Tony Bellew has named one heavyweight as the most ruthless fighter of all time: a complete package when it comes to speed, movement and ferocity.
When discussing the sport’s most vicious fighters, many will instantly name Roberto Duran, who not only became a four-weight world champion but is also considered an all-time great.
Known for his formidable style and attitude, ‘Hands of Stone’ defeated every fighter he had faced by 1980, when a unanimous decision victory saw him dethrone Sugar Ray Leonard for the WBC welterweight title.
Duran then suffered an eighth-round stoppage defeat in their immediate rematch but, even so, he remained one of boxing’s most intimidating characters.
The same, of course, could be said for Mike Tyson, who became the youngest heavyweight champion in history by dethroning Trevor Berbick with a second-round finish in 1986.
‘Iron’ Mike then produced arguably his most ferocious performance in 1988, retaining his world titles with a one-round demolition job against a terrified Michael Spinks.
Speaking with Fight Your Corner, former cruiserweight champion Bellew highlighted this version of Tyson as a “perfect machine”.
“That Tyson that goes in against Michael Spinks – terrifies him before they’ve even got in the ring – and deals with the Michael Spinks who had just beaten Larry Holmes not once, but twice … I don’t think I’ve seen a more ruthless heavyweight in my lifetime.
“In the history of boxing, I don’t think I’ve seen a more ruthless fighter. The Mike Tyson who beat Michael Spinks and Trevor Berbick, I’ve never seen anything like that. The speed, the ferocity, the variety in his punches, the head movement, the footwork … I just thought he was the perfect machine.
“The only thing that hurts him is the [lack of] size.”
Spinks had scored two points victories over Holmes, while Tyson stopped the faded heavyweight legend in four rounds during their 1988 encounter.
