holyfield Ko'd him. Lewis Ko'd him.

Louis was dominate! 12 yr title reign! Mike was a fraud!

Tragic figure? Admitted wife beater, convicted rapist, thug.

You can't be serious!

**Every man is ultimately responsible for his own actions! that being said we all have done things we regret. But wife beating, & rape!!

No he's not a sympathetic figure. Did he get what he deserved? Can't say....only God knows!

I don't thing he was anymore feared (pre-Douglas) than Foreman was (pre-Ali)

There were people afraid for Ali's life.

Answer 2

Yes he is a tragic figure but no different from a lot of other ex-heavyweights. A lot of them came from nothing, went somewhere, did something wrong or were mislead by someone, and ended up nowhere.

Except possibly today's c**p heavyweights, who are nothing their entire career.

Answer 3

Mike Tyson was, I believe, one of the most awesome boxers of recent times.  I do feel incredibly sorry for him as he's been betrayed by the people he trusted - his wife, Don King - and has never been a favourite with the fans really.  So yes, I do see him as a 'tragic' figure and am angry that these people manipulated him to such an extent.  And as for that silly b*tch and the alleged rape - well, who the h*ll goes into a man's hotel bedroom for a drink when the bar's still open.  Actually I get quite cross about it all.

Answer 4

.He was billed as the baddest man on earth, but realistically, he never stood well against decent fighters. Tillis,ruddock,bruno all showed that he had a big weakness against tall jabbing fighters. he wasn't the most feared because tyson could never out-box a fighter. that is what is scary being in a fight with someone who can out think, out manuever and out box you in a fight. Tyson was the first and the biggest victim of the corruption in both boxing and sports during that era. he was pushed to be a fighter since 16, never had to be responsible for himself. then throw in king and the greedy counsel that tyson had and you get an idea of how tragic hislife was. he was the champ at age 20. picture jordan or shaq being at their height before being able to legally buy alcohol. he has had a very tragic life. his marriage his rise and fall resembles so closely to that of brittany spears. they were young succesful and didn't have anyone there who tried to help them develop into young responsible adults

Answer 5

Yes most feared his deep scary voice

Answer 6

He was a knock out artist. He was betrayed by some but still he has to take responsibility for some of his actions too.

Answer 7

I think he got one too many punches to the head and this makes him neither tragic nor great

Answer 8

Ed, you can't be serious.

Answer 9

he was without a doubt the most feared but all the c**p he did to cause his demise is all on his shoulders so no sympathy

Answer 10

Of course each time I answer a Q about Tyson I risk being chided by the establishment figures here on Yahoo Answers who seem to want to bully people into their way of thinking,but I know the Tyson story and know it's not as easy as good guy/bad guy stuff.It's to long and complex a case to just dismiss him as 'ear biting's*x offender just as it is to dismiss Ali as an over rated draft dodger who fought as many lemons as Tyson did,Bugner almost beating him,same as Cooper putting him on his butt,two fixed fights(at least on Listons behalf)and who was Chuck Wepner and so on ad nauseum!and if youve got your mind against a fighter no amount of logic will be listened to,even saying that Johnson was one of the first pimps etc,you could go on!!Yes,I have some empathy for Mike Tyson,he has no real family and was let down by many people(including the dog King)and my personal opinion of him is the same as Larry Holmes was,Id put him in the top 10.probably 5/6.Simple as that,and Im ready for the thumbs down gang!!The most feared was without doubt George Foreman,and if you look at the way Frazier threw himself to the floor to end the fight youll understand the fear there was of him,not to mention Ken Norton never daring to look him in the eye,always looking at the canvas.Foreman won his fights before the fighter even entered the ring,a big bull,simple as that.Liston was a feared fighter but not in the same way as foreman was.