What and where? The whole damn "sport". Put any one of those fools in a ring with a real boxer. The outcome is boringly predictable. Conor McGregor was one of their "best", one of their champions. The only real boxer he ever faced played with him like a cat with a dying mouse. Until he got bored and finished him.

I put modern MMA on the same level as WWF. Bullschitt, contrived entertainment for unsophisticated fight fans. Lots of drama. Lots of posing. Kind of the "PARF" of fighting. Not surprising that you find it entertaining... :D

^^^

It's also equally not surprising that you spew nonsense absolutes about a subject you are woefully ignorant of - something you do regularly, as has been observed here many times before.

There is an old saying in boxing: “The last thing to go is the punch.”

Could Mike knock someone out?

Sure, just not another professional boxer in his weight class. Most people simply do not understand the conditioning it takes to go even three rounds. Mike looks good in snippets. Snippets mean exactly zero.

I box two or three times a month (not in the last few months, of course) and at 63 I have found my once excellent reflexes, counter punches, can now be timed with a sundial.

My life in slo-mo.

Mike should only box someone his age. The young guys would kill him.

And, again, knowing nothing about me, you feel compelled to post as if you do.

I boxed Golden Gloves as a teenager. Even though I won a lot, I got tired of getting beat up. Even winning in boxing means you take a pretty good beating. It takes a long time for the redness and puffiness to go away. I got tired of it.

In my mid 20's, when I was still stupid enough to get talked into such things, a buddy at work talked me into joining him at some b.s. local "tough guy" competition, which was MMA style, before it really took off. I had no idea what I was doing, had no "ground game" (since I never wrestled), but I could kick very well, just not like a fighter - I went to college on a partial soccer (very, very partial) scholarship. So I kinda sorta thought maybe I could do this...

Long story short, I just boxed. And kicked 'em in the shins every now and then just to be a smart ass. I only did it a few times before I decided I was too old for that crap. But, um, yeah - I actually got in the ring and did both. How about you?

Beyond that, having boxed, I have been a lifelong fan of the sport. I tried to like MMA, I really did - watched it for years. Watched it through the eyes of a boxing fan, for sure, so that is probably how I formed such a low opinion of it. And why I'm convinced that any decent boxer would simply tear one of those idiots up. And, actually, that has been proven every time there has been any sort of a crossover match. Every time.

It appears that it may be you who is "woefully ignorant" of what I'm "woefully ignorant" of... of course, that has never slowed you down... SmileWavy

Ding!! Round 1
Go for his ear!
Go for his ear! :D

Yeah, I still train on the heavy bag and the speed bag. I can still hit pretty effin' hard, if I do say so for myself. But could I go rounds? Even one minute rounds? Hell no. Could I still take the same kind of punch I can throw? Hell no. But it's still fun, and good exercise to hit the bags. Besides, in real life, who would ever expect a nondescript 60 year old man to throw a decent left hook on them? I would absolutely have the element of surprise, if it came to that. To paraphrase Mike Tyson, my best hope would be to "change their plans...". ;)

Great quotes, both of them.
First one sounds familiar :D

Mine as well:cool:

Quick Sea Story:

When Tyson boxed Lennox Lewis in Memphis 2002 I was stationed at the the Navy’s manpower HQ in Millington, Tn.

I flew back home every weekend except those occasions when I had to run a “board”...I could not trust the weather and stayed the weekend.

The Navy did a lot of volunteer work in Memphis, staffing Redbirds games, etc. The fight was at the Pyramid in Memphis and the Navy had worked a lot of events there.

The Pyramid folks asked us to provide Navy folks to be part of the pre fight stuff, form a line across the ring between Mike and Lennox just prior to the bell, etc.

So we did. Since I was staying in Millington because I had a board, I volunteered to run the admin stuff to get the guys (senior enlisted and officers) where they needed to be, when. Easiest job in the world.

It was really extraordinary...I was ringside for everything and got to stay for the fight twenty feet away. This was my first time at a professional fight and the power and fury was unexpected. Jesus.

That’s it, nothing other than I hope Mike stays in the old guy lane.

Snippets won't hold up in court, but I reckon they don't have to be untrue per sé.

Imo, They are previews, a taste of what's to come. I hope it lives up to (at least) my expectations. I'm rooting for him. But like I said, I think he's an intruiging character, back then, but also still today. ymmv

And yes, he should fight in his devision, the veterans, senior, or whatever it is called.
Agree 100%.

Yes. Again, as a lifetime fan of the sport, I have attended quite a few matches, from local club stuff to some top level pro fights. The top level pro's are something everyone who is remotely interested in fighting needs to see first hand. Television absolutely cannot communicate the sheer "power and fury" these guys bring to the ring.

