Mike Tyson didn’t hesitate when naming the ‘smartest’ fighter he ever faced in the ring
The former heavyweight champion found him smarter than anyone else he ever faced.
Mike Tyson has singled out his ‘smartest’ opponent from a career that featured wins over Larry Holmes, Frank Bruno and Evander Holyfield.
Iron Mike, who became the youngest heavyweight champion of the world in 1986 at the age of 20, will go down as one of the all-time greats.
In total, the New York-born fighter took part in 58 professional bouts between 1985 and 2005, where he recorded 50 wins and just six defeats.
He often displayed unrivalled power and speed, with his impressive record of 44 victories via knockout being a testament to Tyson’s relentless style.
But which one of his opponents was the smartest?
Mike Tyson sends warning to John Fury
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Buster Douglas shocked the world with a 10th-round knockout of Tyson in 1990, while Lennox Lewis recorded a famous KO win against “the Baddest Man on the Planet” in 2002.
However, former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes was Tyson’s stand-out opponent when it came to ring intelligence.
After the pair came to blows in 1988 when Tyson was just 21, Iron’ Mike emerged victorious with a fourth-round knockout, inflicting a third straight defeat for the long-time heavyweight champion.
When previously asked to name the smartest he came up against, the 58-year-old told The Ring: “Larry Holmes was the smartest of all. It comes with being a champion for seven years.”
Tyson went on to name Holmes as having the best defence, adding: “Even though I did win inside the distance, he was very tough to hit cleanly.”
Larry Holmes and Mike Tyson fight for the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight tittle on January 22, 1988. Image credit: Getty
Jose Ribalta, meanwhile, was lauded for having the best chin because he hit the Cuban with “everything” and kept coming back for more. “Ribalta stood toe to toe with me.” Tyson added. “He was very strong in the clinches.”
When asked to name the best puncher he came up against, Tyson went with Evander Holyfield, a fighter he lost to twice – with the second being as a result of disqualification following the now-infamous ear bite.
“He threw terrific shots with both hands and with bad intentions,” Tyson said, before describing Holyfield as a “great champion” who had everything.
Who do you think was Tyson’s greatest opponent? Let us know in the comments.
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