Floyd Mayweather and Sugar Ray Robinson are often compared as two of boxing’s all-time greats, but Mike Tyson has a clear view on who comes out on top
‘Iron’ Mike began his professional career as an 18-year-old back in 1985, establishing himself as a serious contender quickly, racking up nineteen consecutive stoppage victories.
He wrote his name into the boxing history books 18 months after he made his debut when he knocked out Trevor Berbick to capture the WBC title and become the youngest world heavyweight champion ever, a record that remains unbroken to this very day.
Tyson is in good company as an American record breaker, alongside the likes of Robinson – the first boxer to win the Ring Magazine’s Fighter of the Year twice – and Mayweather, who has the most prolific undefeated record. A fantasy fight between the two lighter man has been hotly debated for many years.
In a resurfaced clip, Tyson praised Mayweather but backed Robinson as the better man.
“Floyd’s a great fighter don’t get me wrong but listen Sugar Ray Robinson had 47 fights, he lost one then he had a 78 fight winning streak. Don’t tell me about he’s [Mayweather] the greatest fighter with 50 and 0, you’re great no doubt about it but no.”
Robinson is widely considered to be one of, if not the greatest fighter to have ever laced up the gloves. Throughout the course of his 25-year tenure, he became six-time world champion, winning the world middleweight championship on five occasions during a 9-year period.
He held the world welterweight championship prior to this, a reign that spanned for five years between 1946 and 1951 before he made the move up to 160lbs.