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For Mayweather, beating Mike Tyson is not enough to make Evander

By Al Faqiih June 21, 2025

For Mayweather, beating Mike Tyson is not enough to make Evander Holyfield boxing’s GOAT

Calling an athlete “the greatest of all time” (GOAT) should be analyzed by their performance during the peak of their career and the record they achieved, leaving aside the activities carried out after their retirement. However, Jeff Mayweather has seen how Evander Holyfield’s legacy is often overshadowed, especially when considering that he is a four-time heavyweight champion, surpassing the three reigns of Muhammad Ali.

Naturally, when a legend like Holyfield challenges the narrative, Ali’s great career provokes strong reactions. After all, Ali remains the face of boxing for many. What makes it even more difficult is that some argue that Holyfield does not even surpass Mike Tyson in legacy, despite beating him.

In the midst of this debate, Floyd Mayweather’s uncle, Jeff Mayweather, offered a more measured perspective when asked about Holyfield’s claim, acknowledging his achievements but also pointing out why public perception has not caught up.

Is Evander Holyfield greater than Muhammad Ali?

The Mayweather Channel recently aired an episode featuring the thoughtful yet firm disagreement of Jeff Mayweather who acknowledged Evander Holyfield’s achievements, but also argued that greatness in boxing is not defined solely by titles. “It’s much more than just winning the title with Muhammad Ali, … he was bigger than boxing”. While Evander Holyfield’s argument was based solely on boxing merit, the reporter pointed out a critical flaw: being a four-time champion also means losing the title three times.

But then the discussion turned to longevity and dominance. “If you were champion once and held the belt for 20 years, aren’t you the best because someone else won it four times?” the reporter asked, challenging the logic. Jeff Mayweather agreed. “But I don’t know, it just doesn’t seem like Holyfield,” he added, hinting that Holyfield’s legacy doesn’t reach the elite of the all-time greats in the public perception. The reporter then pointed out that some fans don’t even rank him among the top five boxers, prompting Mayweather to reflect further. “The only thing I know about Holyfield as a heavyweight is that he beat Mike Tyson,” he said bluntly.

However, Jeff argued that the victory over Mike Tyson does not elevate Evander Holyfield above Iron Mike in the eyes of most fans. When asked if Holyfield was a superior heavyweight to Tyson, Jeff replied: “Well, he’ll never be considered superior to Mike Tyson.” The reason? “Because people will say that by the time he fought Mike Tyson, he wasn’t the Mike Tyson that everyone knows. So he won’t get any credit for that.” It’s a sentiment shared by many who believe that Tyson’s decline (at 30) had already begun when The Real Deal fought him at 43.

Insisting further on the subject, the reporter asked who would win if both boxers had faced each other at their best. Jeff replied: “I don’t know. Mike Tyson was a real beast. I mean, he was really fast. But Holyfield beat him quite easily. But I don’t know. I just think Mike Tyson, his background, the way he grew up made him bigger than anyone else.” So, while Evander Holyfield may believe he surpasses Muhammad Ali in greatness, Jeff Mayweather is not convinced that he even surpasses Tyson.

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Mike Tyson Names The Welterweight Champion Better Than Floyd Mayweather: “He’s

By Al Faqiih June 20, 2025

Mike Tyson Names The Welterweight Champion Better Than Floyd Mayweather: “He’s The Best”

At the height of his career, Mike Tyson was the most formidable heavyweight on the planet.

Tyson exploded onto the scene when he was just 18-years-old back in 1985, winning his first 19 bouts via stoppage with 12 of these victories coming inside the opening round.

He captured world honours for the first time just 18 months after his debut, defeating WBC heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick in the second round of their bout to become the youngest heavyweight champion of all time.

Tyson followed this historic victory up with wins over WBA champion James Smith and IBF champion Tony Tucker in the year that followed, achieving undisputed status just one month after he tuned 21-years-old.

He suffered the first defeat of his career in 1990 when he was stopped by James ‘Buster’ Douglas in what is often regarded as being the biggest upset in boxing history.

Another retired American great who had an exceptional professional career is Floyd Mayweather, who remained unbeaten for the duration of his 50-fight tenure.

