Muhammad Ali solely ruled the old boxing era, and the sport was in search of another star after him. That said, Mike Tyson came into the limelight and, within no time, he became a superstar. Tyson always idolized Ali, showing his respect for the legend on many occasions. Also, Tyson always remained connected to his idol.

Many feel ‘Iron’ Mike wanted to be like Muhammad Ali when he grew up. However, that wasn’t the case, as Tyson himself came up with a candid notion about this matter.

Speaking in an interview, he said, ”No, it’s interesting you say, I didn’t wanna be like Muhammad Ali because where I came from, Muhammad Ali didn’t come from the world I came from. I came from filth, scum, and sewage, So I wanted to be mean like Sonny Liston and Jack Dempsey.”

“I wanted to be ferocious; I wanted to kill you with my scare. I wasn’t like Muhammad Ali. I love and respect Muhammad Ali, but Muhammad Ali is not like me. He don’t come from the world I come from.”

Tyson was a fan of Ali’s since his childhood. Also, he once avenged Ali’s loss against Larry Holmes, giving him a perfect tribute.

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Both Tyson and Ali came from different adversities. But the respect two men had towards each other was immaculate. In the above interview, Tyson clearly asserted about not wanting to be like Ali, but that doesn’t take away the regard he has for the all-time great.

Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali – Greatest retro boxing stalwarts

Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson transformed the sport of boxing, getting more and more eyeballs towards the sport.

The duo turned the heavyweight roster intriguing, and they rightly set a bar of high-voltage fights.

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‘Sweet Science’ needed stars like Tyson and Ali to promote the sport in the entire globe. The duo did that to a fair extent, putting themselves on the list of all-time legends.

What do you make of Tyson’s comments about Muhammad Ali? What is your favorite moment of Tyson and Ali’s extensive careers?