When Mike Tyson left boxing in 2005, it seemed like no one would have to feel his immense power again.
However, 15 years later, the man recognized as one of the fiercest punchers in the sport came out of retirement for an exhibition fight against Roy Jones Jr.
Mike Tyson remains “the baddest man on the planet”
The two faced off in an entertaining draw and now “Iron Mike” is looking for his next challenge.
Tyson’s cult has remained ever since the short, muscular teenager climbed the ropes in March 1985 at the age of 18.
He wasted little time on his way to heavyweight stardom, winning the title at age 20 and drawing millions of eyes to the sport.
He’s still going strong despite being 55, and as he searches for his next victim, talkSPORT.com rethought how his former opponents described sharing the ring with “The Baddest Man on the Planet ”.
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Tyson was the most formidable fighter on the planet in his youth
Jesse Ferguson – February 16, 1986
Early in his career, Tyson lost his mentor and father figure Cus D’Amato, but continued to fight every month as he sought to fulfill Cus’s prophecies.
In fight number 18, he knocked out Ferguson in six rounds, the first time he had been taken in a fight so far.
Ferguson told Ring Magazine, “Tyson was unstoppable when we fought. He caught me with a great photo. He hit me with an uppercut that made me cry.
“I held on until I heard the bell, but after that my corner couldn’t keep my nose from bleeding.
“It was a great distraction. I had to keep holding on until the ref said enough was enough.
“Tyson was strong and fast, but everything was in his favor since we were in his hometown.
“He’s one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met in the game. I fought with him for 11 of his title fights.
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Ferguson lasted six laps but ended up on his back
Marvis Frazier – July 26, 1986
In one of his most famous early fights, Tyson made a statement by securing the fastest victory of his entire career.
Joe Frazier’s son, Marvis, was the hapless victim, who was knocked unconscious in just 30 seconds.
Frazier simply told Boxing News: “I threw a blow and I can’t remember anything else.”
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Tyson tore up the heavyweight division in the 1980s
Larry Holmes – January 22, 1988
Shortly after Frazier’s victory, Tyson became the WBC heavyweight champion by beating Trevor Berbick, then went on to seek the WBA and IBF titles as well.
Former defending champion Holmes looked at the new champion and figured he might come back from retirement to take over the throne. It ended in four rounds.
Holmes told Ring Magazine: “When I fought Mike Tyson, I was out for two years. I was not in good shape to fight it and they gave me two months to prepare.
“Tyson is a good puncher, he’s low. He was good, he was small, and he had to get up to join you.
“Tyson was good, but there was no one there [in the heavyweight division at the time]. Not Muhammad Ali, not [prime] Larry Holmes, not George Foreman.
“I should have had a tune-up. No apologies, Mike Tyson gave me a boost.
Holmes is a legendary champion in his own right
Michael Spinks – 27 juin 1988
Despite collecting all of the sanctioning body belts, Tyson still wasn’t fully considered an undisputed champion until he fought Spinks.
The American was the only man to compete for Mike’s reign, but he lost his Ring Magazine and linear titles in just 91 seconds.
Spinks told Ring Magazine: “I knew I had a tough fight on my hands and I tried to overcome it as best I could and I failed.
“He had good hand speed. It was one of his greatest assets. He had power and hand speed and it was hard to beat.
“He knew how to get in really fast. It was also one of his strengths. He was sliding on you very quickly and getting into the blows.
“He was very strong. I don’t know what made him so strong. Mike Tyson was without a doubt the biggest puncher I have ever fought.
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Spinks was bullied and beaten before the first bell
Peter McNeeley – August 19, 1995
Tyson was dethroned by Buster Douglas in one of the biggest upheavals in boxing history in 1990 and then saw his life spiral out of control when he was convicted of rape and sentenced to six years in prison in 1992 .
When he was released in 1995 after serving less than three years, he beat McNeeley in one round of his comeback fight.
McNeeley told Ring Magazine, “I did what I said I was going to do and I went right on him.
