Former undisputed heavyweight champion
Mike Tyson has paid a glowing tribute to Muhammad Ali, insisting that “The
Greatest” would have beaten him at any point in his career.
Tyson, whose professional journey began at just 18
years old in 1985, quickly established himself as a force in the heavyweight
division. He won his first 19 fights by stoppage—12 of them in the first
round—before making history just 18 months into his career by knocking out
Trevor Berbick in two rounds to become the youngest heavyweight champion in
boxing history at age 20.
Following his victory over Berbick for the WBC title,
Tyson unified the heavyweight division with dominant performances over WBA
champion James Smith and IBF champion Tony Tucker, becoming the undisputed
champion and one of the most feared fighters of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Yet, despite his legendary status, Tyson has no
illusions about who reigns supreme in boxing history.
“There is no man like him, there just isn’t,” Tyson
said in an interview with ThisIs50, referring to Muhammad Ali. “Everything we
have, he supersedes us in. He was an animal. He looked more like a model than a
boxer. He’s like a Tyrannosaurus Rex with a pretty face—he’s just mean and
evil. He’ll take you to deep waters and drown you. He’s very special. The best.
Nobody beats Ali. I can’t beat that man, hell no. No way.”
Ali, who famously defeated legends like Sonny Liston,
Joe Frazier, and George Foreman, remains a towering figure in the sport’s
history. His victory over Foreman in the 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” is widely
regarded as one of boxing’s most iconic moments.
While Tyson’s ferocity and dominance marked an
unforgettable era in the heavyweight division, his heartfelt acknowledgment of
Ali only adds to the legacy of a man many still consider the greatest fighter
of all time.
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