Opinions on the "GOAT" (Boxing)

[Dpeck100]

I have to assume the gloves were less padded in the earlier days so those shots had to really hurt.

Were there a lot of blood baths back in the days?

[profholt82]

Originally Posted by Dpeck100

I have to assume the gloves were less padded in the earlier days so those shots had to really hurt.

Were there a lot of blood baths back in the days?

If you go way back, during the latter 19th century there was a gloved champion and a bare knuckle champion. John L. Sullivan notably held both titles at one point. While I wasn't there, certainly there must have been many a blood bath in those days.

[HasselhoffsCheeseburger]

I think another reason why Tyson is more popular than his actual ranking is the state of the sport of boxing. Most of the guys we're talking about fought when boxing was one of, if not the, most popular sports in America. When Tyson fought, boxing was a wasteland of fraud, criminals, and drugs. He stood out more in that era because there wasn't much else at the time. For those collecting boxing cards of fighters they saw, who are they going to be drawn to? Of course it's going to be the carnival show that was Mike Tyson.

Arthur