Tyson, who was known for his own knockout power, had an impressive career with 50 wins, 44 of them by knockout. But he also experienced defeat, losing 6 times with 5 of those losses coming by knockout.
Tyson's destructive power made him a force to be reckoned with, but he met his match in Holyfield. Their rivalry began in November 1996 when Holyfield controlled most of the action and won by TKO in the 11th round. Their rematch in June 1997 ended in controversy when Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield's ear.
Despite their turbulent history, Tyson now speaks of Holyfield with respect. In his interview with Ring Magazine, Tyson said:
"Holyfield. He threw terrific shots with both hands and with bad intentions."
Tyson didn't stop at praising Holyfield's punching power. He also called him the best overall fighter he faced, saying:
"Great champion: chin, heart, determination, work ethic, demeanour."
Tyson's career ended in 2005 with a loss to Kevin McBride. But now, after nearly two decades away from professional boxing, he's set to make a comeback. He'll face Jake Paul on Friday, November 15, at AT&T; Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The announcement of this fight has got the boxing world talking. Former opponents Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, and Buster Douglas have all weighed in with their predictions for the bout.
As Tyson prepares for his first professional contest in over 20 years, his words about Holyfield serve as a reminder of the respect that can develop between rivals in the ring.