Muhammad Ali was arguably one of the greatest fighters to ever step foot in the ring. Born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, US, Ali still remains the only three-time lineal champion of the heavyweight division, winning 56 of his 61 professional bouts. Following his famous “Thrilla in Manila” fight against Joe Frazier in 1975, which Ali won by TKO to claim the title of heavyweight champion of the world, many urged the American to quit while he was ahead.
That break was short-lived though, and the fighter announced a comeback to face Larry Holmes for the WBC belt – a move largely motivated by money.
It was around the time that Ali started struggling with vocal stutters and trembling hands and the Nevada Athletic Commission (NAC) ordered that he undergo a complete physical assessment in Las Vegas before being allowed to fight again.
Ali chose instead to check into a private clinic in Minnesota, who declared him fit to fight.
Their opinion was accepted by the NAC on July 31, 1980, paving the way for Ali's return to the ring.
However, it would end up being a decision that would come back to haunt both him and fellow heavyweight boxer, Mike Tyson.
Ali was dominated by Holmes, in a bout that some believe may have contributed to his Parkinson’s disease in later life.
Tyson, just 14-years-old at the time, was watching the fight that night with his trainer and father figure Cus D’Amato in Albany, US, about an hour from where he lived.
He watched his hero – Ali – get badly beaten and it struck him to the core.
He told ESPN in 2011: “I was offended by how bad he [Holmes] beat up Ali.
“When we drove home to Catskill [about an hour from Albany], nobody in the car said a word, we were all so upset.
“The next morning, Cus was on the phone with Muhammad Ali after taking the beating from Holmes.
"He said to Ali, 'I have this young black kid who is going to be heavyweight champion someday and I want you to talk to him.'"
Tyson, in the interview, recalled the exact words he told Ali.
He said: “When I grow up, I’ll fight Holmes and I’ll get him back for you.”
Seven years later, at just 21, it was his turn to fight Holmes, while defending his title against the former champion.
Ali was invited to sit ringside and Tyson revealed what he said to him before the fight.
He stated: “Remember what you said – get him for me”
And he did – In round 4, Tyson delivered a final right hook that dropped Holmes for the third and final time in that round with just seven seconds left before the bell.
He detailed the feeling to ESPN: “Everything Cus told me was right, that
I’d be champion and nobody will ever forget the moment.
“I’m gonna cry, I put so much into it, it’s kind of sad but you have no idea.
“I was a young kid, so much hard work, but me and Cus had huge egos.
“We talked a lot of s*** – me and Cus would talk about how nobody could beat us and how we were invincible.
"That was our mindset. We weren’t afraid of nobody.”
Tyson choked up during that interview as he recalled the fight with Holmes and what he’d done, not for himself, but for his hero – Muhammad Ali.
