Tyson Fury gave an honest response when asked if he would prevail in a heavyweight fight against the legendary Mike Tyson in his prime.
Fury’s fiercest rival, Deontay Wilder, was the first to give his take on a potential showdown with the 1986 ‘Iron Mike’ and the American champ was confident he would walk out of the ring with a knockout victory.
“Me vs. Tyson in ’86, I’d kick the hell outta that guy,” Wilder told TMZ in an interview last year.
“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.”
Earlier this week, the 53-year old legend lauded Wilder’s confidence as a response to his bold claims.
“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,” said Tyson.
“He’s supposed to think that way, he is the heavyweight champion of the world and that’s something very special.”
OG Bad Man
While Wilder believes he is the best in the sport whether it is old school or new school boxing, Fury knows he doesn’t stand a chance in a heavyweight bout against ‘Iron Mike.’
In a Q and A with fans on Twitter in February 2018, ‘The Gypsy King’ said he would be finished by the undisputed heavyweight champion in the opening round.
Meanwhile, in an Instagram post, Fury wrote: “This is the original bad man @miketyson he would of smashed them all in his prime #baddestmanagerverliveth happy to carry his name.”
Biased
Fury will return to action this Saturday as he tries to dethrone Wilder as the WBC heavyweight champion in their much-awaited rematch.
And in this titanic clash, expect ‘Iron Mike’ to cheer for the British challenger.
“I like both of them as fighters, they both came from nothing and achieved becoming heavyweight champion, you have to respect that, I was in their position one time,” Tyson said.
“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.”
(Featured Image Source: Instagram/ Mike Tyson and Tyson Fury)