Tyson, who was the youngest heavyweight champion at 20 and the first undisputed champ in the three-belt era, fought 58 times as a pro. He took on big names like Trevor Berbick, Michael Spinks, Larry Holmes, Frank Bruno, Evander Holyfield, and Lennox Lewis.
Now, Tyson's getting ready to step back in the ring after almost 20 years. He'll face Jake Paul next month. But when asked about current fighters, Tyson singled out Benavidez.
In an interview with ES News, Tyson said:
"He's so underrated but so over-polarised here. Listen, I'd be afraid to fight him too if I was in that division. No one even has a chance against him, and I'm talking facts."
Tyson didn't stop there. In another interview, he praised Benavidez's attitude:
"He beats everybody because of his attitude. He was little fat kid and he wanted to prove himself to the world. I think he beats everybody he gets into the ring with. He can beat everybody, my money is with Benavidez until he gets beat and then if he gets beat I'm still with him."
Benavidez, who's 27, used to be the super-middleweight champ. Tyson nicknamed him "The Mexican Monster." He recently moved up to light-heavyweight after getting tired of waiting for a shot at Canelo at 168 pounds.
Tyson sees Benavidez as his favorite current fighter. He thinks Benavidez's attitude, skill, and seeming invincibility in the ring make him stand out.
It's a big deal when Mike Tyson, one of the most feared punchers ever, says he'd be scared to fight someone. Tyson's words carry a lot of weight in the boxing world, and his high praise for Benavidez will surely turn more heads towards the young fighter's career.