In a YouTube interview, Tyson gave his assessment of Mayweather’s credentials before admitting that he believes there is one welterweight champion in particular that was even greater than the retired pound-for-pound star – Sugar Ray Robinson.

“Floyd’s a great fighter don’t get me wrong but listen Sugar Ray Robinson had 47 fights, he lost one then he had a 78 fight winning streak. Don’t tell me about he’s [Mayweather] the greatest fighter with 50 and 0, you’re great no doubt about it but no.”

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Larry Holmes Has No Doubt Who Gets KO’d In Prime George Foreman vs

By Al Faqiih June 9, 2025

Larry Holmes Has No Doubt Who Gets KO’d In Prime George Foreman vs Mike Tyson Bout: “Too Powerful”

A fantasy showdown between heavyweight icons George Foreman and Mike Tyson has been debated for many years.

‘Big’ George burst onto the scene during the early seventies, capturing world honours for the first time in 1973 when he defeated Joe Frazier. He returned to the sport in 1987 after a ten year hiatus, going on to become the oldest heavyweight champion of all time when he beat Michael Moorer in 1994.

Tyson rose to prominence during the early-to-mid 80s, winning his first nineteen professional fights by knockout. He became the youngest heavyweight champion of all time in 1986 when he blasted out WBC champion Trevor Berbick inside just two rounds.

A bout between the late, great Foreman and Tyson had reportedly been discussed during the 90s but never came to fruition – mainly due to ‘Big’ George’s quest to regain a world title and ‘Iron’ Mike losing his in a shock upset to Buster Douglas – leaving fans wondering what would have happened had the heavyweight greats locked horns.

One man who has had his say on the outcome of a fantasy match-up is Larry Holmes, who reigned as the world heavyweight champion for seven years between 1978 and 1985.

Despite sharing the ring with ‘Iron’ Mike and experiencing his thunderous power first hand, Holmes claimed in an interview with Sky Sports Boxing that Tyson would not have coped in with Foreman.

“I ain’t knocking Mike Tyson, but no.. George Forman would win in two seconds, he hit too hard.

Anybody come at George Foreman you got to box like I did, or Ali did, you can’t stay there and take those punches. They take your head off. Bam, bam, it’s like the kitchen sink he’s hitting you with.”

Tyson made a shock return to boxing at 58-years-old last November, suffering a unanimous decision defeat to Youtube star turned fighter Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Texas.

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Former ‘hater’ reveals how Mike Tyson became America’s unlikely beloved figure

By Al Faqiih June 5, 2025

Long before Mike Tyson became a beloved American figure, he was a teenage wrecking ball engineered for success, haunted by chaos.

Author Mark Kriegel, a self-confessed former “hater” of Tyson, pulls the curtain back on the boxer’s “apocalyptic” life in his new book, “Baddest Man: The Making of Mike Tyson,” detailing how he pulled off one of the most dramatic public turnarounds in modern celebrity history.

“His haters, like me, and his acolytes and Tyson himself could have agreed on in the late 80s and 90s was that he was not long for this world. That day when I met him in 2012, I asked, could you imagine being this old? He was 45. He says, no, never, never even occurred to me. His life was apocalyptic,” Kriegel said during an appearance on the “Brian Kilmeade Show.”

MIKE TYSON SHARES HIS SUPPORT FOR FELLOW ‘FIGHTER’ PRESIDENT TRUMP IN KNOCKOUT FOX NATION INTERVIEW

Born in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, Tyson was, as Kriegel put it, “raised on the street.” He made his professional boxing debut in 1985 at 18 years old and quickly gained a reputation for his power and knockout ability.

He won 26 of his first 28 fights by knockout or technical knockout, and by age 20, became the youngest world heavyweight boxing champion in 1987.

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Tyson’s dominance in the ring and insatiable personality catapulted him into pop culture fame. Donald Trump, then a real estate tycoon and significant figure in Atlantic City, New Jersey, also had an interest in Mike Tyson, playing a role in his mainstream success.

