Mike Tyson reveals his pick for the greatest boxer ever: ‘He’s the best that ever lived’

There’s no question that Mike Tyson changed the game. His raw power, relentless style, and sheer presence in the ring made him one of the most electrifying fighters the sport has ever seen. Outside the ropes, his controversial persona only fueled the myth. But despite all he accomplished, Tyson has never claimed to be the greatest of all time.

Even as boxing has evolved and new icons have emerged—from Floyd Mayweather to Julio César Chávez Jr., Sergio “Maravilla” Martínez, Canelo Álvarez, and Oleksandr Usyk—the man from Brooklyn still believes there’s only one name that truly stands above the rest: the late Cassius Marcellus Clay, better known as Muhammad Ali.

In a recent interview with Complex, the former unified heavyweight champ didn’t hesitate when asked about the legacy of the man who was born in Louisville and passed away on June 3, 2016, in Scottsdale. “I love Roberto Duran and Muhammad Ali. Ali is the greatest fighter that ever lived, I have to go with him, yeah.” Tyson declared.

Tyson stands by Ali in fantasy matchup

This isn’t the first time he’s shown reverence for the man who became the first boxer to win the world heavyweight title on four separate occasions. During a virtual all-time tournament featuring boxing’s elite, where Juan Manuel Márquez, nicknamed “Dinamita”, defeated Ali in a fantasy matchup, Tyson emphasized: “I know it’s a fantasy game. The fantasy probably wins—not the real fight. Ali is the greatest that ever lived.”

Tyson’s final tally in the ring

Tyson retired after his last professional bout on June 11, 2005—a loss to Kevin McBride. Over the course of his career, “Iron Mike” stepped into the ring 57 times, securing 50 victories and suffering just 7 defeats.