Mike Tyson is widely considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights to have ever graced the squared circle.
‘Iron Mike’ made his professional debut as a fresh-faced 18-year-old back in 1985 and established himself as a serious world title contender within a matter of months.
His crowning moment came in November 1986 when he dethroned WBC champion Trevor Berbick in spectacular fashion to become the youngest world heavyweight champion of all time, a record that remains unbroken to this very day.
The success kept coming for Tyson who added the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles to his collection in the months that followed, achieving undisputed championship status just days after his 21st birthday.
He suffered a shock upset defeat to Buster Douglas at the Tokyo Dome in Japan in February 1990 which derailed his career, but he did go on to claim world honours again in 1996 and would remain arguably the biggest name in the entire sport for another decade.
Speaking to The Ring Magazine, ‘Iron Mike’ spoke fondly of former rival Jose Ribalta as he claims the durable Cuban had the best chin of all his career opponents.
“Jose Ribalta: I hit Jose Ribalta with everything, and he took everything and kept coming back for more.”
Tyson stopped Ribalta in the 10th and final round of their non-title clash back in August 1986, just several months prior to his history-making victory over countryman Berbick.
Whilst he never captured a version of the world heavyweight championship, Ribalta acted as a gatekeeper to a number of world class heavyweights, facing the likes of Larry Holmes, Vitali Klitschko and Frank Bruno prior to his retirement in 1999.
