The Fight that Changed Boxing? | Dead Man Talking

01:34 PM ET 06.29 | ///...................From SI Today (June 29, 2012).................../// The fight sent shock waves through the boxing world. Shots were reported at the MGM Grand after the fight (it is now believed to have been a champagne cork), and the fight became instant front page news. The state of Nevada would end up fining Tyson $3 million and suspending his license. Though Tyson suffered one of the harshest financial penalties in sports history, there were cries to ban Tyson for life. The headline of Sports Illustrated read "Madman!"; The Hollywood Wax Museum moved its statue of Tyson from its Sports Hall of Fame to its "Chamber of Horrors" and next to Hannibal Lecter. In her article, "Defending Tyson," author Katherine Dunn said "the press could scarcely be more inflamed if the guy had reached up Holyfield's rectum and ripped out his heart in front of the TV." Tyson never won another major fight in his career, while Holyfield would compete in high profile title bouts against Lennox Lewis and John Ruiz. The fight still resonates within the boxing community 15 years later.---------------/// I'm sorry but I have to disagree. A guy going berserk in the ring is half expected at any given moment. I wasn't surprised in the least, and nor were my friends who were watching with me. The fight that changed boxing was the Cassius Clay vs. Sonny Liston fight. Pretty much everyone had Liston actually killing Clay in the ring, and many thought this fight wouldn't last 6 rounds with Clay laying destroyed on the mat. After the rematch, Clay would go on to become ALI, and change the heavyweight division and boxing forever. For shear embarrassment and spectacle, the Tyson vs. Holyfield fight was barely a blip against Clay vs. Liston. It would later end up creating the biggest name (ALI) in sports history, and a legend for everyone to either love or hate. My 'ol man was at the fight (Big Liston fan, and bigger boxing fan for all 85 years of his life), and to the end of his life he always said it was the biggest fight and shock in boxing history. As an OPINION PIECE, I tend to agree.

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June 29, 2012 01:35 PM ET

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Any takers? Even the SI TROLLS? LOL

Wisconsin Death Trip

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June 29, 2012 11:43 PM ET

Apart from his early years when he seemed half-human (and fought a lot of stiffs), Tyson was a big eye-sore for boxing. Why the attempts to add cachet to his record (SI) I dont understand. Must be money. Holyfield was a pro.

The first Clay v Liston was big. The Lewiston rematch was almost as strange as the ear-chomp fight. I'm still undecided if it was a fix (as many claim) or not. Alis explanation of his knockdown punch is hard to understand. I still I like Douglas v Tyson in Tokyo (90) as the biggest, best, most shocking heavyweight title fight of the past 35 years. Best match for both boxers careers. Back & forth, knockdowns, comebacks, it was fantastic. Of course, I liked the result too.

Steven Keys

Duluth, GA

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June 30, 2012 06:00 PM ET

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 11:43 PM ET 06.29 by Steven Keys

Apart from his early years when he seemed half-human (and fought a lot of stiffs), Tyson was a big eye-sore for boxing. Why the attempts to add cachet to his record (SI) I dont understand. Must be money. Holyfield was a pro. The first Clay v Liston was big. The Lewiston rematch was almost as strange as the ear-chomp fight. I'm still undecided if it was a fix (as many claim) or not. Alis explanation of his knockdown punch is hard to understand. I still I like Douglas v Tyson in Tokyo (90) as the biggest, best, most shocking heavyweight title fight of the past 35 years. Best match for both boxers careers. Back & forth, knockdowns, comebacks, it was fantastic. Of course, I liked the result too.

Ditto, and I was in Japan for the Tyson/Douglas fight just by chance. I agree in part that it was a huge upset in itself, but it didn't also produce a legend like the Clay/Liston fight did. That's why I chose it overall. Thanx for the feedback!