Mike Tyson Admits He Avoided Ever Facing One Heavyweight Legend: “That’s The Only Reason”

Mike Tyson will go down in the history books as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.

‘Iron Mike’ still holds the record for being the youngest ever heavyweight champion, gained by knocking out Trevor Berbick in 1986 at just 20 years and 145 days old.

Tyson would go on to become the undisputed ruler and faced the likes of Larry Holmes, Frank Bruno, Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis during his 59 fight career.

One man not on Tyson’s resume is former champion Riddick Bowe. ‘Big Daddy’ has always maintained that Tyson never wanted to step in the ring with him because of the threat he posed.

However in an interview on CNN Tyson admitted he would always avoid a fight against Bowe, but not because he was swerving him, but because of his love for him and ‘the only reason’ he fights someone is down to lack of respect.

“I love Riddick Bowe. We went to school together. That’s one thing I would take different. At this stage of my life and being as conscience as I am, I don’t think I would fight him. It’s just too disrespectful.

The only reason you put your hands on somebody even in a street fight if you’re conscious is because you have no respect for them. Kids fight because they don’t know any better. But as grown men fighting, if they’re conscious, the only reason I’ll put my hands on you is because I have no respect for you if we have a fight.”

Bowe – who was raised in Brownsville, Brooklyn like Tyson – is a former undisputed champion and only has one loss on his record to Evander Holyfield, a man he also beat twice.