Mike Tyson was a much-feared wrecking ball during the peak of his career and it was often said he won fights before he stepped through the ropes because of how intimidating his power was.
Tyson’s early run of form was astonishing. He won his first 19 professional fights by knockout, 12 of them inside the opening round, and by the age of 20 he claimed his first world title, which is a feat no one has yet managed to repeat in the division.
He fought legends of the sport like Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield and Frank Bruno, though never faced the great George Foreman who came up in discussion with FightCamp when Tyson mentioned how ‘Big George’ hit the bag in the gym.
He agreed he was the heaviest puncher in the sport before comparing it to his own power, which a study once claimed ‘was like being hit by a grand piano.’
“I can’t match somebody’s power who’s that big and that much man. Only thing that allowed me to be exciting was that I did it faster than the other guys.”
It was put to him that he had natural power but Tyson disagreed.
“Nothing about me was natural. Only my desire to win was natural, I had a great teacher”
He was asked if a coach could instil desire in a fighter.
“No, only you can do that. You’re born with it but somebody has to elicit that.”
Tyson was set to return to the professional ring for the first time in almost 20 years against Jake Paul in August. The recent flare-up of an ulcer however has pushed the controversial bout back. As of writing it has not yet been rescheduled.
