Mike Tyson is an indisputable icon of his heavyweight generation.
With one of the most recognisable names in boxing, he has been able to maintain his relevancy far into the 2020s with a controversial fight against influencer Jake Paul.
While Tito Ortiz says Tyson pulled punches against Paul, there is no denying it was one of the most-watched boxing events in history, whether competitive or not.
After a 59-fight career with some incredible wins by knockout against legends like Frank Bruno and Larry Holmes, you’d think a victory would be his favourite, but it is quite the opposite.
Mike Tyson chose his knockout loss to Buster Douglas as the greatest fight of his career in 2024
As Francis Ngannou’s trainer for the Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua fights, he sat down with the Cameroonian last year to discuss their greatest of all time in different categories.
Speaking to Complex in 2024, Tyson revealed his favourite fight of his career, he said: “Listen, weird, it would have to be my loss to Buster Douglas, I say that because that fight propelled me into being a better fighter.
“So I always look at that fight as my best.”
It is known as one of sports’ biggest upsets when 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas knocked out ‘Iron’ Mike in the Tokyo Dome in 1990.
A devastating uppercut set the scene for a barrage of shots that floored and stopped the previously undefeated heavyweight king in the tenth round.
The 59-year-old explained why it was his favourite.
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“You get humiliated in front of millions and millions of people, and overcoming that, that is a winner,” he said.
Mike Tyson fought outside of America only five times in his career
While he may have struggled outside of his home advantage on this occasion, his four other fights around the world ended in stoppages.
Before he’d actually competed against Douglas in Japan, he’d won his first fight in the Tokyo Dome against Tony Tubbs.
He also brought himself across the pond for two demolition jobs against Julius Francis and Lou Savarese.
A trip to Denmark against Brian Nielsen in Copenhagen was a success for the away fighter.
Nielsen decided, after taking a six-round beating, not to return from his stool that night on Tyson’s final fight outside of America.
