Heavyweight icon, Mike Tyson, has revealed what he believes to have been the ‘best fight of his career’, as he and Francis Ngannou prepare to take on Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia in October.
Tyson retired as a two-time heavyweight champion, with a reputation of being one of the most feared power-punchers of all-time, defeating the likes of Larry Holmes, Trevor Berbick, Michael Spinks and Frank Bruno during his twenty years in the ring.
Now, Tyson will be involved in the sport in a different capacity, after agreeing to train former UFC heavyweight champion, Ngannou, for his upcoming showdown with Fury.
In an interview on his podcast, Hotboxin’, Ngannou explained that the ‘best fight’ of his MMA career was against Stipe Miocic, where he received the first loss of his UFC career. However, the 36-year-old detailed that the loss taught him more than any knockout win would ever do,
“That was my real first fight [against Miocic], I lost that fight and then I think that, from that night, I understood everything. If you ask me, so far, that was the best fight in my career.”
Tyson went on to share a similar opinion.
“That’s how I feel about the Buster Douglas fight – it was the best fight of my career, people won’t understand it.”
‘Iron Mike’s’ defeat to Buster Douglas will live long in the memory of the heavyweight division and is widely regarded as boxing’s greatest upset. After suffering the defeat, Tyson went on an eight-fight win streak, reclaiming world honours despite a four-year lay-off during that time.
Tyson will be hoping that the lessons he learnt during his career can be passed onto Ngannou ahead of his seemingly impossible challenge against Fury, who he fights on October 26th in Riyadh.