Mike Tyson might be a legend in his own right, but ‘Iron’ Mike recently took a break from being idolized to show some love to his own idols, especially the Irish warriors who inspired him to throw punches with purpose. However, the current most popular Irish fighter, Conor McGregor, seems to have been left out of Tyson’s list. 

History has seen some of the fiercest and most talented fighters come out of ‘The Isle of Destiny,’ including the likes of Barry McGuigan, Steve Collins, Katie Taylor, Carl Frampton, and many more. But that begs the question—who did Iron Mike, the youngest heavyweight champion ever, admire when he was coming up?

Tyson answered that very question on Friday night, stepping into the commentator’s seat ahead of the Ryan Garcia vs. Rolly Romero showdown. Speaking to iFL TV, the former undisputed heavyweight champion said, “You know how many great Irish fighters [there are]. Johnny Kilbane is [one of my favorites].”

However, that’s not all! “Let’s see, I like Mike McTigue, Jack Dempsey [is] my favorite Irish fighter,” Tyson told the reporter. Let’s dissect it! Johnny Kilbane was an Irish-American boxer, widely regarded as one of the greatest featherweight champions in boxing history. His parents, Patrick Kilbane and Mary (Gallagher) Kilbane, immigrated to the United States from Achill Island in County Mayo, Ireland.

Meanwhile, unlike Kilbane, Mike McTigue was born in Lickaun, Kilnamona, County Clare, Ireland. He ruled the light heavyweight division as a champion between 1923 and 1925. But what made him extra special was his journey from a rural Irish village to a world title in war-torn Dublin. Finally, Jack Dempsey, perhaps the most popular name on Tyson’s list. 

Born in Manassa, Colorado, Jack Dempsey had partial Irish roots through his father’s ancestry and rose to become one of the most iconic figures in boxing history. As heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926, he redefined the sport with his ferocious, crowd-pleasing style, drawing record-breaking audiences during the Roaring Twenties.

While Tyson named his favorite Irish boxers, he also made headlines recently for his comments on a trending debate circulating on social media.

Mike Tyson reveals how 100 men can defeat one gorilla

In an interview with Ring Magazine, Mike Tyson shared his bold take on the viral debate of whether 100 men could defeat a gorilla in a fight. Tyson, known for his fearlessness, confidently declared, “The gorilla’s in a lot of trouble” if the hundred men were all him in his prime. “He’s in so much f**king trouble.” 

He even demonstrated how he would put the primate in a “full nelson,” adding a touch of humor to his response. Tyson, whose legendary strength in his prime is well known, has also tried to test his theory before. In the late 1980s, while married to actress Robin Givens, he offered a zookeeper $10,000 to let him fight a silverback gorilla. 

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Tyson recounted, “When we got to the gorilla cage, there was one big silverback gorilla there just bullying all the other gorillas. They were so powerful, but their eyes were like an innocent infant.” However, the zookeeper declined his offer.

That said, while Conor McGregor has undoubtedly brought more attention to Ireland than anyone in recent times, Mike Tyson still considers Kilbane, McTigue, and Dempsey the greatest Irish fighters in the history of combat sports. Do you agree?