For many boxing fans, Mike Tyson will always be seen as one of the best to ever lace up the gloves.
‘Iron’ Mike had a fearsome reputation in the ring, particularly in the early years of his career when he put together a stunning string of early knockouts on his way to becoming the youngest-ever world heavyweight champion.
Over his career he fought the likes of Evander Holyfield twice, Lennox Lewis, Larry Holmes, Frank Bruno twice, and infamously lost to Buster Douglas in Tokyo despite being a huge favourite.
He retired in 2005 after a pair of back-to-back defeats, though came back in 2022 for an exhibition with Roy Jones Jr that ended in a draw.
Speaking to History Bites, Tyson said the toughest man he ever faced was Pinklon Thomas.
“Pinklon Thomas. He was my toughest opponent.
I never thought it was him but then it was two years ago I watched a tape of him. A friend of mine told me to watch it and I hit him with 17 punches flat on his face, he went down but it was 17 punches, flat on the face, all of them hard as can be, and the last one he passed out but I saw it a couple of days ago and I thought God that was my toughest fight, he took 17 on the chin.”
