If Mike Tyson Were European, He Wouldnt Matter to U.S. Fans

Okay, so people would still care, but his legacy wouldn’t be as celebrated. I also need to say that I am a huge Tyson fan. I have all of his fights on DVD and have seen them multiple times. I am not a Tyson hater.

The thought entered my mind after getting into a heated argument with someone over Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko. Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko are the two best heavyweights in the world right now.

It isn’t even a debate at this point. Many Americans don’t like them because they are boring fighters.

This is true but they have cleaned out the division and beat most of the top current heavyweights. Currently, they have a combined record of 99-5 with 86 knockouts. The only knock on them is all five losses have come by knockout.

Wladimir hasn’t lost since 2004, has beaten five undefeated fighters, has defended his IBF heavyweight title eight times, and his WBO title four times. You can also argue he should hold the WBA title since he beat the WBA champion in 2009.

Vitali hasn’t lost since 2003, has beaten two undefeated fighters, and holds one of the major heavyweight titles. He did all this even after taking four years off and jumping right back into a heavyweight title shot.

Now, the knock on the Klitschkos, and rightfully so, is their opponents aren’t very good. With that being said, they have knocked out all but two fighters.

Now, back to the main thought here: if Mike Tyson weren’t an American, his legacy would be much more diminished. If you look at their respective careers, there isn’t much difference between the Klitschko brothers and Tyson.

Before you read on, Tyson was the undisputed heavyweight champion and is still the youngest heavyweight champion ever. It is impressive and shadows almost everything the Klitschkos have done.

The big differences are Tyson was American, he was a little crazy, and his knockouts were vicious. He was loved because he was exciting and he was American.

If he were European, his vicious knockouts would get the American public interested but his legacy would have fallen short due to a couple of factors.

His prime was quick, he didn’t beat any truly great—let alone good—heavyweights, and he lost all of his biggest fights. If you look at his career, Tyson’s prime was only about four years (1986-1990).

He won the title from Trevor Berbick, who was never really a good fighter, and then defended it against James Smith who was 19-5.

In his four year prime period his best win was Tony Tucker who was hardly a good heavyweight. Michael Spinks would count but he was beat before he ever stepped into the ring.

His biggest fights were the two with Evander Holyfield and the one with Lennox Lewis. He was knocked out by both fighters and had a total meltdown the second time against Holyfield.

He simply didn’t show up for his biggest fights. Although both Klitschkos have knockout losses they have generally shown up for their biggest fights.

I am not suggesting the Klitschkos are better than Tyson. That is a debate for another time. Also, if Lennox Lewis was American, he may have been beloved and not an afterthought, but that is also a debate for another time.

Tyson was fun, exciting, and for a short time the best heavyweight in the world. If you look past the knockouts he was just like the Klitschkos: the best of a bad bunch.