Heavyweight icon Mike Tyson has paid homage to the punching power of one of the greatest fighters to have ever laced up the gloves.
At the peak of his powers, Tyson was one of, if not the most formidable fighter on the planet. He exploded onto the scene back in 1985, winning his first nineteen professional fights by stoppage with twelve of those coming inside the opening round.
He captured world honours for the first time in 1986, defeating WBC heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick in the second round of their bout to become the youngest heavyweight champion ever, an exceptional record which remains unbroken to this day.
He achieved undisputed status just over one year later, with respective victories over WBA champion James Smith and IBF champion Tony Tucker, achieving this feat just one month after he turned 21-years-old.
Speaking on a YouTube clip, an emotional Tyson gave plaudits to the legendary Sugar Ray Leonard, claiming he ‘changed his life’ after watching his historic victory over Roberto Duran in 1980.
“When I saw you fight Wilfred Benitez I was locked up, and he fights him, I can’t even talk, you inspired me so f****g much.
“I saw you fight Duran, that changed my life, I said this is what I’m gonna be. This is me, because of you. You might not think you’re nobody.
“You would throw two punches that sound like one … you could hear them. They were two but they sounded like f*****g one punch. You know how magnificent your speed has to be for that? The ultimate knockout puncher.”
Leonard is often regarded as being one of the greatest fighters of all time, if not the overall greatest. He rose to fame in the 1980s, defeating the likes of Duran, Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Thomas Hearns throughout his tenure, where he would go on to hold world titles in five weight classes as well as the undisputed welterweight championship.
Leonard, as Tyson pointed out, possessed lightning-fast hands and pinpoint accuracy, enabling him to deliver devastating combinations that often led to spectacular knockouts. Of his 36 wins, 35 of them came inside the distance.