It can actually be a very difficult sport to watch live. You really miss an awful lot of it, more than you realize. It is amazing how much you come to realize how you count on those between rounds replays to see what really happened. I've lost count of how many times I've seen a guy on the mat and had no idea how he got there. It all just happens so, so fast. It's truly impressive live - and all the more frightening.

Maybe that's why MMA has gotten so popular - once they are down on the mat, rolling around hugging and fornicating one another, it's all slowed down enough to watch. Hell, you can go take a leak and get another beer and, by the time you get back, nothing much has changed. ;)

I admire you guys that are deeply into boxing. I don't know enough about the sport to say much. But I will. :D

My Dad took me to the Nutty Professor at a theater sofa king long ago and they had the first Liston vs. Clay fight. I think they played it before the movie. Maybe ten minutes worth. I know that's why my Dad took me so he could see it.

I was high on the Conor McGregor vs Mayweather fight as I thought that was cool. Talked to my avid boxing fan pal and he said it was a joke. Like, I could not even get him going he was so absolute in his viewpoint. He was correct.

However, I did get into the Rousey vs Holms UFC fight. I really enjoyed that. Talked to Ronnie a good deal about that one. Rousey's neck bent funny.

Endless hours watching Youtube vids of Tyson (and others) snuffing dudes with a punch or two but favorite time burner is rope a dope. Ending was pretty cool.

A lot of you guys sound like you think he's coming back to fight professionally , where are you hearing that ? I ask because all I have seen on the net is that he is getting in shape to do four round charity fights . With proceeds going to charity . He may not be the brightest bulb in the pack but I don't think he's dumb enough to think he can come back as a pro .

I would like to see Iron Mike go a few rounds with Bernard Hopkins.

It is the same sort of joke when a boxer fights an MMA guy in an MMA event - the boxer is made to look silly and gets dispatched quickly (JH's statement to the contrary, in post #44, is completely false). The whole comparison thing is ridiculous and those who declare one sport's superiority over the other, based on an athlete's performance in a cheesy crossover event, are truly clueless.

Funny but probably his most famous moment. He must be so proud of his legacy... :rolleyes:

Ray Mercer, at 47 years old, knocking out UFC champ Tim Sylvia in all of about ten seconds, under full UFC rules:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DaklYwClEQ8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

A few more examples (starting with Mercer again):

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_O7fX0EM4uo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The fact of the matter is that a trained boxer's superior punching power and speed, coupled with their ability to defend against the same, will most often dominate an MMA fighter. It usually doesn't even go to the mat where the MMA fighter can utilize their ground skills. The boxer simply knocks them out before that ever happens. It happens time and time again, even under MMA rules, as shown above.

^^^

I will assume you are taking the piss here, since there are just as many YouTube compilation videos out there showing boxers getting whipped in MMA competitions. The whole crossover concept is a joke, meant to titillate people that don't know much about either sport.

And your claim of "superior punching power and speed" is amusing; what do you base that on (perhaps a YouTube video)?

The video with Silva and Mercer is funny, considering there are many instances where one MMA guy quickly knocks out another - it happens for a number of reasons (usually carelessness and stupidity on the part of the guy who gets dropped), and proves nothing about a boxer's superiority when he does it to an MMA guy.

Raunch... and you wonder why you're not allowed in PARF. :rolleyes:

Back in college a guy down the hall was a scrawny-looking 5’9” 130# nerd who (he said-without brag) was a semi-finalist in a couple state-wide boxing tournaments.

My roommate was a solid, really quick, 6’2” 180# good-looking, all-around athlete who never boxed in his life.

Beer was involved.

It lasted around 30 secs. but only because the nerd let my roommate take a couple swings.

Roommate said he thinks it was painless.

That's funny right there. Pop goes the weasel.

Boxers have no idea how to fight on the ground.
BJJ shows that there boxers would get their ass kicked in 30 seconds in a street fight

Boxers get their asses kicked in 30 seconds
Choked out or broken arm submission

That is why UFC got so popular in the first place.
The ultimate fighter is not a 1 trick pony boxer who does not know submission holds and does not even strike with their legs.

You need to get your hands on a boxer first. This argument is so dumb. Their all skilled in there own ways. Enjoy whatever floats your boat. Me, folk style wrestling (college, high school) is my preferred sport.

I almost walked right into Mike Tyson a few years back. I was doing consulting work at Securities and Exchange Commission, and he was apparently there to testify about a former money manager who was ripping him and other clients off. I was walking past the "hearing room" in the hallway and saw a very attractive, statuesque woman standing in the hall (unusual in a govt building). As I was fixated on her thinking "who the heck is that?" he walked out of the room in front of me and I had to stop myself from running into him. I guess the chick was his lawyer or something.

