Mike Tyson is widely regarded as one of boxing’s greatest knockout artists, renowned for his explosive power, rapid rise through the heavyweight ranks and trademark ‘peek-a-boo’ style.
But when asked who he considers the greatest to ever step into the ring, the former ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ admitted that another heavyweight should take the crown.
Tyson became the youngest heavyweight world champion in boxing history when he knocked out Trevor Berbick in just two rounds in 1986, capturing the WBC heavyweight world title at the age of just 20 years old.
‘Iron Mike’ would go on to build a reputation as an almost unbeatable undisputed ruler, until his shocking and fabled defeat to James ‘Buster’ Douglas in 1990, before returning to the throne for a second reign in 1996 by knocking out Frank Bruno.
Due to his tremendous success, Tyson told Piers Morgan Uncensored that he sees himself as the ‘most glorious fighter that ever lived’, but admitted that sees Muhammad Ali as ‘the best’.
“I am the most glorious fighter that ever lived.
“Muhammad Ali [was the best] because he is, he was Ali.”
Morgan then asked Tyson to consider how a clash between he and his idol would play out, but Tyson conceded that Muhammad Ali would have gotten the better of him ‘because he knew how to handle monsters’.
“[He would beat me because] Ali knew how to handle monsters. He was an animal tamer. It would have been a good one but I think that Ali’s the best.”
As Tyson alludes to, Ali had an impressive record when tasked with the biggest punchers in boxing history, overcoming the likes of Sonny Liston, George Foreman and Earnie Shavers during his time in the ring.
