Bob Arum thinks there would be ‘no contest’ were Tyson Fury and Mike Tyson to have faced off in their primes.
Arum has promoted both men at points in his career, as well as many other heavyweight legends, including Muhammad Ali, so he has seen the best of the best up close and personal.
Most recently, he has worked with Fury and guided him through a trilogy with Deontay Wilder, which saw him become WBC champion and a huge star Stateside before bringing him to Saudi Arabia for two fights with Oleksandr Usyk, both of which he lost.
The second one in December prompted Fury to announce his retirement in January, while Usyk fights on for the chance to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight ruler this weekend against Daniel Dubois.
Controversially, Mike Tyson also fought last year. The once youngest ever heavyweight champion and most feared KO artist on the planet, who retired in 2005, was beaten on points by Jake Paul, a man less than half his age.
Prime versus prime, it is an intriguing debate. Would the size and movement of Fury at his best help to negate his namesake’s ferocity and angles?
Speaking to talkSPORT Boxing, Arum had little doubt how it would play out.
“Well, there’s no contest. Tyson Fury would beat him, he’s way too big for him. What’s Mike Tyson going to do, jump up and land a punch on Tyson Fury? Heavyweights now are so tall and agile, which they weren’t before, that smaller heavyweights like Mike Tyson wouldn’t be competitive with him.”
Many hope Fury comes out of retirement once more to have a legacy-defining showdown with Anthony Joshua, though as of yet nothing has been confirmed, and Fury has instead spoken about his desire for a trilogy with Usyk next April if Usyk wins this weekend.
