The Mike Tyson Hall of fame argument!

Some people, including so called experts, believe that Mike Tyson should not be considered for Hall of fame status because he never won a big super match with a big fighter of his era. This may or not be true, but if the Hall of fame is a historical record of boxing's greatest achievements and achievers, then is it wise to edit one of its most inspirational, turbulent, and transcending era's in its long history.

Yes Tyson's record may be light on great stand out wins, but do we judge a fighter and personality like Tyson purely on the impact of his record rather then the impact he had on boxing on a whole. Calzaghe done great things in the game, remained un beaten in 40 odd fights but what was his impact on the sport? not much really.

Omitting Tyson from the HOF is like omitting the Irish potato famine from Irish history, far too big an elephant in the room to ignore.

The Spinks fight was supposed to be a big fight where Spinks guile would cause Tyson trouble. Some 'experts' picked Spinks to win. The rest is hostory in 93 seconds.

If Tyson has to go because of his record or otherwise i would hope many less worthy would follow, although he may not be liked he's a boxing icon. He has a good if not great record and has broke some impressive records.

All true but some would say that Tyson's impact has nothing to do with the merits of the HOF.

Absolutely..a no-brainer!! A must if simply for putting Boxing on the map in the late 80's and 90's....

Brought an audience back to the sport and got people in the gym like the Rocky films did...

of course he should be in. ive got him about 15th best heavy, some would have him higher, but surely most people would have him in their top 20? you can downplay his achievements all you like, and ive argued before to people hes overrated in their opinions, but he still achieved great things

I think we touched on this in captain's Hall of Fame thread, but the general feeling I have is that there are a select few in boxing history who need to be judged using slightly different parameters than others - and Tyson is one of them.

That said, even if he had a personality that was as dull as Formula 1 (sorry to any F1 fans!) and didn't pull in droves of new fans to the sport, I'd still say that his achievements are comfortably enough to put him in to the Hall of Fame, be it our own or the Canastota one (which, let's be frank, will likely be honouring Richie Woodhall one day at the rate they're currently going).

I think its only a small minority that would look to exclude him from the HoF.

I actually his initial title reign is pretty underrated and he would deserve entry on the strength of that alone. As is often pointed out, few heavyweights have peak fellow all time great heavyweights on their records. For me Tysons initial reign is perfectly comparable with the likes of all but a select few heavyweights in history.

Who exactly has said he should not be inducted into the HOF?

Im not really a big Tyson fan but whoever says he does not deserve a place there is drinking/smoking something strong. Tyson is the reason many people love and follow boxing who grew up in that era. We need someone like him now if im honest (bar the private life issues ofcourse)

Steffan wrote:Who exactly has said he should not be inducted into the HOF?

Im not really a big Tyson fan but whoever says he does not deserve a place there is drinking/smoking something strong. Tyson is the reason many people love and follow boxing who grew up in that era. We need someone like him now if im honest (bar the private life issues ofcourse)

Teddy Atlas for one, a respected boxing trainer [as opposed to a boxing forum contributor]

We need someone like him now if im honest (bar the private life issues ofcourse)

& the references to killing people in the ring?

Keep the overhyped raper out

It's a Hall of 'Fame', and he was certainly famous.

The fact that he rivalled JL's 'Bum of the month club' on his way to the titles, then fell apart when facing his only top class opposition shouldn't prevent him being included.

As onetwo is well aware I am far from Tyson's biggest fan and even allowing for the elitist criteria on the 606v2 HOF I voted him in, as chris as alluded to some guys like Sullivan, Dempsey and indeed Tyson have an impact that resonates to such a degree that if indeed there are gaps in their resume they are more than covered by this, however as Manos has said Tyson's acheivements in his pre prison reign probably do enough to get him in irrespective of this.

KC wrote:

Steffan wrote:Who exactly has said he should not be inducted into the HOF?

Im not really a big Tyson fan but whoever says he does not deserve a place there is drinking/smoking something strong. Tyson is the reason many people love and follow boxing who grew up in that era. We need someone like him now if im honest (bar the private life issues ofcourse)

Teddy Atlas for one, a respected boxing trainer [as opposed to a boxing forum contributor]

Difference is your average boxing forum contributor does not hate Mike Tyson for making a sexual pass at his daughter and did not put a gun to his head and say "If you ever do that again I will kill you"...



You clearly lack indepth knowledge on the situation so I will let your sarcastic comment pass. Im good like that see

alma wrote:Not sure Evan Fields was his only top class opposition. Spinks is one of the great light-heavies for example and he was dispatched in a round. Vitali recently fought Adamek, a fairly average former light-heavy and went to the later rounds at least.

And a certain HW in the 1950s went life and death with Ancient Archie Moore yet he's referred to as one of the best ever.

alma wrote:Wasn't it his niece?

You could be right

Wiki: "Atlas left the camp in 1982 following an altercation with the 15 year old Tyson after Tyson had been sexually inappropriate with a 12 year old female relative of Atlas's (Tyson said he had grabbed the girl's buttocks). Atlas put a .38 caliber handgun to Tyson's ear and told him to never touch his family again or he would murder him"

youngest heavyweight champion of all time, transcended the sport, one of the most exciting fighters ever to have stepped in the ring, if ESPN`s Dan Rafael consider Hammed and Virgil Hill to be HOF material, then Tyson most certainly is.