“This is where everything starts,” said Vasyl Lomachenko while talking about boxing footwork. He should know. The two-time Olympic gold medalist and multi-division champion is widely acknowledged as one of the sport’s foremost technicians. One of his key attributes remains the peerless footwork, which has dazzled and surprised many a foe over the years.

Tony Jefferies came across something exceptional—a training clip featuring none other than ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson. The way boxing’s youngest heavyweight champion moved left the former professional boxer and Olympic bronze medalist speechless. Four years after the exhibition against Roy Jones Jr., Tyson will step into the ring on November 15 to face Jake Paul. The Netflix clash has been gaining considerable attention since its announcement. For Jefferies, the short video was nothing short of a masterclass. Why?

A Footwork Par Excellence

“Wow, that speed!” said ‘The Mighty Mackem’ as he watched the footage. Actually, it was an old video featuring Mike Tyson, Henry Cejudo, and trainer Rafael Cordeiro. In the particular sequence, ‘Iron’ Mike was revealing the secrets of the ‘in-and-out footwork’.

Initially, Tyson steps in and then out. The following sequence shows him demonstrating practical applications of the move. The former champion would step in—a combination such as a jab and straight right or a jab and a quick uppercut would promptly follow. Dispelling a standard notion about Tyson, Jeffries said, “What’s crazy about Mike Tyson? A lot of people think he’s just known for his punching power and his hand speed. But look at his footwork. His footwork is unbelievable.”

Explaining the maneuver, the Beijing Olympics medal winner shared that Mike Tyson kept his feet apart. He is basically moving into range to throw punches, i.e., stepping in. Then he retreats out of the range to avoid counterattack—stepping out. He said, “Because of that step in and out, he’s getting his body weight behind the punch, like he’s stepping to transfer the weight of the front foot and blast up that lead uppercut, getting some serious power in it.”

The technique often came in handy when Tyson went against taller opponents. Hugely impressed with the masterclass, Tony Jeffries emphasized that perhaps since Mike Tyson, there has hardly been any boxer who has been able to emulate his style.

Mike Tyson, Strength with Skill

Jeffries pointed quite correctly. Most fans associate Mike Tyson with explosive power and aggressive fighting. However, his footwork played an equally critical role in his success and contributed greatly to his ability to dominate the ring. For a heavyweight, he was incredibly fast, especially when it came to moving in and out of the range.

What made Mike Tyson so lethal, something Jake Paul might have to watch out for, was his talent to sync his head movement with his footwork. The combination makes it hard for opponents to hit him. However, the maneuver allowed Tyson to position himself for powerful counterattacks.

Not sure whether he would resort to his erstwhile trademark peek-a-boo style in the Jake Paul fight. But for sure, he would try creating angles. Back in the good old days, it kept the opponent guessing where Tyson would strike next.

Footwork was one of the foundational aspects of Mike Tyson’s training under Cus D’Amato. Over the years, it developed into a blend of speed, precision, and strategy. It wasn’t just about avoiding punches. Rather, it became a tactical tool that enhanced his aggressive fighting style and turned into a powerful weapon.

Which boxer’s footwork has impressed you the most?