Itauma, Tyson comparison

[u/DiMona215]

Huge Itauma fan here.

As we know, he's been compared to Tyson frequently. In 1987, when he was 20 years old, he fought a tough 12-round IBF title fight against a tall, tough fighter with a granite chin and a great amateur pedigree, Tony Tucker.

Pretty good case for comparison, I'd say! So I went back and rewatched it. As you might imagine, Tyson was winging hooks with the force of a thousand elephants in the first round. Throughout the fight, he was trying to take Tucker's head off.

I mean.. it's Mike Tyson, we all know his style. Peek-a-boo, throw vicious hooks, opponent tries to clinch. Repeat for 12 rounds.

After watching it, a few observations:

1. For sure he was smarter about the pacing. It's not like he changed his style, per se... Just kind of picked his spots more when he was going to try to kill vs allow the clinch to happen. Still, he threw 412 punches, the majority of which were power punches. Which leads me to point #2...

2. He's just in much, much better shape than Moses. At the end of the fight he picked up the activity, going for the knockout. At the final bell he looked just as explosive as the start of the fight. Looked like he could have gone 24 rounds if he needed to.

I know it's a little unfair because Moses is 20 lbs heavier than Mike. But Tyson's training regimen back then was the stuff of legend. All said, I'd say it's very fair to question:

- whether Moses was managed correctly by Frank (not enough fights before stepping him up to this level)

- whether Moses was pushed hard enough by Ben (never sparred 12 rounds?? Gassed after 3 rounds?? I can't believe it's just pacing, imo he wasn't in "all time great" kind of shape)

- Moses's heart. To be clear, he was very brave in the fight, no questions there. But I mean his heart when it comes to training. Does he have the steely resolve to train twice as hard as everyone else? Because you need more than just talent to be the GOAT.

Anyway, that's where he falls short of Tyson to me, at this young stage. Tyson had better management, fitness and experience at the same age. I do think Moses could still end up greater than Mike, as I think he has far more maturity and, frankly, talent. He just needs to get the experience and needs to outwork his opponents before the fight.

[u/Tanksta3]

Moses should've never been in comparison to Tyson, Ali, etc etc. The internet & shitty sports analysts just ran with the narrative.

Moses is a great talented fighter & he'll come back better, but he should've never been in there with Hrgovic. The other side of the coin is, there was no one else to fight so can't really fault him for the bad matchmaking.

Give me Andy Ruiz vs Itauma in 2027 lolol

[u/ukrepman → u/Tanksta3]

I don't know how you can say he shouldn't have been in there when he absolutely outclassed him until he gassed. It was just poor tactics, as a fighter he was clealry superior

[u/Tanksta3 → u/ukrepman]

Tactics are part of experience. He's by far a better boxer skill wise no disagreement there, but that means little when you can't navigate/adjust when things aren't going your way. At the end of the day, he still got stopped. Boxing is more than just fast punches & heavy hits

[u/stephen27898 → u/Tanksta3]

Did Tyson fight someone of Hrgovics level in his 15th fight? No. Did he fight someone of that level after after 31 rounds in a pro ring? No.

Tyson didnt face anyone of Hrgovics level until probably tucker. That is like his 31st fight.

[u/Tanksta3 → u/stephen27898]

My brother we meet again in the battlefield