“One of the things that Trump wanted from Tyson was, I mean, it was a pretty astute business move. He was the piece that Trump needed to take boxing away from Las Vegas and move its center to Atlantic City. Didn’t ultimately work out like that. But that was the calculation,” Kriegel, the “New York Times” best-selling author continued.

“There’s always this huge economic imperative with Tyson.”

“He’s an incredible economic engine, and it’s because of the knockouts, the Genesis story,” Kriegel argued.

“And wrestlers call it a promo, but as soon as he touches the microphone, it’s like, wait, what did he say? And how did he say it? It’s not like anything else you’ve heard before.”

DONALD TRUMP’S VICTORY TAKES ROCKY CAREER AND TURNS HIM INTO A REAL-LIFE ‘ROCKY’

By 1990, the wheels began to fall off, and Tyson’s life fell into disarray. In 1992, Tyson was convicted of rape, and spent the next three years in prison.

After being released, he went right back into the ring, earning his first post-prison win in 1995. Four years later in 1999, he went back behind bars and was sentenced to nine months in prison for assaulting two motorists after a traffic accident.

By 2003, Tyson filed for bankruptcy, with reports saying he was $23 million in debt, despite having earned $300 million throughout his career. He launched the “Mike Tyson’s World Tour” to pay off his debts, but the tour was canceled after a single exhibition match.

“This guy who was a villain, is now pretty much universally beloved. How the hell did we get here?”

— Mark Kriegel

The public pendulum of Tyson had quickly swung against him. During his interview with Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade, Kriegel admitted that he was reluctant to write the book, saying that when his publisher broached the idea, he said, “No way, I can’t do Tyson.”

“I’ve written more bad stuff about Tyson than anybody. And I started to think about it. I’m an older guy. I’ve been through my own stuff. And I start to think about what he had survived. Boxing, which is a pretty treacherous thing to survive in and of itself. The death of a child. Booze,” Kriegel said. “No dad,” Kilmeade chimed in.

“Cocaine. No father. His family was the street, as one of his next-door neighbors told me. Incarceration, all of it, on and on… it made me respect the guy. And I think that there is some virtue in having survived. And there’s this, finally, there’s this idea that this guy who was a villain, is now pretty much universally beloved. How the hell did we get here?” Kriegel asked.

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Why was Mike Tyson biting his gloves? Tyson’s habit in the ring explained

By Al Faqiih June 5, 2025

In an unsurprising turn of events, 27-year-old Jake Paul defeated 58-year-old Mike Tyson in the highly-anticipated Netflix fight. Paul won by unanimous decision, landing more than twice as many punches on Tyson than Tyson landed on him. Anyone watching could notice that Tyson was past his prime. He was slow to get up from his corner, stagnant in the center of the ring, and unable to get in close on Paul.

Keen-eyed viewers noticed other patterns as well, most notably Tyson’s tendency to bite his glove during the fight. While peculiar, this isn’t anything new for Tyson. Here’s a quick explanation.

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Mike Tyson has bitten his gloves before

While close-up footage of Mike Tyson during his heyday is hard to come by, we can go back to his exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. in November 2020 for some evidence.

Just as he did against Paul, Tyson can be seen in the video biting his left-hand glove.

Why does Tyson bite his gloves?

While this could be a maneuver Tyson does to keep his mouthguard tight, Mike Tyson’s answer to Ariel Helwani’s question after the match is a much more fun answer.

Of course, this is in reference to when Tyson infamously bit Evander Holyfield’s ear during their second bout in 1997. Everyone laughed; Holyfield probably cringed.

As crazy as it sounds though, Tyson’s joke answer might hold more water than we think. Tyson might just have a tendency to put soft, fleshy, ear-like substances in his mouth and bite down. As he said after the fight, sometimes fighters get caught up in the moment and aren’t thinking straight. They act without realizing what they are doing, so perhaps Tyson’s tendency to bite his glove was merely a tick that he does regularly.

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Lennox Lewis Didn’t Hesitate When Asked If Tyson Fury Beats

By Al Faqiih June 3, 2025

Lennox Lewis Didn’t Hesitate When Asked If Tyson Fury Beats Prime Mike Tyson

Lennox Lewis has given his view on a fantasy match-up between Tyson Fury and Mike Tyson.

