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via Getty

via Getty

Mike Tyson‘s devastating knockout of Marvis Frazier is Joe Rogan‘s favorite Tyson fight. The JRE podcast host is a massive fan of the former heavyweight champion and has credited him as being the biggest inspiration behind his own brief albeit successful martial arts career.

And as Tyson gears up to face Jake Paul on July 20 in his first pro boxing bout since calling it quits in 2005, Rogan recounted to comedian Sebastian Maniscalco the absolute nightmare that was ‘Iron Mike’s knockout of Frazier, son of boxing legend ‘Smokin’ Joe Frazier back in 1985.

Mike Tyson’s 30-second knockout is Joe Rogan’s favorite

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Speaking about Tyson’s upcoming fight with Paul, which has been criticized as a sham by many, on account of the former champion being three decades older than ‘The Problem Child’, and suffering from a bevy of health issues, Rogan felt that the prime Tyson that fought Frazier would knock out Jake Paul.

Rogan recounted how young Tyson’s brash, cocky, and insulting conduct was being criticized by Joe Frazier. The latter, of course, had three of the greatest fights in boxing history against Muhammad Ali in the 60s, and 70s, and is one of the reasons the era is considered the golden age of heavyweight boxing.

“There’s not a f**king chance in hell that Jake Paul would survive against the Mike Tyson that beat Marvis Frasier. You ever watched that fight? That’s my favorite Mike Tyson fight because that was Mike Tyson before he won the title… Joe Frazier had been talking sh* about Tyson that if he was in his prime he’d beat Tyson. And so he had his son fight Tyson. And it was an execution. It’s one of my favorite fights to watch Tyson because it’s Tyson in his prime where he was f***ing terrifying.”

This animosity between ‘Smokin’ Joe’ and ‘Iron Mike’ culminated in a fight between Marvis, Joe Frazier’s son, and Mike Tyson almost four decades ago. Tyson backed Frazier to the corner as soon as the fight started, probing him with his quick jabs before unleashing two consecutive, vicious uppercuts. The fight lasted all of thirty seconds and added to Tyson’s invincible aura.

The UFC commentator told guest Maniscalco that his freakish strength, athleticism, signature ‘Peek-a-boo’ boxing style, formulated by legendary boxing trainer and Tyson’s mentor, Cus D’Amato based around devastating counters and perpetual motion, was so good that nobody could beat him in his prime.

“He was so fast, and he would do angles and he was bobbing and weaving you couldn’t hit him and he was just coming at you. And he was young he was 20 years old,” he added, as he went on to call Tyson the GOAT.

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Rogan feels prime Tyson was the best ever

Joe Rogan felt that that version of Mike Tyson was unstoppable and was, according to him, the greatest heavyweight boxer in the sport’s long and illustrious history.

“He couldn’t be stopped. No one had the solution. And I submit that that Mike Tyson, the Mike Tyson that won the title against Trevor Berbick, the Mike Tyson that beat Larry Holmes, I think that Mike Tyson is the best heavyweight of all time. I don’t think anybody f**ks with him. He just didn’t maintain that form,” he added.

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However, Rogan rued that Mike Tyson couldn’t stay disciplined and consistent as he got into partying and bad company after he became rich and famous. One turning point in Mike Tyson’s career came in 1988 when he split with his trainer Mickey Rooney. Legal troubles followed in 1992, further impacting his boxing career.

Do you agree with Joe Rogan that Mike Tyson in his prime was the best ever?