Mike Tyson's career got off to an incredible start with 37 wins and no losses. He beat big names like Trevor Berbick, Pinklon Thomas, and Frank Bruno. Tyson was known for his ferocious power and all-action style, despite being small for a heavyweight.
Larry Holmes, who Tyson also beat, made a bold claim about the boxer in 2017. He said Anthony Joshua would knock out a prime Mike Tyson. At the time, Joshua was undefeated and had just scored a big win over Wladimir Klitschko.
Holmes explained his thinking to the Express:
"If he fought a guy like Mike Tyson, he'd win, he would have knocked out a prime Mike Tyson. There's no reckon about it. Mike Tyson went down low and then came up and tried to throw roundhouses. But Joshua would just hit him with a straight right hand on the side of his damn chin and Mike wouldn't get up"
Holmes felt Joshua's straight right hand would be too much for Tyson's low stance and roundhouse punches.
The former champ didn't stop there. He also had some thoughts on how Tyson built his fearsome reputation:
"He never fought anyone who was coming up and trying to make their way in the sport. He just went in there – bang, bang, bang and knocked everyone out. That's how he got the reputation as a puncher."
Holmes did give Tyson credit for their fight, though:
"I'm not taking anything away from Mike Tyson, he kicked my a**. But I was out for two years, I had quit boxing, I hadn't done anything for two years apart from sing with the band and travel."
A lot has changed since Holmes made his prediction. Joshua has lost four times - to Andy Ruiz Jr, Oleksandr Usyk twice, and Daniel Dubois. He's nearing the end of his career but might still have a rematch with Dubois or a grudge match against Tyson Fury.
As for Tyson, he recently stepped back in the ring at 58 years old. He lost an eight-round bout to Jake Paul.
