Mike Tyson Admits He Was Lucky To Face Heavyweight Legend Before ‘He Got Good’: “What A Fighter”

Mike Tyson is undoubtedly one of the most formidable heavyweights to have ever laced up the gloves.

‘Iron’ Mike made his mark on the heavyweight division back in the mid 80s. After his debut in 1985 at just 18-years-old, it took Tyson just over one year to capture the WBC heavyweight title with a sensational victory over Trevor Berbick, becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in boxing history.

After that iconic victory, Tyson would go on to defeat WBA champion James Smith and IBF champion Tony Tucker to become the undisputed heavyweight champion just one month after his 21st birthday.

One legendary heavyweight who locked horns with Tyson when he was passed his best was Larry Holmes, who was beaten by ‘Iron’ Mike at the beginning of 1988.

Speaking on the Joe Rogan Experience, Tyson jokingly expressed his delight in facing Holmes at the right time, after claiming ‘The Easton Assassin’ improved in the fights that followed their showdown over 30-years-ago.

“What a fighter … After he fought me, he almost beat Evander Holyfield and Oliver McCall, 1 or 2 points from beating them, I said ‘God damn’, I was so happy I fought him his first fight [after his comeback], it would have been different after he had 10 or 15 fights because he was good.”

When Holmes was truly dangerous was before the Tyson fight, his prime years in which he reigned supreme as world champion from 1978 until 1985. Holmes was the one and only man to stop Muhammad Ali, though like the story above, Ali was well passed his best.

After he was beaten by Tyson, Holmes remained active until 2002 although he was defeated in world title challenges against Evander Holyfield and Oliver McCall in 1992 and 1995 respectively. ‘The Easton Assassin’ outpointed Eric ‘Butterbean’ Esch in his 75th and final outing in July 2002, going on to announce his retirement from boxing shortly after.