Lewis is one of boxing’s greatest heavyweights, having become a three-time world champion and the last man to be undisputed before Oleksandr Usyk repeated that feat – against Tyson Fury – in May 2024.

‘The Lion’ defeated almost all of the top fighters in his era, including ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Vitali Klitschko in his final fight before retiring in 2004 with a record of 41 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw and never having lost his titles in the ring.

For many years, it seemed as though Fury was on track to match many of those records after becoming unified champion when he beat Wladimir Klitschko, then defeating American knockout artist Deontay Wilder in two thrilling fights after years out. However, he more recently tasted defeat twice to Usyk, prompting him to announce his retirement.

Brooklyn’s Tyson – who Fury was named after – holds the record for being the youngest ever heavyweight world champion, aged just 19.

A fantasy fight between the two heavyweights presents an intriguing clash of styles – Mike’s ferocity, speed and ability to close the distance versus Fury’s tricky style, huge weight advantage and movement.

Speaking to the Daily Mail for a round of winner stays on, Lewis was asked to pick who would win between the two and sided with his former foe.

“Mike Tyson.”

Another fight that may be resigned to the ‘fantasy’ category is that of Fury versus Anthony Joshua. Though the path seems clear to make the all-British banger after years of failed attempts, ‘The Gypsy King’ is adamant that he will not be returning to the ring.

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Mike Tyson Offered Another Fight At 58-Years-Old: “Work Is Underway”

By Al Faqiih May 31, 2025

Mike Tyson could be set to return to the ring once more.

It isn’t what many fans will be keen to hear given what happened last time out. 58-year-old Tyson fought back in November in Arlington, Texas, against Jake Paul, a man more than half his age and with vastly less experience.

The youngest ever heavyweight world champion was soundly beaten on points across eight rounds and barely managed to land a punch in anger, so low were his strength and fitness levels.

That fight came almost 20 years after his first retirement back in 2005, after a second consecutive loss, and was followed by assurances from ‘Iron Mike’ that he would never fight again.

Despite that, he has apparently now been contacted by Kazakh combat sports promotion, Alash Pride League (APL) with a view to making another comeback and the APL President Alimzhan Bektaev has suggested work is underway.

“We are planning a bout between Mike Tyson and Fedor Emelianenko. Work in this direction is already underway. The tournament, where we want to invite Mike Tyson, is scheduled for December.”

Emelianenko is a Russian former PRIDE heavyweight title holder and four-time combat sambo world champion who is now 48 but remains a legend of MMA.

He has been competing since 2000 and beaten fellow stars of the cage, including Mirko Cro Cop, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mark Coleman and Andrei Arlovski, but retired back in 2023 after a TKO loss in the first round to Ryan Bader. At that time, Emelianenko said he was 100% done with MMA and was already targeting Tyson.

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‘Terrific’ – Mike Tyson names the best opponent he faced – and it’s not Lennox Lewis

By Al Faqiih May 26, 2025

Mike Tyson has shared the ring with some of the best heavyweights of his generation.

However, none of them caused him as many problems as Evander Holyfield.

Tyson and Holyfield met for the first time in November 1996, just one year after ‘Iron Mike’s’ release from prison.

Just like his freshman year in boxing, Tyson enjoyed an active 16 months upon his return to action.

‘Iron Mike’ made quick work of Peter McNeeley and Buster Mathis Jr. in his first two outings before flattening Frank Bruno for the WBC belt in March 1996.

Six months later, he was forced to relinquish the green and gold strap when he chose to face WBA title holder Bruce Seldon, whom he subsequently blew away in the opening stanza.

His first defence of boxing’s oldest world title came against Holyfield at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Arena, and it proved to be a much tougher test than his previous bouts.

Holyfield, who by this point had already enjoyed two separate reigns as heavyweight world champion, picked an aggressive Tyson off from range with sharp counter punches.

In the sixth round, he dropped Tyson courtesy of a booming left uppercut, and in the eleventh, he stopped the youngest heavyweight world champion of all time against the ropes with a blistering combination.

It marked Tyson’s second defeat of his illustrious career, and it was one he was keen to get back, so a rematch was made for June 1997.

