Mike Tyson is one of the most acclaimed fighters of all time. The Heavyweight champion has admittedly been in the news for the interesting answers he gives during interviews, from unpopular takes to professional insights into the world of boxing. Tyson has an eyebrow-raising answer for everything, and rightly so, given the work, he has done in the sport over the years. His point of view on the business is very much valid.
His thoughts on his contemporaries and other fighters are something fans constantly look out for. For a long time now, people have pondered the various permutations of his fight with names like Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, and he has some interesting things to say about these matchups. But how well will these legends fare against each other if thrown into a street fight?
A petition to have Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a street fight
In an interview with GQ Sports, ‘Iron Mike’ spoke candidly about his contemporary, Mayweather. Answering a Quora question in the interview that asked who would win in a street fight between the two fighters, Tyson said he would definitely excel at it. He stated, “I think I would kick Floyd’s ass in a street fight. There wouldn’t even be a match. But probably if I were his size, he would outpoint me. He has a really good technique in his style.”
Praising Maywe ather further, Tyson believes that the former is “great” at what he does. However, such a street fight would bring the boxing world to a standstill. The stark difference between them remains that Floyd Jr. is a point fighter, winning his bouts through decisions, while Tyson remains popular for finishing his bouts through knockouts.
Why are Mayweather Jr. and Tyson feuding?
Throughout their boxing careers, both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Mike Tyson seemed to be cordial with each other. In fact, there appeared to be no rivalry as they never fought in the same weight divisions, and there were no signs of animosity between them. However, as time passed and 2001 arrived, fans started sensing some tension between them. As Mayweather’s brand began to grow, Tyson was inching towards his retirement. It was around this time that Iron Mike’s house was raided by the police on allegations of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman.
It was later reported that ‘Pretty Boy’ Mayweather played a significant role in the initiation of the raid. Since then, Tyson has been taking jabs at Mayweather. He famously stated that he would forgive but always remember the deed. Another instance of their feud reaching its peak was when Mayweather claimed that his legacy surpassed that of Muhammad Ali. As a devoted fan of Ali, Tyson was displeased with such statements and promptly responded by saying, “If he was anywhere near that realm of Muhammad Ali, he’d be able to take his kids to school by himself.”