I watched it live and can only echo what has been said.
In my opinion at his peak Tyson's was the best combination puncher in heavyweight history, at least in terms of concussive blows. The speed of the hand, combination punching and latteral head movement and footwork were just unbeliveable. I think people were also amazed when they came up against him just how hard he hit for his size. I think a lot of guys got scared witless the first time he landed on them, it is like they realised that they just couldn't compete against a guy who hit with so much power, speed, agility and movement.
One of the best punchers in the history of boxing when it came to hitting a guy falling to the canvas, at least up there with anyone. It is amazingly hard to hit a guy on the way down, sometimes Tyson would do it two or three times and put away much chance opponents had of getting back in a fight.
He should have domminated the heavyweight division for many years, but the loss of Atlas, Rooney and Cus meant he was on a road to ruin. I think the loss of those guys and falling into the hands of Don King actually killed Tyson off to a serious degree even more so than the lost jail years did.
Funny or rather sad but it was the loss of footwork, sharper combination and more than anything the loss of latteral head movement and feet that said it was over for him. As soon as he started walking in straight lines he was tailor made for a top jabber.
I don't think Tyson was the hardest one punch hitter of all-time as some have suggested and in fact I wouldn't put him in the top ten in that category, but he still hit hard as hell and when you consider the combinations and all....wow.
Really sad to see the heavyweight division in the state it is today, a young Tyson would tear it to pieces, as would many a great fighter from yesteryear. A pity that these things seem to go in cycles, with loads of good fighters or nobodys...
Great years getting to see Tyson, great years.
