Mike Tyson picked Evander Holyfield as the best fighter he ever faced. The former heavyweight champion shared his thoughts during a feature with The Ring Magazine.
Tyson's career is full of incredible moments. He became the youngest world champion at just 20 years old. His early fights were a whirlwind of destruction – his first 19 opponents couldn't make it past 6 rounds, and 12 of them fell within the first two minutes. He made history as the first heavyweight to hold the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles at the same time, and the only one to unify them one after another.
But Tyson's path wasn't always smooth. He suffered a shocking loss to Buster Douglas in Tokyo. Then, from 1992 to 1995, he spent three years in prison. When he came back to boxing in 1995, he quickly climbed back to the top. He won the world title again in 1996, beating Frank Bruno. He also scored wins over Francois Botha and Andrew Golota before retiring in 2005.
Now, at 57 years old, Tyson is getting ready to step back into the ring. He's set to face Jake Paul in November 2023.
Among all the fighters Tyson faced, he says Holyfield stands out. In The Ring Magazine's 'Best I Ever Faced' feature, Tyson praised Holyfield's all-around skills.
"He's a great champion who has a good chin and a big heart. He showed so much determination and had a great work ethic. I also liked his demeanor."
Holyfield was a force to be reckoned with. He was a two-weight undisputed champion, ruling both the cruiserweight and heavyweight divisions.
Tyson and Holyfield first met in the ring in November 1996. Tyson was the WBA champion, but Holyfield won by stoppage in the 11th round. Their rematch in June 1997 ended in controversy when Tyson was disqualified for biting a chunk out of Holyfield's ear. Tyson later said he was frustrated by what he saw as constant headbutts from Holyfield.
Despite their intense rivalry, Tyson's respect for Holyfield's skills is clear. His words show that sometimes, your toughest opponent can also be the one you admire most.
