10. Mike Tyson (50-6, 44 KOs)
Mike Tyson is one of the most polarizing boxers in history. When he turned professional in 1985, he unleashed wrath and terror on the heavyweight division. Trainer Cus D’Amato took Tyson in as a teenager. Tyson was a juvenile delinquent who was always in trouble. He showed promise in the boxing ring during a stay at a detention center, and he was passed on to D’Amato. D’Amato recognized Tyson’s potential greatness and molded him into a destroyer in the ring.
Tyson’s knockout power was uncanny. During his early years as a professional, Tyson studied boxing history and put forth maximum effort while training. He became the youngest heavyweight champion in history by knocking out Trevor Berbick in 1986 for the WBC title. He was only 20 years old.
Young Tyson continued to awe the general public by dismantling boxing stars like Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks. Unfortunately, D’Amato died before he could see Tyson achieve their dream of becoming the youngest heavyweight champion. D’Amato’s death shortly before Tyson’s 12th professional bout would traumatize him and eventually derail his career.
Tyson in 1985 might have been able to beat any boxer in history, but there’s no way to tell. Tyson grew complacent after winning the title and didn’t have D’Amato around to keep him dedicated to his craft. His training habits declined, and his personal life became chaotic, which hurt his focus on the sport.
Tyson’s backers fired his trainer Kevin Rooney in 1988, and he was never the same. Rooney was Tyson’s last connection to his upbringing with D’Amato. As Tyson’s personal life imploded, so did his boxing career.
His shocking loss to James ‘Buster’ Douglas is still one of the biggest upsets in boxing history. Douglas might be the worst boxer to ever win a heavyweight title. Tyson’s losses to Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Danny Williams, and Kevin McBride are why he’s not higher on this list. Tyson displayed greatness in 1988, but his career numbers and lack of championship longevity are why he’s not higher on this list.
Teddy Atlas, Tyson’s former assistant trainer, told Joe Rogan on his podcast The Joe Rogan Experience that Tyson was “not a great fighter.” Atlas added, “I don’t have his record in front of me — and this is going to blow some people crazy — say it’s 50 and 5. I would say he’s 0-5.”
Atlas’s words seem outrageous, but he further qualified his response: “And then five times — or whatever the record was — there was resistance. Five times there was a real fight and something to overcome. And he failed all five times.”
Tyson was a phenomenal talent, but his career fell apart where others flourished for long periods.