Three-time heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson, says that one bad defeat should not define a great fighter’s career, offering some words of wisdom to one recently defeated former world champion and explaining that a comeback is achievable.
‘Iron Mike’ picked up the first defeat of his career in 1990, where he lost his heavyweight titles in what is widely regarded as the biggest upset in the history of the sport, a knockout defeat to James ‘Buster’ Douglas.
However, six years later, Tyson regained his position at the top of the division, knocking out Frank Bruno in the third-round of their encounter for the WBC world title.
This year, boxing finally saw the undisputed welterweight clash between Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr, with the former putting together a dominant display that will live long in the memory of boxing fans.
In the wake of Spence’s defeat, some pundits have suggested that ‘The Truth’ should hang up the gloves, yet Tyson told ES News that he believes Spence can make a comeback.
“I come from a world where fighters would lose and then come back and win. Errol Spence didn’t get his a** kicked worse than I did with Buster [Douglas] and look at me, I came back.
I know that he is not talking about retiring, he doesn’t even have to fight Terence, fight someone else. Fight [Jermell] Charlo or somebody else, fight a couple more fights and then come back and fight Terence.”
Despite Tyson’s advice, it seems that Spence is determined to level the score with Crawford as soon as possible, after he activated his rematch clause. However, difficulties making the 147lb weight limit and a reluctance from Crawford’s team to stage the fight at super-welterweight has caused doubt as to whether the rematch will take place.