Mike Tyson has always been a boxing historian and, throughout his career, paid tribute to the great champions who preceded him.
Even now he’s retired and has taken his place among those greats, ‘Iron Mike’ still appears irked whenever the legends are disrespected.
Following the completion of his career, Floyd Mayweather proclaimed himself to be ‘TBE’ – The Best Ever.
He made this bold claim based on the fact that he retired undefeated with a perfect record of 50-0, surpassing that of former heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano who quit the sport at 49-0.
Mike does not agree with Mayweather’s logic.
Speaking on his Hotboxin’ podcast back in 2019, Tyson said: “Floyd’s a great fighter, don’t get me wrong. He had 50 fights.
“Listen, Sugar Ray Robinson had 40 fights. He lost one, then he had a 78-fight winning streak.
“40, lost one, then a 78-fight winning streak, goddamn.
“[Julio Cesar Chavez Sr] was 89-0 before he lost.
“Don’t tell me about, ‘You’re the greatest fighter,’ with 50-0.
“You’re great, no doubt about it, but 50-0? Chavez had 90.
“He was fighting like, what? Eight times a year? Against whoever was in the rankings.
“He wasn’t picking, it was, ‘Whoever you want, come on.’”
Mayweather was recently also beaten by WBC strawweight champion Wanheng Menayothin, however he’s now been beaten and is 54-1.