Mike Tyson Headed To The Hall Of Fame. Not So Fast My Friend.

Mike Tyson is heading to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York. First and foremost, I would like to extend my congratulations to Tyson. The question I have is: Does he really deserve to be in the Hall of Fame?

His career had three very distinct parts to it. At first, he was the young up and comer who everyone wanted to see. Then he became the youngest heavyweight champion at 20 years, four months, and 22 days. The second stage of his career was when he turned into the unpredictable invincible heavyweight champion. After his stunning loss to Buster Douglas and spending some time in jail, his career entered the final stage. The stage where he became on over hyped fighter that had most people asking themselves what could he have been.

Personally I am so torn over this debate. I love Mike Tyson; he is one of the most exciting fighters to watch, win or lose. On the other hand, the IBHOF is a sacred land where only the best of the best make it. Where he falls is hard to say.

When looking at Hall of Fame candidates, I look at dominance (he had that) quality of opponents (he had that), and longevity: He did not have that. I place a lot on longevity, and this is where I have a hard time seeing Iron Mike as a hall of famer.

Tyson ruled the heavyweight division with an iron fist for three years.  That’s it—THREE years. Compare that to the reign of Joe Louis (37-48), and it is nothing. Now Ali, Foreman, and Frazier are all in the Hall and didn’t hold the title for long periods of time, but they all did something else. Simply put, Ali was the greatest heavyweight ever, Foreman lost the title in 1974 only to regain it in 1991, and Joe Frazier beat the greatest and competed in one of the most epic trilogies ever.

Tyson didn’t come back after prison and dominate the heavyweight division like Foreman did; he didn’t compete in any epic trilogy last time I checked. He was an intimidating son of a bitch for the three years he was the champ, but is that enough to get you into the Hall of Fame?

He was the first every heavyweight to hold the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles at the same time. He was the youngest champion ever and was a two time Ring Fighter of the Year (1986/1988). He had a good record of 50-6 with 44 KOs. He beat most top guys in his prime era, and a lot of those losses came later when he was washed up. These are all impressive accomplishments, but I still don’t know if he deserves to make the Hall. He held ever major title he could hold, and did so in impressive fashion for the short time he was at the top.

He knocked out 44 of the 50 people he beat, and almost everyone was in crushing fashion. I am still torn over this debate, but while I struggle to decide if he should be in the hall, maybe I can get some help from the readers. He was The Baddest Man on the Planet for a few brief years, and whether I agree or not, he is now The Baddest Man in the Hall. Congratulations again, Iron Mike.

(EDIT: Mike Tyson is not eligible for induction this year. It was originally reported that he was but a fighter must be retired for five years before he can get indcuted. Tyson's last fight was a TKO loss to Kevin McBride on June 11th 2005. The voting for the Hall was between October 1st 2009 and October 31st. He will be eligible for the 2011 class)