Mike Tyson struck fear into the hearts of many a heavyweight during his rise in the sport.
A ferocious puncher with incredibly quick reflexes, the Brooklyn native became the division’s youngest ever world champion at 20-years-old in his 28th bout. He scored victories over the likes of Michael Spinks, Tony Tucker, Marvis Frazier and Larry Holmes.
Holmes was 38 at the time of the fight and had been competing professionally for 15 years after cutting his teeth on the extremely tough seventies scene.
In a resurfaced clip from an interview on Sky Sports, Holmes – a seven-year reigning world champion with one of the best jabs in the business – was asked if Tyson could hang with the heavyweights of his era. He answered confidently and gave some examples, the last of which being a two-second win for George Foreman.
“I ain’t knocking Mike Tyson… No. Joe Frazier would beat him up at his own style. Joe liked guys like that. Ali? Slap him all day with the jab. Kenny Norton? Too strong. George Foreman? Two seconds. He hits too hard. Anybody come at George Foreman, you gotta box George like Ali did, like I would do. You can’t stand there with George Foreman and take no punches. George will tear your head off. Bang. It’s like the kitchen sink he’s hitting you with.”
At the other end of the record-breaking scale to Tyson, Foreman is the oldest ever champion in the division at 45 years old. His thudding punches led him to a record of 76 wins with 68 knockouts and just five losses, which included greats Muhammad Ali and Evander Holyfield.
