Mike Tyson ‘worshipped’ Muhammad Ali but says another fighter will always be his favourite

Heavyweight star Mike Tyson is the favourite boxer of many fans and fighters, but when quizzed on his own personal icon, ‘Iron Mike’ only had one answer.

Tyson’s rise to the top during the 1980’s will forever be remembered as one of the most astonishing periods in the history of the division, as Tyson destroyed and dismantled all comers on route to the undisputed throne.

As a result, the Brooklyn-born bruiser is often referred to as one of the most exciting champions of all time and even if he will not go down as the greatest heavyweight, he undeniably sits amongst the most feared.

Speaking in an interview on YouTube, Tyson praised Muhammad Ali as the man he worshipped but said his favourite fighter was one of a similar mentality and attitude to his own – Roberto Duran.

“Duran is my favourite fighter. He was a street fighter like me, he was crude and mean.

I respected Ali and I worshipped Ali but he was very tall and very handsome , I was very short and not so handsome and I wasn’t good looking and he was very articulate and I spoke with a lisp. I related to Duran, I didn’t have to change, I didn’t have to learn how to talk polite, I didn’t have to be nice and if he can be accepted and worshiped that way then I thought I would be able to also”

Tyson would meet Duran before his showdown with Michael Spinks and advised him to attack the body of ‘The Jinx’. Tyson obliged and, of course, drew the stoppage with a body blow, needing only one round to dispatch of Spinks.