Mike Tyson Asks Kamaru Usman to Put His Friendship Aside and Fight Israel Adesanya

Published 05/25/2021, 11:00 AM EDT

Kamaru Usman and Israel Adesanya are two of the best active MMA fighters in the world. The two Nigerian-born fighters have made their homeland proud by becoming UFC champions. And legendary boxer Mike Tyson has a suggestion for the two champions.

‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ is the undisputed welterweight champion and is fresh off a stunning victory over Jorge Masvidal. Israel Adesanya, on the other hand, holds the undisputed middleweight title and is training for a rematch against Marvin Vettori.

The 50-6 boxer spoke to Usman’s manager Ali Abdelaziz on an episode of ‘Hotboxin with Mike Tyson.’ And when speaking about Usman and his potential move to middleweight, Tyson claimed the two champions should face each other.

Article continues below this ad

‘Iron Mike’ then said, “If he’s my friend, and he really cares about me and cares about you, he should fight and get some money. How else are you going to make some money if you don’t fight?” Thus, this comment showed that Tyson believes the bout would be beneficial to them both.

Why is Hotboxin’ With Mike Tyson Podcast Receiving Extreme Criticism?

Why is Mike Tyson asking them to fight?

The comments come because of Usman saying he would only move up if Adesanya vacated the title. He confirmed that as long as Adesanya was the champion, he would not fight his friend. So why is ‘Iron Mike’ trying to get them to fight?

During his prime, Tyson fought the best in the division. He never shied away from any opponent and cemented his legacy in the sport. As a result, he will go down as one of the best fighters in history.

Article continues below this ad

Although both Israel Adesanya and Kamaru Usman will certainly go down in the history books for being fantastic fighters, a super-fight like that would assure them icon status in the sport. Furthermore, as Tyson pointed out, they would earn a fortune for a fight like that.

In addition, Usman has already fought a close friend when he beat Gilbert Burns. Therefore, it would not be as surprising if it happened. However, given the number of challengers in both their divisions, it is unlikely that they will face each other.

Article continues below this ad

What do you make of these comments from Mike Tyson? Do you agree that Kamaru Usman should face Israel Adesanya?

3 Best and Worst Fights From Mike Tyson’s Phenomenal Record

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Leonardo Carvalho is a Boxing Writer for EssentiallySports. Before working as a boxing web journalist, Leonardo dabbled in roles ranging from an SEO specialist to a Chegg expert. Alongside his current role, Leonardo runs a YouTube channel where he combines his passion for fitness with sports.

Mike Tyson Asks Kamaru Usman to Put His Friendship Aside and Fight Israel Adesanya

Why is Mike Tyson asking them to fight?

Trending

Ryan Garcia’s Payout for Devin Haney Fight to Exceed ‘$50 Million’ After $2 Million Bet Pays Off Big

Ryan Garcia Blasts Boxing Fan for Spreading Devin Haney PPV Buys Rumors

Ignoring Mother’s Warning After $50 Million Payout Could Cost Ryan Garcia Big Time

Can You Bet on Yourself in Boxing? Ryan Garcia’s $50 Million Payout Sparks Debate Among Fans

Watch: Ryan Garcia Buys $1.5 Million Ring for Alleged Girlfriend After $50 Million Payday