Mike Tyson and Deontay Wilder shared the ring in a heavyweight knockdown-fest courtesy of a viral edit on social media.
The knockout punchers were placed inside the ropes opposite each other in what would be a dream match-up for many boxing fans. Trading a canvas visit each, Tyson eventually beat Wilder in the minute-long video.
Tyson and Wilder have been rivals for many years due to the latter’s uncertainty about ‘Iron’ Mike’s legacy. The rant led to calls for Tyson to come back and fight the then-WBC ruler.
Wilder said during a clip on a live social media stream, “Folks, half of you don’t know your history. When it comes to the sport of boxing, let’s face it. You do not know your history.
“You do not know your facts. All you know is what you hear. Go back and do your facts. Go back and do your history. We love Mike Tyson, of course. We love them all. Do you know what I’m saying? I love them all. We love them all. They did a great job. But go back and look up your facts.
“If you go back. I want somebody to answer this question: How many Hall of Fame fighters did Mike Tyson actually fight?”
Mike Tyson vs Deontay Wilder
During his reign as heavyweight champion, Wilder pointed out that
This some top tier editing ๐คฃ pic.twitter.com/3xlzx4OXfs
โ juleslovesboxing๐ฅ (@itsjules007) August 25, 2024
Tyson fans were livid despite an element of truth in Wilder‘s words. The consensus is that the former undisputed champion’s legacy stems from his run in the 1980s to becoming the youngest-ever heavyweight champion and following that up by unifying the titles before a 1990 loss to Buster Douglas.
Wilder’s mention of Tyson’s later career weaknesses didn’t go down well with the New Yorker’s fanbase, many of whom will be happy after viewing the video.
Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, experienced boxing writer, and World Boxing News Editor since 2010. Follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN.