Back in January, WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder took his trash talk to another level when he made the shocking claim that he could’ve beaten 1986 Mike Tyson.
“Me vs. Tyson in ’86, I’d kick the hell outta that guy. Listen, I’ve got to keep it real. I know people always go back to the old school or look at the new school and there’s no school where I’m not No. 1 on earth,”
It took awhile, but those comments finally got around to Tyson and he responded with class.
Via Boxing News:
I don’t know (whether I’d beat him). I love the fact that he thinks that, because that’s the way I would think as well. He’s supposed to think that way, he is the heavyweight champion of the world and that’s something very special.”
Former champ Lennox Lewis, who defeated Tyson in 2002, was not a fan of Wilder stating he would defeat a prime Tyson.
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“I just heard Deontay Wilder said he would destroy a young Mike Tyson. My thoughts are that it’s easy to talk until you actually get in the ring.
I like Wilder but he’s never been in there with someone that ferocious who truly wants to break his ribs with every punch. I don’t see it! I love Deontay Wilder’s confidence. You need that to sit atop the heavyweight division. He’s hungry and shows up in probably the best shape in division but there are levels to it and he’s still adding to his arsenal.
My best advice to the entire crop of young heavyweight champs is to focus on being the best of YOUR era out of respect and reality. It’s unprovable. Of course people asked, but I found no need to speculate or compare myself to my idol [Muhammad] Ali or any other of the past greats.
History will decide your place among the all-time greats so go out there, clean up the division, defend your title, reign supreme and your work will speak for itself.”
Later in the interview, Tyson said he was taking Fury to win the rematch against Wilder in March.
“In the first fight I was hoping for Tyson Fury, I always pulled for him because he was named after me, that is the natural thing to do, right?
“I was always biased toward him. He is very likeable; he is a nice person.” I was always biased toward him. He is very likeable, he is a nice person.
“I never understood Tyson, I just kept seeing him beating decent fighters.
“I didn’t know if they were washed up or throwing the fights because Tyson did not look like he should be beating them.
“But he was and he was laughing at them, that made me a fan. He is so much better than what he appears to be and looks like.”
