Sports

Mike Tyson Has a Surprising Pick for the Toughest Opponent He Ever Fought

Disclosure
We publish independently audited information that meets our strong editorial guidelines. Be aware we may earn a commission if you purchase anything via links on our pages.
Mike Tyson had a surprising pick for the hardest opponent he ever had to fight.

In the world of professional sports, few men were scarier than Mike Tyson. During his prime, Iron Mike truly earned the title of ‘baddest man on the planet;’ inside the ring, he was capable of dispatching seemingly any opponent with incredible ease. That reality, however, doesn’t mean that the boxer never faced any challenges.

During a Reddit AMA in July 2014, Tyson was asked about the hardest opponent he ever had to vanquish. The former heavyweight champ, however, pinpointed one surprising fighter.

Mike Tyson’s dominant boxing career

At the peak of his prowess, Mike Tyson was one of the best boxers ever to practice the sweet science. If not for a chance encounter, however, Iron Mike might not have ever stepped into the ring.

As a teenager, Tyson found himself at the Tyron School for Boys in upstate New York. There, he crossed paths with Bobby Stewart, a former fighter turned counselor; for all of Mike’s problems, the boxer realized he had great potential. Stewart introduced Tyson to Cus D’Amato, and, before long, the legendary trainer was putting the teenager through his paces.

With the proper tutelage, Tyson turned into an unstoppable force. While he had plenty of punching power, D’Amato gave him the defensive skills necessary to survive a professional bout. Iron Mike turned pro at age 18; a little over two years later, he claimed the heavyweight title.

Who was Mike Tyson’s toughest opponent?

RELATED: Mike Tyson Paid a Woman $250,000 After His Tiger Attacked Her

For all of Mike Tyson’s talent, though, the boxer would eventually falter. While he had numerous issues outside of the ring, he also lost to Buster Douglas, Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Danny Williams, and Kevin McBride before calling it a career. None of those men, however, were Iron Mike’s toughest opponent.

During a 2014 Reddit AMA, user mylefthandkilledme asked the former heavyweight champ about the identity of the “hardest opponent [he] faced inside and outside of the boxing ring.” Tyson simply responded, “Me, Mike Tyson.”

While that might not sound out of character for the famously outlandish boxer, the answer does make sense. From a pure boxing perspective, Tyson didn’t have much to fear in the ring. For all his confidence, though, Iron Mike was full of doubt and desperation; while those emotions helped fuel his rise to fame, they eventually led to his dramatic fall from grace.

Iron Mike seems to have defeated his toughest foe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD-yu1_XNSA

After his rise to the top of the boxing world, Mike Tyson became a tragic figure. After hitting rock bottom, however, the former heavyweight champ seems to have fought back with incredible success.

After losing most of his money, Tyson has reemerged as a pop-cultural figure. The Hangover seemed to open the floodgates; the boxer has since starred in an animated show with his pigeons, hit the stage, and appeared on countless podcasts. While we shouldn’t forget the crimes, threats, and other missteps from his boxing career, Iron Mike does look like he’s finally found peace and relative normalcy.

If the latest rumors are to believed, Tyson will be stepping back into the ring for a charity fight with Shannon Briggs. No matter what happens in that fight, though, Iron Mike has already conquered his toughest opponent: himself.

Author photo
Joe Kozlowski
Sports Editor

Joe Kozlowski began his career as a sports journalist in 2013 and joined Sportscasting in 2019. He covers the NBA and soccer for Sportscasting, with specialties in legacy NBA players such as Michael Jordan and Premier League club Arsenal. Off the clock, he's a Kansas City Chiefs fan and a hockey goalie. Growing up loving Shaquille O'Neal and reading everything he could about the great big men throughout NBA history — likely because he was still tall enough, at least relative to his peers, to play center — he's continued to love learning about and exploring the historical and story-based sides of the basketball archives. As for Arsenal, Joe spent a year living in London and latched onto the local support of the club. He's barely missed a match since, loving Arsene Wenger, enduring the Banter Era, and following along through rebuilds. The Premier League interest developed into a passionate following of the Champions League, Europe's big five league, and international soccer as a whole when played at the highest level. Regardless of the sport, Joe is captivated by the stories of athletes beyond the box scores and how they push the envelope — both in terms of what we think a human is capable of accomplishing and how they find new competitive tactics to win.

Get to know Joe Kozlowski better
Author photo
Joe Kozlowski Sports Editor

Joe Kozlowski began his career as a sports journalist in 2013 and joined Sportscasting in 2019. He covers the NBA and soccer for Sportscasting, with specialties in legacy NBA players such as Michael Jordan and Premier League club Arsenal. Off the clock, he's a Kansas City Chiefs fan and a hockey goalie. Growing up loving Shaquille O'Neal and reading everything he could about the great big men throughout NBA history — likely because he was still tall enough, at least relative to his peers, to play center — he's continued to love learning about and exploring the historical and story-based sides of the basketball archives. As for Arsenal, Joe spent a year living in London and latched onto the local support of the club. He's barely missed a match since, loving Arsene Wenger, enduring the Banter Era, and following along through rebuilds. The Premier League interest developed into a passionate following of the Champions League, Europe's big five league, and international soccer as a whole when played at the highest level. Regardless of the sport, Joe is captivated by the stories of athletes beyond the box scores and how they push the envelope — both in terms of what we think a human is capable of accomplishing and how they find new competitive tactics to win.

All posts by Joe Kozlowski