Ring Observer Boxing by Scoop Malinowski
By Scoop Malinowski
Mike Tyson said many intriguing things in his book Undisputed Truth and one gem that inspired this article is: “Henry Tillman was one of those fighters who was really great but he just didn’t have confidence in himself. If he had believed in himself, he would have been a legendary fighter. He would have been in the Hall of Fame.”
Tyson knocked out Tillman in the first round in their 1990 pro fight but lost to him in the amateurs. Tillman, the 1984 Olympic gold medalist, achieved an unspectacular and ordinary professional career. So it’s quite impressive how highly Tyson regarded Tillman’s boxing talent and skills.
Tyson is a genius when it comes to one on one sports and the elements and factors that separate the very best from the rest of the pack.
This wisdom of Mike Tyson makes you wonder how many other great fighters like Henry Tillman were (and are) out there, who lack the confidence and belief that they are indeed great.
Tyson and Lennox Lewis have made statements about Razor Ruddock having great boxing skills but then he suddenly changed his strategic style into a knockout artist in the early 90s.
Andrew Golota was a great fighter with boxing and brawling skills – as evidenced in his two epic slugfests with Riddick Bowe – but he never seemed to put it all together in a big fight when it really mattered. Instead, he showed many flashes of brilliance of an elite heavyweight which was a very impressive achievement in the golden era he competed in.
Floyd Mayweather could have been a great fighter but he lacked the confidence to fight the best opposition, instead opting to always take the most business sensible path of least resistance, opting to duck prime Manny Pacquiao for six years, Antonio Margarito, unbeaten Miguel Cotto, Sergio Martinez, Paul Williams, Gennady Golovkin at 154, Vivian Harris, Kostya Tszyu, Vivian Harris, Vernon Forrest. Mayweather knew his limits, knew who he could beat and who he had to duck and dodge.
There have been a lot of fighters who showed flashes of being sensational performers but were not able to evolve and sustain longevity at the elite level – Willie DeWitt, Angel Vazquez, Buster Douglas, Ricardo Mayorga, Carl The Truth Williams, Smokin’ Bert Cooper, Henry Akinwande, Gerry Cooney, Michael Nunn and perhaps even Mike Tyson himself, who was never quite the same fighter as he was before the divorce with Robin Givens in 1989.
Artwork by Bud Boccone
