Boxing
Mike Tyson on Serena Williams: ‘I Don’t Want to Get in the Ring With This GOAT’
Mike Thomas spent 23 years on staff and 16 years as the sports editor at The Herald News in Fall River, Mass., before joining Sportscasting in 2020. Mike has a deep knowledge of and passion for the NFL and NBA, and he excels at interviewing sports celebrities to find out their Super Bowl picks. A New England Newspaper and Press Association award-winning columnist and an avid sports memorabilia collector, Mike enjoys keeping up with all the sports news and the works of former Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly. You can find more of Mike's work on Muck Rack.
Get to know Mike Thomas betterPublished27 Mar 2021
Serena Williams is tough enough on her own. Strong, athletic, and talented on the tennis court, Williams was once trained by former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson. After watching Williams strut her stuff during those boxing tips from the champ, Tyson said, “I don’t want to get in the ring with this GOAT.”
Mike Tyson would be the right guy to get some boxing tips from
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Mike Tyson packed a powerful punch and proved to be the most dominant and most feared boxer of his time. His talents went beyond the boxing ring. He combined those boxing skills with a level of fearlessness that goes umatched.
Tyson dominated his opponents to the tune of 44 knockouts in his 50 victories. He won the first 37 fights in his professional career. The first 19 of those fights were won via knockout. Twelve of those knockouts came in the opening round.
Not only was Tyson a dominant puncher, but he was also mentally tough. He was always focused and had many of his fights won before the first punch was thrown. Tyson was an intimidator and it helped him become the youngest heavyweight champion of the world at the age of 20.
Serena Williams knows a thing or two about being dominant
As dominant as Mike Tyson was in the boxing ring, Serena Williams was right there on the tennis court. Williams has posted a career singles record of 851-148 and is the owner of 73 career titles. She is the all-time Women’s Tennis Association leader in earnings at more than $94 million in prize money.
Williams is widely known as the greatest female tennis player of all time. Her 23 Grand Slam singles titles are the most by any player in the Open era. She trails Margaret Court’s 24. Williams has also captured 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, teaming with her sister Venus each time.
Athletically gifted, the 5-foot-9 Williams was ranked No. 1 for the first time in 2002. She was ranked No. 1 in singles by the WTA eight different times from 2002-2017. Williams, at one point, was ranked No. 1 for 186 consecutive weeks.
What happens when you combine Mike Tyson with Serena Williams?
Back in December of 2019, Serena Williams took boxing lessons from Mike Tyson. According to Business Insider, the two caught up with each other at the “Mouratoglou Preseason” in Florida, an annual camp organized by Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. The camp is designed to bring players and celebrities together for team-building opportunities.
Tyson apparently was a heck of a tutor. On his Instagram account, he posted a video of Williams drilling bag and looking like a pro. Tyson wrote that Williams “has some power.” Tyson also added a photo with the caption, “I don’t want to get in the ring with this GOAT @Serena Williams, much love and respect.”
Mouratoglou also posted the video on his own account. He wrote, “hit that punching bag like you wanna hit the ball!” With Williams’ talent on the tennis court combining with Tyson’s training, she may increase that dominance she’s always had.
