Mike Tyson took inspiration from three of the greatest fighters to ever step foot in a boxing ring.
During a stunning professional career stretching back to 1985, ‘Iron Mike’ established himself as one of the finest heavyweights of all time.
3
Tyson was a feared boxer in his prime and famously used his status to help the world of wrestlingCredit: Getty
None of this would have been possible if he hadn’t been inspired by the generation before him.
In the latest episode of Good Trouble with Nick Kyrgios, Tyson sat down with the Australian tennis star and discussed the boxers that influenced him to pursue a career in professional pugilism.
“Oh, Roberto Duran. Number one, yeah,” said Tyson.
Kyrgios responded: “And Ali? Anyone like that?”
“This is what I’m going to do. Yeah.”
Asked if Ali was a better fight than him, Tyson humbly admitted: “Absolutely because he made me.
3
Ali is Tyson’s biggest idolCredit: Getty
3
But Leonard and Duran made ‘Iron Mike’ want to fightCredit: Getty
“How could you be something better than what made you?”
Muhammad Ali became Tyson’s idol after he met the heavyweight icon during his time at a New York juvenile detention centre.
The children were shown a film about Ali to inspire them, only for him to then walk in and introduce himself as a special guest.
Ali and Tyson would become great friends after ‘Kid Dynamite’ succeeded ‘The Greatest’ as the heavyweight champion of the world.
Although Ali was Tyson’s biggest idol, it was Roberto Duran who he took the most inspiration from stylistically.
The former four-weight world champion was an all-action pressure fighter and Tyson claims he watched hours of Duran fight footage during his formative years as a boxer.
Tyson was also a keen admirer of Sugar Ray Leonard and previously branded the first-ballot Hall of Famer the ‘most skilled fighter’ he had ever seen.
