Mike Tyson, once the most feared heavyweight boxer, has admitted he would have lost to Muhammad Ali in his prime. Tyson shared this surprising confession during an interview with ThisIs50.
In the mid-80s, Tyson stormed through the heavyweight division. He won his first 19 professional fights by stoppage, with 12 of those knockouts coming in the first round. In 1986, he defeated WBC heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick, becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history.
Tyson's dominance continued the following year. He added the WBA title by beating James Smith and the IBF title by defeating Tony Tucker. At just 21 years old, Tyson had achieved undisputed status in the heavyweight division.
Despite his impressive career, Tyson believes he couldn't have beaten Muhammad Ali. During the ThisIs50 interview, Tyson praised Ali's unique qualities:
"There is no man like him, there just isn't. Everything we have he supersedes us in. He was an animal, he looked more like a model than a boxer."
Tyson went on to describe Ali's fierce fighting style:
"He's like a Tyrannosaurus Rex with a pretty face, he's mean, he'll take you to deep waters and drown you. He's very special. The best. Nobody beats Ali. I can't beat that man, hell no."
Ali's legacy in boxing is unmatched. He remains the only three-time lineal heavyweight champion in boxing history, a record that looks unlikely to be broken anytime soon. He defeated a number of generational greats during his tenure, including the likes of George Foreman, Joe Frazier, and Sonny Liston.
Tyson's admission shows the enduring respect and admiration for Ali within the boxing community. Even one of the most dominant heavyweights in history recognizes Ali's superiority, cementing 'The Greatest's' place at the top of boxing's pantheon.
