Every boxer, worth his salt, swears by the idol, whose footsteps he tried to follow, whose ways he tried to emulate. The masters, long gone by, treaded a patch replete with extraordinary deeds. Hence it shouldn’t surprise anyone that one of the most feared boxers in history had his share of heroes and idols whom he used to look up to. He credited them with what he later turned out to be. In the latest episode of his podcast, Mike Tyson spoke about one such personality who touched him immensely.

During the post-Muhammad Ali era, ‘Iron’ Mike turned professional in 1985 after an excellent touring as an amateur. The Heavyweight division was still struggling to find an apt heir to shoulder Ali’s legacy. But other lower divisions released one spectacular fighter after the other. Together, these boxers charted out their legacy and, in turn, became idols to boxers who came afterward.

Stand-up comedian and actor, Tommy Davidson joined Tyson and his co-host, DJ Whoo Kid in the Hotboxin‘s latest episode. Fifty-nine-year-old Davidson started his career in the stand-up comedy scene in 1986 and hasn’t looked back ever since. Some of the famous works on television include, ‘In Living Color,’ ‘Between Brothers,’ ‘Malcolm & Eddie’, and ‘The Proud Family,’ among many others.

Mike Tyson sings hymns in praise of ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard

Around the thirty-minute mark, Davidson wanted to know from Tyson how the trilogy fights between ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard and Roberto Duran, two of the greatest boxers ever, inspired him.

‘Iron’ Mike replied, “Listen I met Ali and I just wanted to be a fighter right, [but] I didn’t know if I could [really] do it. But I wanted to do it that’s what Duran and Leonard won. Ooh! that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I said wow what a fight. Looked like ballet dancing.” Davidson added his observation that it’s in the rematch that one learns the full story of the two combatants and how they adapted to the first.

Tyson said, “Listen, Sugar Ray Leonard, he’s just a junkyard dog with a pretty face.” Davidson called him a “beast.” Tyson continued, “He’s a mean mo********er.” He mentioned how Leonard would be very humble and polished outside the ring. But inside the ring, “he’ll kill you.”

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Known for his speed, in a two-decade-long career, ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard, fought forty times, out of which he won in thirty-six bouts. The ‘four-kings-of-boxing’ era saw some outstanding boxing displays between ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, and Marvelous Marvin Hagler. In many ways, the quartet revived the interest in boxing, which continued with Mike Tyson’s arrival.

What’s your take on ‘Iron’ Mike’s observations on ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard? Do let us know your views and opinions in the comments section below.

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