“Ali Is the Most Disgusting Person When He Is the Ring Fighting”- Mike Tyson on Muhammad Ali

To Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali is a hero without whom ‘Iron’ may have never laced up gloves professionally. 55-year-old Tyson continues to idolize ‘The Greatest’ and has been emotional several times while recalling him. Hailing from two different eras, Ali and Tyson were two of the biggest heavyweight superstars of their time.

Despite being compared frequently, Tyson and Ali had always displayed mutual respect. Even in the last years of Muhammad Ali, when he could barely speak and move, Tyson was still in his corner. However, the ‘Baddest Man On The Planet’ recently revealed the scenarios that turned Ali into a “disgusting” persona a few times.

In a chat with Claressa Shields on HotBoxin’, Mike Tyson analyzed Muhammad Ali’s psychology. This came after Shields labeled Ali as her hero and inspiration behind taking up the sport.

Mike Tyson said, “He [Muhammad Ali] is the most confident fighter that ever lived. You know I studied him a lot. And most of his fighting, as he got a little older, was also psychology. You know Ali would box his opponent, he would never think.”

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“Ali being in the clinch talking about their mothers and sisters, ‘I caught you sister around’. And Ali is the most disgusting person when he is the ring fighting. He said things so bad, the referee just said. ‘I can’t even tell you what he said.”

Tyson took over Ali’s lion-heart aura and injected it into his generation. But he did it in his own way. It is also said, Mike Tyson avenged Muhammad Ali’s loss to Larry Holmes when he took out ‘The Easton Assassin’ in 1988. Thus, the Ali-Tyson bond goes deep down into the roots of boxing.

Mike Tyson cried while talking about Muhammad Ali

Back in interaction with Michael Rapoport, Mike Tyson shed tears while recalling the impact of Muhammad Ali on his life. He labeled Ali as a ‘Giant amongst men’ in the past. The interviewer silently heard out Tyson draining his emotions.

All these moments reflect how Mike Tyson has analyzed different sides of Muhammad Ali. Having interacted with the late legend in person, Tyson remains one of those people who can say what it was like being around Ali. No wonder it remains special to the fans.

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What did you make of this anecdote from Mike Tyson about Ali’s in-ring tricks?