Mike Tyson traded blows with some of the greatest heavyweights of his generation.
“Iron” Mike caused havoc among the world's best heavyweights from the '80s to the early '00s with his ferocious punching power and entertaining style, and is considered one of the best fighters to ever step into the ring. has been done.
Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history at the age of 20, and was the undisputed champion for three years from 1987 to 1990, competing against the likes of Larry Holmes, Lennox Lewis and Frank Bruno.
He is set to surprisingly return to the ring in a match against Jake Paul on July 20th, and the influencer will follow in the footsteps of the hallowed names who shared the ring with Tyson.
Ten years before his latest appearance, he named his famous opponent Evander Holyfield as the “best overall fighter” and “best puncher” he had ever challenged.
In an April 2014 interview with The Ring, Tyson said, “Great champion, chin, heart, determination, work ethic, attitude.
“He threw a great shot with both hands and with bad intent.”
Tyson first fought Holyfield in a showdown for the WBA world heavyweight title in 1996, but was stopped on the spot by the referee in the 11th round.
The two men then touched gloves in an immediate rematch in June 1997, but Tyson bit off his rival's ear during a clinch, resulting in his infamous disqualification.
Despite the incident, the stalwarts are now friends and have even suggested a money-making trilogy.
Despite never having beaten Holyfield, Tyson claimed that Tony Tucker was the best technical boxer he faced in August 1987, and that he believed he had the best jab.
He continued: “He had a great jab, moved well and was very tough to hit clean.
“I had to skate really hard to avoid getting tagged.”
Tucker was the first to shake Tyson up in the fight, but Tyson put on a show and proved a tenacious resistance until the final bell rang.
In the end, the judges' scorecards gave the decision to Tyson, but 'TNT' proved to be an almost impossible target to hit, giving the legend serious headaches.
Similarly, Tyson felt it was a very tough fight when he fought Jose Ribalta a year earlier in 1986, noting that Jose Ribalta was the “best” boxer he faced and had “the best chin.” He suggested that he had it.
He added: “I threw everything at Jose Ribalta, but he took it all and came back for more.
“Jose Ribalta was standing leg-to-leg with me. He was very strong in the clinch.”
Cuban heavyweight Ribalta will be a surprise addition, considering Tyson dropped him three times in the second, eighth and 10th rounds of their fight.
Although Tyson was able to stop his rival in the final round, the journeyman proved a tough test in just two fights before becoming champion for the first time.
It's no real surprise that heavyweight great Larry Holmes won the titles of “Best Defender” and “Smartest” in a famous 1998 matchup.
He said, “Larry Holmes had the toughest defense even though I beat him in range. He was very tough to hit clean.”
“Larry Holmes was smarter than anyone. It's no surprise he was champion for seven years.”
Holmes tried to wrest the unified title from Tyson's hands, but was dropped within four rounds by the slicker boxer in the final stanza of the fight.
The bout, billed as “heavyweight history,” ultimately went too far for Holmes, who succumbed to the then-rising star.
In Tyson's last two divisions, Mitch Green won the award for “Fastest Legs”, but surpassed him in 1986, but was unable to stop the fight and it was brought to the judges' scorecards. .
Tony Tubbs won the “Fastest Hands” award for impressing the heavyweight great during their 1988 match.
Tyson was stunned by his early start, but weathered the storm and scored a second-round KO to retain his then-unified title.
Paul will be ranked well below all of the biggest names in the sport, but given that he is 31 years younger than Tyson, he will have a natural advantage.
'Problem Child' will be hoping he can achieve a fraction of what the greats have achieved against Tyson, who is far from his prime in their summer matchup.
