Mike Tyson Says Heavyweight Legend “Isn’t The Tough Warrior He Says He Is”

At the height of his tenure, Mike Tyson was boxing’s most formidable heavyweight.

‘Iron’ Mike made his debut back in 1985 and in a matter of months became one to watch amongst a star-studded division.

He was just 20-years-old when he captured world honours for the first time in a historic victory against WBC heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick in 1986, blasting his countryman out in the second round of their bout.

Tyson added the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles to his collection with respective victories over James Smith and Tony Tucker, achieving undisputed status just one month after he turned 21-years-old back in 1987.

Despite his considerable success, ‘Iron’ Mike tasted defeat on a number of occasions during his career, including two losses against two-weight undisputed champion Evander Holyfield.

Speaking in a past interview, Tyson shared details of his second showdown with Holyfield, which is best known as the ‘bite fight’.

“I don’t remember what I said at the time but I told him ‘he butt me’. I complained about it in the first fight.

Listen, Holyfield isn’t the tough warrior that he says he is! I got one eye! He’s not impaired, he’s got ears. I got one eye, if he takes one I got another one. I was ready to fight, he didn’t wanna fight.”

‘Iron’ Mike was defeated by Holyfield twice in the space of seven months between 1996 and 1997. Tyson was stopped in the penultimate round of their first encounter to surrender his WBA heavyweight title.

Their second encounter produced one of boxing’s most memorable moments, with Tyson appearing to bite Holyfield’s ear during the third round. The fight was quickly called to a halt by referee Mills Lane, as Holyfield was declared the winner via disqualification.