A fantasy heavyweight matchup between Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson, both in their prime, would have been a feast for the fight fans. As both men have always had mutual respect and came from two different eras, Tyson never considered himself superior to Ali. Even today, Mike Tyson continues to spark light on how he always idolized Muhammad Ali.

‘The Greatest’ Ali breathed his last in 2016. He had almost stopped attending the media in his final years and remained out of all the glory and glitter. Nevertheless, Mike Tyson met his hero in 2013 when Ali could barely stand on his own. The legend was suffering from Parkinson’s disease, and although boxing could have been its prime cause, Ali still loved the sport all his life.

The legendary Ali shuffle, which Muhammad Ali brought to the mainstream audience, has been sampled by many people. That said, Mike Tyson displayed it to Ali back in 2013 in what became an emotional moment for the fight fans. While flexing the ‘Ali shuffle’, Tyson said, “Watch me, Ali, watch me champ. Watch my feet champ.”

In response, Muhammad Ali smirked and threw his fist, which Mike Tyson clearly was delighted to see.

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Mike Tyson has even cried while talking about Muhammad Ali on several occasions. Such was Ali’s impact on him and several other people around. While Tyson has called himself the best ever throughout his life, he always bowed down before Muhammad Ali.

Mike Tyson has always followed Muhammad Ali’s footsteps

Tyson saw his hero, Muhammad Ali, lose in 1980 against Larry Holmes via RTD and became terribly sad. It was a turning point for his career as ‘Iron’ took over the boxing world in 1985. He climbed the ladder pretty fast and earned a shot at Holmes in 1988. In that bout, Mike Tyson avenged his hero’s defeat in front of a stacked Convention Center in the USA.

Muhammad Ali, who was present at ringside, saw Tyson brutally poleaxe his former nemesis.

Tyson looked the better man from the start and dominated his opponent with constant jabs. Holmes felt the heat by the end of the third round as Tyson planted a vicious shot on him.

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However, it was in the fourth, when Tyson knocked down Larry Holmes multiple times to earn the TKO victory. It was a historic night of action and a true display of emotions which Ali and Tyson shared.