Tyson, known as one of the most feared heavyweights ever, started his pro career in 1985. He quickly made a name for himself, winning his first 19 fights by knockout. Twelve of those knockouts came in the first round, showing just how dangerous Tyson was from the opening bell.
At just 20 years old, Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion when he stopped Trevor Berbick in the second round to win the WBC title. He didn't stop there. By 21, he'd added the WBA and IBF belts to his collection, becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion.
But it wasn't just Tyson's skill in the ring that made him stand out. He had a mean streak that scared opponents before they even stepped in the ring. Now, Tyson's revealed where that came from.
"I knew I wanted to be a fighter, but then I saw Roberto Duran and I said that's who the f**k I wanna be, I said that's who I wanna be a mean mother f***r, people are scared to look at him. The devil … Duran was an animal outside the ring … I used to go to his restaurant and say feed me what you feed Duran."
Duran, nicknamed 'Hands of Stone', was a four-weight world champion and one of the best pressure fighters ever. He reached the peak of his career in June 1980 when he beat Sugar Ray Leonard for the WBC welterweight title.
Tyson admired how Duran carried himself both in and out of the ring. He wanted to copy Duran's mean demeanor and the way people were afraid to even look at him. Tyson went as far as eating at Duran's restaurant, asking for the same food as his idol.
It's clear that Duran's influence helped shape Tyson into the intimidating force he became in the heavyweight division. Tyson's admiration for Duran shows how fighters can inspire each other across weight classes and generations.