Even with 44 knockouts to his name, an aura of intimidation as 'The Baddest Man on the Planet' that shook the heavyweight division, and a legacy as the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the modern era, 'Iron' Mike Tyson is certain that he would have been no match for Muhammad Ali.
Tyson is considered one of the most ferocious fighters in boxing history and has long regarded Ali as the greatest of all time. In a past exchange with comedian, producer, and director Jack Thriller, Tyson was asked who would win a fight if both he and Ali were 20 years old at the same time. "There is no man like him," Tyson admitted. "There just isn't. Everything we have, he supersedes us in, even with arrogance and ego. His speed was his defense, and he threw punches from any angle."
While Tyson's raw power and aggression terrified opponents, he still viewed Ali's relentlessness, endurance, and mental fortitude as unmatched. He even compared Ali to a prehistoric predator, saying, "He's like a Tyrannosaurus Rex with a pretty face. He's just mean and evil. He'll take you to deep waters and drown you. He's very special. The best in the world."
The ultimate praise came when Tyson compared his own legacy to Ali's. "Nobody beats Ali," he said. "It's not about muscle memory or concentration. It's just him doing it. Never stopping, never tired. I can't beat that man. Hell no. No way."
Ali passed away in 2016. He finished his career with 56 wins, 37 knockouts, and just five losses, falling only to Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Leon Spinks, Larry Holmes, and Trevor Berbick. He avenged his losses to Spinks, Norton, and Frazier, stamping his career as the only three-time lineal heavyweight champion in history.
The heavyweight icon's resume remains unmatched in boxing history, featuring seven international Gold medals, including the Olympics in 1960, an International Boxing Hall of Fame induction, and the only Six-time 'Fighter of the Year' winner by The Ring magazine. Tyson dominated two decades later, becoming the youngest heavyweight champion ever at 20 years old when he knocked out a common opponent in Berbick in 1986.
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Getty Images for Netflix A 2024)Tyson's reign as the most feared puncher in the sport included a brutal fourth-round knockout of Larry Holmes, a fighter who had previously defeated Ali in 1980. Ali retired in 1981, while Tyson's professional career ended in a three-fight losing streak, suffering defeats to Jake Paul, Kevin McBride, and Danny Williams after first retiring in 2005.
In Nov 2023, Tyson stepped back into the ring to fight Paul, marking his first bout since his exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020. While the event shattered viewership records and became the most-watched U.S. sporting event streamed ever with 108 million live viewers, Tyson admitted he hadn't fully recovered from the loss even two months later.
