‘The Baddest Man on The Planet’ loved being one of the most feared fighters in the ring— the most unusual boxer who made a habit out of pummeling big-sized opponents. The trash talks added a different dimension to his persona. The fear of facing Mike Tyson was profound. Reportedly many opponents would start having second thoughts about meeting him. What happened to former champion Michael Spinks, who refused to leave the dressing room for quite some time during their 1988 bout, is another story. Tales like these launched the aura and charisma of boxers like Tyson and others who followed the trail.
But as it came about, the Tyson-Spinks fight at Atlantic City’s Convention Hall became the highest-grossing match of the time, surpassing the stats set up by the previous year’s Marvin Hagler versus Ray Leonard. So who did the sell-out crowd assembled on June 27 come to see? Was it the thirty-two-year-old Spinks, the flag bearer of a renowned boxing clan, or the people thronged in droves to catch a glimpse of a fiery twenty-one-year-old who had viciously knocked down almost every opponent that crossed his path?
Cutting the chase to the current century. Since the start of the second decade, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been demolishing one name after another. But besides his ring IQ and the prowess within the ring, what made him the talk of the town was the way he started minting money. With the ‘Canelo’ Alvarez fight in 2013, Mayweather Jr. began to play in the megabucks league.
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The meaner, the better, says Mike Tyson
So once again, the question arises, were fans milling around to watch the new face of boxing who could not only box but slam any opponents with words during press conferences and then show around a swanky lifestyle? It seems Mike Tyson has some of the answers to the questions. Michael Benson tweeted a quote from Tyson’s interview to ‘Pro Wrestling Bits.’
Mike Tyson: “That's just who I was – the bad guy. But that's who makes the good guy famous, the bad guy. The good guy's nothing without the bad guy. The bad guy's the biggest draw. That's why Floyd Mayweather and myself were the biggest draws.” [Pro Wrestling Bits]
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) May 3, 2023
So, during the interview, Mike Tyson described his love for wrestling and how he idolized some of the most famous faces of the day, such as the Valiant Brothers and Bruno Sammartino. He said, “And that’s just who I was. The arrogant talker, the bad guy people booed. But that’s what I realized. You can’t remember the good guy without the bad guy. That’s what makes the good guy famous, the bad guy. The good guy is nothing without the bad guy. The bad guy is the biggest draw. That’s why Floyd Mayweather and myself were the biggest draws because we were the bad guys. “
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Perhaps, there’s an element of truth in what Mike Tyson said. The boxing world is still not tired of talking about the likes of Sonny Liston and Hector Camacho. Whereas only a search brings forth the lives of gentleman fighters such as Floyd Patterson and Alexis Arguello.
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What is your take on Tyson’s comments? Do you agree with him? Do let us know your views and thoughts in the comments section below.
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