Boxing is enduring a strange period at present. However, fantasy match-ups keep the fans longing for fights that might have been like Mike Tyson vs. Deontay Wilder.
Two of the most concussive punchers the sport has ever seen, and both with disadvantages in size and bulk, fought against the odds versus more prominent men.
Tyson, who stood five feet ten inches, turned pro as a teenager and subsequently began hammering six-foot-plus fighters to the canvas.
His style, aggression, and will to be the best instantly captured the public’s imagination. The 1980s signaled a massive culture change, from the seventies disco era to the Wall Street wolves. Tyson fit in perfectly with that era.
The domination he showed made him an instant star. Boxing fans followed him in their droves. Tyson became ‘The Baddest Man on the Plant,’ with unparalleled puncher power. That’s until thirty years later.
DEONTAY WILDER
Deontay Wilder made headlines when wiping out every opponent he faced within four rounds. Not even Tyson managed that feat with his awesomeness.
“The Bronze Bomber” made it to 32-0 before going the distance due to his massive one-punch ferocity. When he did go twelve rounds, the fight haunted him despite winning his first world title on Muhammad Ali’s birthday.
Wilder cleared his mind years later by knocking out the same opponent, Bermane Stiverne, within one round. He annihilated the former champion.
It wasn’t until the anomaly that Tyson Fury came along that Wilder had the breaks put on his ascent.
Ryan Hafey
MIKE TYSON
Regarding Tyson’s aura of invincibility, it took a long and short count to end his reign at the top. The New Yorker’s world then fell apart when he was arrested, accused of rape, and convicted.
The Mike Tyson we all knew was gone forever. A combination of money, toxic business dealing, and a frightful marriage halted Tyson’s inhuman juggernaut of destruction.
Release from prison did little to bring it back.
So what if they fought in the ring? – Well, the fight would be the biggest punching battle of all time – without question.
The fight would hold predictions of being a chess match between two punchers, with whoever gets off first taking the other out cleanly.
But both Wilder and Tyson could take a punch. They both got up from solid blows during their career. Therefore, simply stating an early knockout would ensue is not the only scenario here.
One thing that is for sure, there’s no way to pick an ultimate winner when anyone can finish a fight at any given second.
Phil Jay – Editor of World Boxing News since 2010 with over one billion views. Follow WBN on Twitter @WorldBoxingNews.