Teddy Atlas has discussed how Mike Tyson would have fared in a number of fantasy fights.
‘Iron Mike’ is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, having been the division’s youngest world champion at the age of just 20, and also holding undisputed honours in the weight class from 1987 to 1990.
It has led to debates over how Tyson would have performed against some of the other greats from different eras, with boxing fans regularly wondering how he’d have done against the likes of Muhammad Ali, George Foreman and Joe Frazier.
Respected analyst and former Tyson coach Atlas has thrown Sonny Liston into the mix, the former world heavyweight champion who twice knocked out Floyd Patterson inside the very first round.
Liston also had two infamous fights against Ali, losing them both, before he sadly died at the age of just 40 in 1970, with his final record standing at 50 wins and 4 defeats, 39 of those wins by knockout.
Atlas was certain of who would have won between ‘Iron Mike’ and Liston whilst speaking on The Fight Podcast, insisting that it would have been a dominant victory for Liston.
“Tyson would be at the end of that jab like a coyote on a locomotive. flat, pulverised. That jab would have hit him and sent a message, a physical and a mental message, you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time, get the hell out.
“Liston was the naturally bigger guy and a tremendous body puncher. He’d have gone to the body with that power. Everything he threw was hard. That body attack from Liston would have taken away and eliminated the head movement and elusive ability from Tyson.
“Tyson might have needed a diaper to get in the ring with Liston. He would have intimidated Tyson. It would have been his worse nightmare. Tyson gets knocked out in the fight.”
Despite picking Liston to win, Atlas remains a fan of ‘Iron’ Mike. That hasn’t stopped him recently naming the young fighter who he believes has what it takes to break his record and become the youngest world heavyweight champion in history.