I immediately saw the famous tattoo on the side of his face, and then it clicked in my brain. My impression: he was not that big and was not tall at all. I am 6'3, and I was really looking down to see him. Having said that, I know he is/was VERY powerful. I think he was pretty annoyed after giving his testimony, and it looked like he was looking for the quickest exit out of there. I'm glad he wasn't mad at ME :)

I think he's mellowed with age, and I have more sympathy for him now. But boy was he a terror for few years there back in the 80's.

That is a given.

That is the crux of the problem. Smart boxers, top level boxers, simply do not let that happen. Less skilled, not so bright boxers will lose to MMA fighters if they let this happen, and often do.

Real wrestling is a fantastic sport. I was never into it, but I have tons of respect for wrestlers. Too bad there is no professional wrestling, real wrestling. The fact that the circus spectacle that is pro wrestling ever took off, instead of real wrestling, just makes me shake my head.

All of this "cage fighting", UFC, MMA, and that kind of nonsense is same thing, and appeals to the same crowd. Lots of contrived, made up drama and spectacle. More circus sideshow than fighting. Tailored to the lite beer drinking bubbas and their bottled blonde, big haired, overweight, plastic boobed girlfriends.

Interestingly, there is some career crossover between boxing and MMA. Many washed up, too old to box fighters find second careers thumping on MMA idiots. I've never seen anyone go the other way - from MMA to a successful pro boxing career. They simply do not have the stamina and discipline to make it in boxing.

What in the world are you talking about; Jeff disparages a sport, using nonsense and false information to do so (such as in his post above mine - so full of falsehood and hogwash that I guess he's doing that to troll), and I'm the bad guy for correcting him? Are you serious?

The highlighted part is absolutely false and further demonstrates that you do not have a clue about the sport - your lack of knowledge never keeps you from talking about any subject, however, so I am not surprised.

OK - now This may be the 2nd best quote ...........ever. So much so, filed it my manilla folder / rolodex memory bank.

Thank you!!

You're right, my bad - I went ahead and corrected my post. Sorry.

I like picking on you ;)

Ha ha - fair enough! :D

Always fun to discuss former greats in any sport. My dad insisted that a Joe Lewis in his prime would beat Ali in his, while I'd counter that it would be Clay/Liston all over again.

Sure 21 year old Joshua Filler beats an aging Efren Reyes in pool, but Efren in his prime?

Is Lewis Hamilton a better driver than Jim Clark was?

Is Tom Brady the best QB ever, or was it Joe Montana?

What about Ali and Tyson in their prime?

My money would be on Tyson.

That is really it.

BTW, anyone who wrestled in college knows things few people know. The ground is where we all lose our virginity.

My son lost an eye nearly five years ago and had to stop boxing and martial arts...he was accomplished at both. He needed, given who he is, to find an outlet.

He settled on some form of Ju-Jitsu, which he did for three years of law school, the last two years fighting in tournaments at the amateur level. He is 5'10" and 160lbs of sinew and strength. I got height and perspective from the Spanish, he got all he ever needed from his Scottish side, apparently.

He was here the past few months and left a few hours ago for his new job. He never brags about anything, not his nature. He does light up, however, recounting stupid party tricks with big guys who lost their virginity on the ground.

It really is different.

I suggest you watch the first fight between the then Cassius Clay and Sonny Liston.
Then watch some of Liston's wins...he was probably the closest in style to Tyson of any of Ali's opponents. Also, I think we'd both agree that Ali was a smarter fighter than Tyson...able to shift style in a heartbeat when/if needed...had more tricks of the trade, if you will. Buster Douglas was much slower than Ali, but did use boxing skill to defeat Tyson.

I was going to add Johnny Unitas to my "Best QB" list...but you know, it's a lot easier to pick a favorite in individual sports than team sports. A great QB can still look like a chump without a decent line.

I know why you do that!

....and Ali would kick Tom Brady's butt :D

I think it would come down to who developed the best strategy and who is best able to execute it.

Physically, Tyson has the edge. Psychology goes to Ali.

Clay/Liston...first fight:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7j3DIPxonpU

Yes, it's always good fun to debate who was the best at what, and even to debate across the established boundaries of different, but similar sports. This boxing vs. MMA debate has raged since the inception of MMA. Fans of one pick on the other, a vis versa. It's all good clean fun. Nothing is meant by it. For most of us, anyway. The adults in the room...

Yeah, well, George Foreman would out-grill either one of them, so there. :D

And you probably think WWW is fake I bet.