Mike Tyson admits that one man stands above him as the greatest heavyweight of all time

Mike Tyson’s status as one of boxing’s all-time greats is rarely disputed — but his pick for the greatest ever is clear.

Tyson returned to the ring last year in a sanctioned bout against Jake Paul, fought over eight two-minute rounds. The points defeat added a seventh loss to his professional record, but ‘Iron Mike’ had an incredible career prior to that.

His glory years came between 1986 and 1989, when he rampaged through the heavyweight division to become undisputed champion. His blend of speed, movement, explosive power and sheer presence turned him into a force of nature, until James “Buster” Douglas shattered the aura with a monumental upset in 1990.

Tyson reclaimed the WBC title in 1996 but was never quite the same fighter. The “Baddest Man on the Planet” image was further dismantled when Evander Holyfield overwhelmed him with an 11th-round stoppage, eight months after Tyson had beaten Frank Bruno to regain the belt.

Where ‘Iron Mike’ ranks among heavyweight greats — and on broader all-time lists — remains a matter of debate. However, during an appearance on The Big Podcast with Shaq, Tyson was asked who he believed to be the greatest of all time.

“Muhammad Ali then me.”

Tyson added that judgments on his own standing should be left to public opinion.

“If you put up some stats or something, ask the world. Not one guy — 10 guys. Ask the world.”

An ESPN feature on the 50 greatest fighters of all time, published several years ago, placed Tyson at number 50, with Ali ranked second and Sugar Ray Robinson at number one. By contrast, a 2020 Daily Mail article argued that ‘Iron Mike’ should be included in boxing’s all-time top 10.