Roy Jones Jr. has named Mike Tyson as the hardest puncher he's ever faced. The boxing legend made this revelation during a podcast with Shane Mosley, basing his assessment on their 2020 exhibition fight.
Jones, known as 'Captain Hook', has had a long and illustrious career in boxing. He turned pro in 1989 and racked up an impressive record of 65 wins and 10 losses in 75 fights. Throughout his career, he's faced some of the best in the business, including James Toney, Bernard Hopkins, and Antonio Tarver.
But it's Tyson who left the biggest impression on Jones. During the podcast, Jones said:
"Mike Tyson still the strongest puncher that I've ever been in the ring with. Ever. At 55 at the time, now I think 57 might be 58, he's still the strongest puncher. First time he hit me in my chin I feel like a mule had kicked me in my chest."
This statement carries a lot of weight, considering Jones has been in over 500 rounds of professional boxing since 1989.
The fight Jones refers to was their 2020 exhibition match, dubbed 'Lockdown Knockdown'. The event took place at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles and was set up as an eight-round exhibition. Despite Tyson's age - he was 55 at the time - he showed he still packed a punch.
The bout ended in a split draw, though many felt Tyson should've gotten the nod. The fighters wore 12-ounce gloves, and Tyson focused on body shots to avoid a knockout. Jones reportedly felt around 57 power punches from Tyson during the exhibition.
After the fight, Tyson expressed interest in doing it again. On his podcast, he said:
"I want to do it again and I want to do it against someone I could go all out on. It made me interested in wanting to do it again. I wanted to go the distance, I didn't want to knock anybody out, that's what people expected, but I wanted to go the distance."
Tyson, nicknamed 'Iron Mike' and often called "the baddest on the planet," has a career record of 50 wins, with a staggering 44 of those coming by knockout. He recently lost a soft pro bout against Jake Paul via unanimous decision.
The fact that Jones, one of the most skilled fighters in history, ranks Tyson as the hardest puncher he's faced - even at 55 - speaks volumes about Tyson's legendary power. It's a testament to Tyson's enduring reputation as one of boxing's most fearsome punchers, even well past his prime.