“He had a lot of experience so when I did what I did I was out of balance with the first knockdown and he caught me with a really good straight right.
“Then I went straight for him again and in the end he grabbed me with his best punch, the upercut, and I fell.
“He was all fast, he had blindingly fast speed, it surprised me how fast.
“I don’t care which fighter you are – any fighter over 200 pounds can hit – but with him the power and that speed?” Deadly combination. “
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McNeeley was quickly on the bridge twice
Evander Holyfield – November 9, 1996 and June 28, 1997
Tyson picked up two heavyweight belts and then entered his most iconic rivalry against Holyfield.
In the first fight, Tyson was stopped in round 11, and in the second fight, he was disqualified for biting his opponent’s ear in the third round.
Holyfield told Ring Magazine, “He was a good fighter, a very talented fighter and he had skills that other people didn’t.
“I was a good boxer and he was a good puncher, and he was very technical with a lot of stuff.
“I hit him with a few good punches at the end. He never fell and I hit him with a lot of blows that knocked down a lot of people.
“He showed he had the heart. I hurt him a lot and the referee stopped the fight.
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Holyfield took down Tyson in the first fight
Julius Francis – January 29, 2000
After the disgrace of Holyfield’s revenge, Tyson traveled overseas for part of his rebuilding work.
Two UK fights followed – the first being a second-round stoppage by Francis in Manchester.
“I only remember the first knockdown,” he told talkSPORT.com.
“I was like, ‘Who the hell do you think you’re hitting me? So I went toe with him.
“If I had boxed and run around the ring, I don’t think I would have had any respect from him. I have no regrets.
“I lived a relatively good life and was able to say that I became a professional boxer and fought one of the baddest guys who ever boxed.
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Francis was not up to Tyson
Lou Savarese – June 24, 2000
After Francis, Tyson continued his comeback with a 38 second save by Savarese in Glasgow.
Savarese told Ring Magazine, “When you fight Tyson, all the hype behind it, the mystique about him…
“I fought [George] Foreman, I fought [Evander] Holyfield, but when you fight Tyson it’s so different with the scale and attention he gets.
“I always thought I could win in my head – that doesn’t mean I can… Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
“What’s amazing about him is that there are guys who are strong and there are guys who are fast. He is strong and fast.
“It’s so disappointing how fast he is. This is what makes it so different. You don’t realize how fast he is until you’re with him.
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Savarese was quickly arrested in the first minute
Lennox Lewis – 8 juin 2002
Tyson would have one last chance for the world heavyweight title against Lewis, who had beaten Holyfield to become the undisputed champion.
It ended with “Iron Mike” knocked out in the eighth round.
Lewis told Boxing News: “Everyone’s arguing that I didn’t beat a young Mike Tyson.
“This argument is false because he was not fighting a young Lennox Lewis either. Tyson’s fighting style hadn’t changed, I felt his power at the start of the fight.
“At first I wanted to control the ring, but so did he and I realized I was fighting his fight.
“He threw some nice punches that cut me off and my trainer Emanuel Steward said, ‘Why are you fighting like that? You give it a chance.
“Even though I was in control, I was always careful. I couldn’t assume the fight was won before that.
“The only time I saw the fight come out of him was when he tried to get up and the referee waved.
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Lewis had too much for Tyson in 2002
Danny Williams – July 30, 2004
The final years of Tyson’s career were sad when the man, now in his 30s, deteriorated and suffered two more knockout losses.
He was first stopped in four by Williams in 2004, before later ending his career against Kevin McBride.
Williams told Ring Magazine, “I totally believed in myself 100% with no fear at all.
“The first thing that shocked me was his punching power. He was so fast too, it was scary.
“When he first hit me it was a weird feeling. It was by far the hardest I have ever received. I expected it, but it was still a shock.
“I kept my confidence and I was just like, ‘Ride the storm and come back later.
Rex Specifications
Williams knocked out Tyson, 38, with a fourth round knockout
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