The Bruno v Tyson documentary on sky

Yeah was a good watch. Tyson was the entertainer and a class above Bruno, still wasn't anywhere near the top 10 all time though, more style over substance. But such a character, what a life he's had, good and terrible.

Bruno, proper gent, limited ability but just a proper pro that gave everything for his dream and I was so happy at the time to see him finally make it after failing with Smith, Witherspoon, Tyson and Lewis then finally beating McCall. Bruno was the first British world level heavyweight for a very long time (and no it wasn't Henry who was a european level boxer who put up a good show vs Ali but still lost).

It's so weird seeing these old warriors with zero fight, zero niggle and spike in them anymore.
 
Bruno is just a genuine lovely bloke. That much is clear. I didn't realise as a kid the awful stick he got from the parts of the black community. It was so bad he had to almost apologize after winning the WBC title.
 
BoroMart said:
Yeah was a good watch. Tyson was the entertainer and a class above Bruno, still wasn't anywhere near the top 10 all time though, more style over substance. But such a character, what a life he's had, good and terrible.

Bruno, proper gent, limited ability but just a proper pro that gave everything for his dream and I was so happy at the time to see him finally make it after failing with Smith, Witherspoon, Tyson and Lewis then finally beating McCall. Bruno was the first British world level heavyweight for a very long time (and no it wasn't Henry who was a european level boxer who put up a good show vs Ali but still lost).

It's so weird seeing these old warriors with zero fight, zero niggle and spike in them anymore.
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You forgot Lennox Lewis 🥊👀🥊
 
Centralscrutinizer said:
You forgot Lennox Lewis 🥊👀🥊
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I know what you are thinking, but I said world level, not world champion :) Bruno was in with the world elites while Lennox was still in primary school shorts. Bruno deserved to be in with those world elite boxers too and he was the first for a very long time that had the ability to go toe to toe with them. I remember that Witherspoon heartbreak, world title fight, battering the champ, has him in the corner, and one wild swing from Witherspoon lands straight on the chin of Bruno and that's the end of that. gutted for him at the time.
 
BoroMart said:
Yeah was a good watch. Tyson was the entertainer and a class above Bruno, still wasn't anywhere near the top 10 all time though, more style over substance. But such a character, what a life he's had, good and terrible.

Bruno, proper gent, limited ability but just a proper pro that gave everything for his dream and I was so happy at the time to see him finally make it after failing with Smith, Witherspoon, Tyson and Lewis then finally beating McCall. Bruno was the first British world level heavyweight for a very long time (and no it wasn't Henry who was a european level boxer who put up a good show vs Ali but still lost).

It's so weird seeing these old warriors with zero fight, zero niggle and spike in them anymore.
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Tyson not in the top 10 hmm really well that’s one opinion. He was pretty much unbeatable in his prime and he was defeated by his demons.

Heavy weight champion of the world at 20 that’s incredible.

On November 22, 1986, Tyson was given his first title fight against Trevor Berbick for the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight championship. Tyson won the title by TKO in the second round, and at the age of 20 years and 4 months became the youngest heavyweight champion in history.
 
zorro_mfc said:
Tyson not in the top 10 hmm really well that’s one opinion. He was pretty much unbeatable in his prime and he was defeated by his demons.

Heavy weight champion of the world at 20 that’s incredible.

On November 22, 1986, Tyson was given his first title fight against Trevor Berbick for the World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight championship. Tyson won the title by TKO in the second round, and at the age of 20 years and 4 months became the youngest heavyweight champion in history.
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He was unbeatable in his prime because he didn't face anyone of note. For me you are not a proper reigning heavyweight champ until you get that first defence under your belt. Do you know how many proper reigning champs Tyson beat? I'll tell you, zero.

It was still an incredible achievement to win at 20, but it was only Trevor Berbick, a boxer that wouldn't make the top 100 of all time heavyweights.....and that was probably Tysons best win, that or Razor Ruddick, who might scrape into the top 100.

It's easy to say his demons defeated him, that is the story told by many, but there's much more to it. Actually he was very small for a heavyweight and gassed after 4 rounds in his prime (although most of the tomato cans they put in front of him fell before that point). He struggled against big proper heavyweights, he avoided most of them. He struggled even in his prime to beat Razor Ruddick, twice. Razor Ruddick that Lennox Lewis soon blasted away. Tyson would have been undefeatable as a cruiserweight. But as a heavy he was very good, except against the top top guys and I think he knew it which is why the shenanigans came out when he fought the classy boxers such as Lennox and Holyfield, it was fear.

He was great from that mid-range, and had good head movement for 4 rounds. But if you tied him up for four rounds he was limited, he didn't have any plan B in his locker, he only had one tactic, and one way of winning. If that didn't work he was stuffed.

Regarding his emotional issues, yes, he was messed up, but that was his strength as well as his weakness. Without having those issues he probably wouldn't have ever got in a ring.

He was the supreme entertainer, we watched because he had some devastating shots, and because he was a car wreck. He has a great achievement in winning at 20, but it's important to look with balance at his career and say, he beat no one of note, Couldn't box on the outside, and gassed early, he wasn't dedicated to his profession and didn't look after himself properly. So no, not top 10 for me.
 
BoroMart said:
I know what you are thinking, but I said world level, not world champion :) Bruno was in with the world elites while Lennox was still in primary school shorts. Bruno deserved to be in with those world elite boxers too and he was the first for a very long time that had the ability to go toe to toe with them. I remember that Witherspoon heartbreak, world title fight, battering the champ, has him in the corner, and one wild swing from Witherspoon lands straight on the chin of Bruno and that's the end of that. gutted for him at the time.
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Bruno v Witherspoon was the first fight I ever went to.
👊👀👊.
 
