Mike Tyson has named Razor Ruddock as the hardest hitting opponent he faced in his boxing career. The former heavyweight champion shared this revelation during a recent interview on The Big Podcast with Shaq.
Tyson, known as "Iron Mike," started his professional career with a bang in 1985. He won his first 19 fights by knockout, with 12 of those coming in the first round. This impressive start led to his rapid rise in the boxing world.
In 1986, at just 20 years old, Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history by defeating Trevor Berbick for the WBC world heavyweight title. The following year, he solidified his status as the undisputed heavyweight champion by beating James Smith for the WBA title and Tony Tucker for the IBF title.
During the podcast, Tyson reflected on the punching power of his opponents. He said:
"Razor Ruddock. There's a lot of hard punchers out there, this guy that's taking punches, that's psychological, everything's psychological. Holyfield yeah, and all of those guys are hard punchers, but the purpose is they can't land the punch, I know you look at me, you see me, but I don't get hit much when I was at my prime, that was the whole objective, you know."
Tyson and Ruddock faced each other twice in 1991. Their first bout ended in a controversial stoppage win for Tyson, leaving many fans unhappy with the referee's decision. Just over three months later, they met again. This time, Tyson won by unanimous decision, flooring Ruddock twice and putting an end to their rivalry.
Tyson's comments highlight the psychological aspect of boxing. He emphasized that while many opponents hit hard, the real challenge was in landing those punches. Tyson prided himself on his ability to avoid getting hit during his prime years.
Fans and boxing enthusiasts continue to discuss the memorable fights between Tyson and Ruddock, recognizing the impact these bouts had on both fighters' careers.
You can hear Tyson's full comments about Ruddock and his other opponents on The Big Podcast with Shaq, where he delves deeper into his experiences in the ring and the challenges he faced throughout his career.
