Heavyweight legend Mike Tyson has sent a message of praise to an unbeaten world champion just days after his most recent performance.

‘Iron Mike’ made a sensational return to the ring against Jake Paul last November, just shy of two decades after he was defeated by Irishman Kevin McBride and sent into retirement.

At the height of his storied professional career, Tyson was the most formidable heavyweight on the planet. He became the youngest heavyweight champion of all time back in 1986 when he blasted out Trevor Berbick in the 2nd round of their showdown.

Tyson added the WBA and IBF heavyweight titles to his collection in the year that followed his historic victory over Berbick, achieving undisputed status just one month after his 21st birthday. As a legend of the sport, he now keeps a close eye on the sport from the sidelines and was recently impressed by an entirely different style of fighting.

Speaking on social media, Tyson gave plaudits to reigning WBC world lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson, where he claims the 27-year-old put on a ‘beautiful’ performance in his last outing against Mexico’s William Zepeda.

“In my opinion, Shakur Stevenson looked the best he ever looked in his last fight. Those masterful combinations and head movements. He’s still young and doing that and he looked superb. And everybody wants him to show people he can take a punch, but the art is hit and not get hit. That’s boxing and that was the best fighter he ever fought.

“The fight was tough and he beat him with no problem. In the middle of the ring, he was beautiful. I just don’t like when he gets on the ropes for too long.”

Stevenson put on an impressive display to defeat Zepeda via unanimous decision at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York City on Saturday night, making the third consecutive defence of his WBC crown at 135lbs in the process and proving doubter who accused him of not being main-event worth wrong.