Once again, Holyfield got the better of the action, but this time, rather than go out on his shield, Tyson opted to bite a chunk out of his adversary’s ear, resulting in a disqualification in the third round.

Tyson and Holyfield didn’t see eye to eye for a long stretch after their heated grudge matches, but in the years that followed, ‘Iron Mike’ gave considerable props to his rival.

When asked who the best opponent he faced was, Tyson told Ring Magazine: “Holyfield. Great champion: chin, heart, determination, work ethic, demeanour.

“He threw terrific shots with both hands and with bad intentions.”

Recalling their famous duels years later, he added: “He’s a good guy, I always knew he was a good guy.

“I want people to react and get in their heads, but he never reacted.

“He was an awesome counter-puncher. I’d say the best ever.

“I always wondered how he could be so good and so humble.”

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Mike Tyson Makes Personal Announcement on Saturday

By Al Faqiih May 26, 2025

It has now been over half a year since Mike Tyson went toe-to-toe against Jake Paul in what turned out to be the highest-grossing combat sports event outside of Las Vegas.

To say that the fight, which ended in a unanimous decision loss for Tyson, was a smashing success would be an understatement. The fact that it reportedly generated $18.1 million in total revenue is an undeniable testament to this fact.

This is exactly why Tyson, who will turn 59 in June, has refused to close the door on a potential return to the ring in the not-so-distant future. In a recent interview with Bleacher Report, the former heavyweight champ said that “everything is possible,” and that “if somebody breaks my record, I might come back.”

For now, though, the boxing legend is keeping himself busy with his business ventures outside the ring. This includes his extensive collection of apparel and accessories under the Mike Tyson brand.

Fans of his merch will be glad to know that Tyson announced on Saturday that there is currently a “big sale” on his website.

“It’s Memorial Day weekend and you know what that means,” he said. “It’s going to be a big sale on MikeTyson.com. Go there now and get your merch.

“Also, stay safe this weekend. God is with you.”

There are a variety of items that are currently on sale on Tyson’s website, which include hoodies and shirts, all of which have Tyson-themed designs. Some products are up to 40% off.

Tyson’s website is a one-stop hub for all things about the boxing icon. Apart from merchandise and products, the site also provides information about his latest endeavors, including events and media/TV appearances.

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Mike Tyson finally breaks silence on comeback fight after controversial

By Al Faqiih May 26, 2025

Mike Tyson finally breaks silence on comeback fight after controversial bout against Jake Paul

Boxing legend Mike Tyson opens up about his potential boxing comeback and reflects on his headline-making bout against Jake Paul. At 58, the former heavyweight champ isn’t ruling anything out.

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Though it’s been more than six months since Mike Tyson stepped back into the spotlight for a highly anticipated bout against Jake Paul, the legendary heavyweight remains deeply embedded in the cultural conversation.

That fight, which saw Tyson return to the ring at age 58, may have ended in a unanimous decision loss, but its impact far exceeded the result. With over $18 million in reported revenue, the event became one of the most lucrative combat sports showcases ever held outside of Las Vegas.

Looking back, Tyson admits he had mixed emotions about facing an opponent 31 years his junior. While part of him questioned the decision, he also takes immense pride in knowing he can still captivate fans and perform under the bright lights.

“The day after, I asked my wife, ‘Why did I do that?’” Tyson told Bleacher Report. “I don’t know—I just did it because I’m always out of my comfort zone. I’m never in a place where I say, ‘Hey, this is it, I’m in my duration of life.’ No, I’m always gonna push the level, man. I’m that kind of guy. I might jump off a 15-story building one day—you never know—just to see if I can fly. I just like to push myself. That’s the only way I live.”

Tyson hints at possible comeback amid record talk

Despite the outcome, Tyson hasn’t closed the chapter on his fighting career. In the same interview, the former heavyweight champion shared an intriguing comment that reignited speculation: “Everything is possible. If somebody breaks my record, I might come back.”

With his 59th birthday approaching in June, Tyson continues to entertain the idea of returning to the ring. However, for now, his attention is on entrepreneurial ventures and media appearances that keep his brand active and his legacy alive.

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