BoroMart said:
He was unbeatable in his prime because he didn't face anyone of note. For me you are not a proper reigning heavyweight champ until you get that first defence under your belt. Do you know how many proper reigning champs Tyson beat? I'll tell you, zero.

It was still an incredible achievement to win at 20, but it was only Trevor Berbick, a boxer that wouldn't make the top 100 of all time heavyweights.....and that was probably Tysons best win, that or Razor Ruddick, who might scrape into the top 100.

It's easy to say his demons defeated him, that is the story told by many, but there's much more to it. Actually he was very small for a heavyweight and gassed after 4 rounds in his prime (although most of the tomato cans they put in front of him fell before that point). He struggled against big proper heavyweights, he avoided most of them. He struggled even in his prime to beat Razor Ruddick, twice. Razor Ruddick that Lennox Lewis soon blasted away. Tyson would have been undefeatable as a cruiserweight. But as a heavy he was very good, except against the top top guys and I think he knew it which is why the shenanigans came out when he fought the classy boxers such as Lennox and Holyfield, it was fear.

He was great from that mid-range, and had good head movement for 4 rounds. But if you tied him up for four rounds he was limited, he didn't have any plan B in his locker, he only had one tactic, and one way of winning. If that didn't work he was stuffed.

Regarding his emotional issues, yes, he was messed up, but that was his strength as well as his weakness. Without having those issues he probably wouldn't have ever got in a ring.

He was the supreme entertainer, we watched because he had some devastating shots, and because he was a car wreck. He has a great achievement in winning at 20, but it's important to look with balance at his career and say, he beat no one of note, Couldn't box on the outside, and gassed early, he wasn't dedicated to his profession and didn't look after himself properly. So no, not top 10 for me.
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Brilliant analysis of Tyson there. Lewis, Holyfield and Bowe all better from his era. It's difficult to compare fighters from different years but it's fair to say Klitschko (both), Joshua and Fury would beat Tyson too.

Then there's the greats of previous. Ali, Foreman, Liston, Louis.
 
Nero said:
Brilliant analysis of Tyson there. Lewis, Holyfield and Bowe all better from his era. It's difficult to compare fighters from different years but it's fair to say Klitschko (both), Joshua and Fury would beat Tyson too.

Then there's the greats of previous. Ali, Foreman, Liston, Louis.
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absolutely. But he was an absolutely MUST watch at the same time. A Tyson fight was a global event, and I really enjoyed his early career. Winning the title at 20 probably won't get beaten in my lifetime, a phenomenal achievement. I'd love a few more characters like him around these days sports.

Totally with you on the former greats and the current crop too. The current guys are just too big for Tyson, and those old greats, were just absolute warriors.
 
BoroMart said:
absolutely. But he was an absolutely MUST watch at the same time. A Tyson fight was a global event, and I really enjoyed his early career. Winning the title at 20 probably won't get beaten in my lifetime, a phenomenal achievement. I'd love a few more characters like him around these days sports.

Totally with you on the former greats and the current crop too. The current guys are just too big for Tyson, and those old greats, were just absolute warriors.
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The thing about Tyson is he transcends boxing which is his ultimate achievement. The Simpsons' at it height even depicted him!

He's more flawed than the rest of us, but was never boring and always a talking point.
 
BoroMart said:
He was unbeatable in his prime because he didn't face anyone of note. For me you are not a proper reigning heavyweight champ until you get that first defence under your belt. Do you know how many proper reigning champs Tyson beat? I'll tell you, zero.

It was still an incredible achievement to win at 20, but it was only Trevor Berbick, a boxer that wouldn't make the top 100 of all time heavyweights.....and that was probably Tysons best win, that or Razor Ruddick, who might scrape into the top 100.

It's easy to say his demons defeated him, that is the story told by many, but there's much more to it. Actually he was very small for a heavyweight and gassed after 4 rounds in his prime (although most of the tomato cans they put in front of him fell before that point). He struggled against big proper heavyweights, he avoided most of them. He struggled even in his prime to beat Razor Ruddick, twice. Razor Ruddick that Lennox Lewis soon blasted away. Tyson would have been undefeatable as a cruiserweight. But as a heavy he was very good, except against the top top guys and I think he knew it which is why the shenanigans came out when he fought the classy boxers such as Lennox and Holyfield, it was fear.

He was great from that mid-range, and had good head movement for 4 rounds. But if you tied him up for four rounds he was limited, he didn't have any plan B in his locker, he only had one tactic, and one way of winning. If that didn't work he was stuffed.

Regarding his emotional issues, yes, he was messed up, but that was his strength as well as his weakness. Without having those issues he probably wouldn't have ever got in a ring.

He was the supreme entertainer, we watched because he had some devastating shots, and because he was a car wreck. He has a great achievement in winning at 20, but it's important to look with balance at his career and say, he beat no one of note, Couldn't box on the outside, and gassed early, he wasn't dedicated to his profession and didn't look after himself properly. So no, not top 10 for me.
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Very good analysis. I argue this point often amongst friends during a boxing night get together. Lost every fight he had against an accomplished fighter. Can't take away from him winning world title at 20 and probably will never be seen again.

If anyone has a Disney+ account, I watched a good doc this morning on Stars called 42:1 recounting the Douglas v Tyson fight. A really good watch.
 
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