Mike Tyson has said “The greatest fighters fight everybody,” but he then reveals the greatest fighters don’t necessarily watch all other fighters by admitting he has never seen British world heavyweight title hopeful Daniel Dubois in the ring.
Speaking to Pro Boxing Fans, ‘Iron Mike’ is asked for his prediction for Dubois’s upcoming shot at Ukrainian southpaw Oleksandr Usyk.
“I never saw Dubois fight. I’m going to stick with the champion. [Usyk]”
The fearsome former world heavyweight title holder is not alone in siding with the current WBO, WBA and IBF champion for this fight in Wraclw, Poland on August 26th. Many believe Dubois has only a puncher’s chance.
Though still young in heavyweight terms at just 25 years old, ‘Dynamite’ is a veteran compared to when Tyson won the first of his six world heavyweight championships aged just 20. That was in November 1986 after 27 professional fights against Trevor Berbick for the WBC title.
By comparisons, Usyk is now 36, a year older than when Tyson lost to Lennox Lewis and his career at the top came to an end. Tyson took two more losses after that, eventually retiring at age 38.
Should Usyk come out on top, the hope will be that he and WBC champion Tyson Fury will be able to negotiate for the first undisputed heavyweight fight in over 20 years. First, Fury must get past MMA star Francis Ngannou – which might not be as easy as many think given that Tyson has officially been appointed as one of his trainers for the bout in Riyadh in October.