A still of Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul
At 58 years of age, Mike Tyson clashed with 27-year-old Jake Paul for their highly anticipated heavyweight bout. Quite shockingly, the former legend, nicknamed ‘Iron Mike’ Tyson, lost out to the latter YouTuber-turned-wrestler by unanimous decision.
Regardless, right after their match, Paul called on and heaped praise on his opponent stating, “First and foremost, Mike Tyson – it’s an honor to be able to fight him. He is the GOAT.” The statements went on to prove that despite his loss, Mike Tyson still commands immense respect from all quarters and thus, has a larger-than-life legacy to live for.
Agreeably, Mike Tyson's ability to deliver powerful punches with incredible speed and strength made him one of the most feared boxers in history. Additionally, his aggressive style and relentless attack allowed him to dominate his opponents and secure numerous victories by knockout.
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Reflecting upon it, here are seven of some of the most iconic and memorable moments when ‘Iron Mike’ Tyson proved Jake Paul right as to why he truly is the GOAT:
In 1986, Mike Tyson won his first heavyweight title by defeating Trevor Berbick via knockout in the second round. The legend’s powerful uppercuts relentlessly pressured Berbick and he finally landed a devastating uppercut that led to a knockout.
Mike Tyson successfully defended his title against James ‘Bonecrusher’ Smith in a thrilling 1987 face-off. A major highlight was Tyson's leaping left hook, which he used to great effect, landing it with incredible force and speed.
Mike Tyson knocked out Pinklon Thomas in the sixth round of their 1987 clash with a combination of speed and power by quickly closing the distance and delivering powerful punches that overwhelmed his ill-fated opponent.
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Mike Tyson made history by becoming the first heavyweight boxer to unify the titles of the World Boxing Council (WBC) and the World Boxing Association (WBA) by defeating Mike Spinks in just 91 seconds in 1988. Utilizing his ability to evade punches and counter with powerful right hands was key to his victory and also showcased his ferociousness.
In 1988, Mike Tyson defeated Larry Holmes by knockout in the fourth round with his relentless uppercuts and body shots that wore down Holmes, leading to a decisive victory.
Knocking out Frank Bruno in the fifth round of their 1989 fight, Mike Tyson retained his heavyweight title. With aggressive style and powerful punches, his abilities were simply too much for Bruno to handle, resulting in a quick knockout.
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In 1991, Mike Tyson faced Donovan Ruddock, in a highly anticipated fight and won by a second-round TKO, knocking his opponent down twice in the round. The legend’s speed and strength were on full display as he quickly overwhelmed Ruddock with his relentless attack and powerful punches.