Two-time world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was once the baddest man on the planet. But what does he think about the best big men in boxing today?
‘Iron Mike’ has had his say about the stars of the fight game’s marquee division, as boxing looks forward to returning after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The heavyweight division appears to be strong again, with WBC and Ring magazine king Tyson Fury set to face off with Deontay Wilder for a third time later this year, and the winner likely to face IBF, WBA and WBO gold king Anthony Joshua.
Tyson, the youngest man ever to be crowned heavyweight king at the age of just 20 back in 1986, is now 53 but still engrossed in the fight game.
What does Mike Tyson think of Fury, Wilder and Joshua
Tyson has aired his views via a variety of sources in recent months, giving informed views on the top heavyweights.
Mike Tyson on Tyson Fury
“You can say what you want about Tyson Fury, make fun of him, but there’s one guy in the US named Michael Gerard Tyson who’s so proud he has my name. We’re all laughing at him, laughing about him, but I’m on an ego trip. I’m sky high.
“The heavyweight champion of the world got my name. He is the best heavyweight champion of the world since myself. He is the man, I don’t care what anybody says.”
Mike Tyson on Anthony Joshua
“Hey, I really like him. You know what he is? He’s really a breath of fresh air. He’s really clean, he really looks clean, he’s a clean guy, he’s a clean fighter, he’s a good puncher. You just wish the best for him.”
“I don’t know. My ego says, ‘nobody would beat you’ – but you look at him and… he just looks beautiful. He just looks like a fighter, you know? He looks like he was born to do what he has to do. He needs more experience of course, but that will come in life.”
Mike Tyson on Deontay Wilder
“He feels like giving up (after second fight with Fury), ‘Oh, my life is over. I’ve made $90 million dollars. My life is over. Oh God, I want to die.’ Grow up. Keep going through it until it’s really over. Wilder can still make a lot of money. He shouldn’t feel sad or discouraged. And he should continue to go out there and fight with a lot of zest and confidence.”
“Well, listen, he didn’t fight the same fight as he fought the first fight (vs Fury). The first fight, he fought with confidence like he could win. In this fight, he fought like he didn’t have no zest, no life in him. I don’t think he was the same fighter after the first fight. After the first fight, he couldn’t rise to the occasion again.”