Mike Tyson once snubbed the late, great Muhammad Ali when naming his favourite ever boxer.
Tyson idolised fellow heavyweight legend Ali and has described him as “the greatest of all time” on several occasions.
He made his feelings on Ali clear when appearing with him on The Arsenio Hall Show back in 1989 alongside fellow boxing great ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard.READ MORE
When asked if he could one day challenge Ali for the title of boxing’s greatest ever fighter, Tyson replied: “I’m vain, I know I’m great, but can I tell you something?
“In this situation, every head must bow, every tongue must confess: This [Ali] is the greatest of all time.”
“He can be modest, humble and nice, but this man is a great,” Ali replied.
“I don’t know what would have happened if he hit me.”
Despite that admiration for Ali, Tyson chose another fighter when naming his favourite boxer of all time.
That honour instead went to legendary Panamanian Roberto Duran, who held world titles in four weight classes – Lightweight, welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight – during his pro career.
Explaining his decision, Tyson said he saw more of himself in Duran than Ali, despite their difference in nationality and weight.
