IMAGO / Motorsport Images

Max Verstappen publicly stated that he could not think of continuing at Red Bull without Helmut Marko, signifying the close bond they share. Now, Formula Passion published a report, where the close bond between Verstappen and Marko is being compared to Michael Schumacher and Jean Todt’s friendship.

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Schumacher joined Ferrari in 1996, two years after Todt became their manager. From the very get-go, this partnership was destined to be successful. Together, they kickstarted one of F1 history’s most dominant spells. Schumacher won the world championships in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. He became a legend in F1, one of the greatest drivers of all time, and was on top of the motorsport world, as was Todt.

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Fast forward to 2024 and Todt and Schumacher remain close friends. Even though Schumacher hasn’t made a public appearance since his skiing accident in 2013, Todt is one of the few people allowed to visit the seven-time world champion’s home.

Formula Passion reports that the bond between Marko and Verstappen is “like Michael Schumacher and Jean Todt”. Earlier this season, Marko was put under investigation by Red Bull. When rumors of him getting the sack emerged, Verstappen (as reported by Sky Sports) insisted that “there would be a problem” if the Austrian left.

Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen’s bond

When Verstappen was just 16 years old, he got his first F1 shot. He joined Toro Rosso, Red Bull’s sister team. And it was none other than Marko, who got him into the sport. Just a year later, he managed to sign for Red Bull, and since winning his debut race in Spain in 2016, he changed the landscape of F1 forever.

Throughout the years, Verstappen has gotten closer and closer with Marko. The latter, known for his eye for talent, has mentored and nurtured the Dutchman, who today, is a three-time world champion. In fact, Verstappen wants Marko, wherever he goes.

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When reports of Marko’s suspension were ramping up, both were linked to Mercedes. Team principal Toto Wolff also offered both entities a place at the Silver Arrows.

Fortunately for Red Bull, Verstappen and Marko will continue with them for now. However, if internal issues keep plaguing team morale, we could see a shock transfer soon.

Travis Kelce has revealed what he really thinks of Sydney after his whirlwind two-day trip Down Under with his girlfriend Taylor Swift.

The NFL tight-end, 34, jetted to Australia last month for a very brief 48-hour getaway to watch pop star Taylor perform at Sydney’s Accor Stadium amid her Eras tour.

He proved himself to be every inch the doting boyfriend as they went on a date to Sydney Zoo and were seen strolling hand-in-hand as they made the most of the trip.

And Travis has now revealed exactly what he thought of Sydney as he reviewed the city while speaking to his brother Jason on their New Heights podcast.

He compared his trip to his recent visit to Singapore, where he watched another of Taylor’s Eras tour shows, and admitted he wants to go back to Australia to see more of the country.

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Travis Kelce has revealed what he really thinks of Sydney after his whirlwind two-day trip Down Under with his girlfriend Taylor Swift

When asked by Jason, 36, whether he preferred Singapore or Australia, he replied: ‘Man that’s a tough sell, I loved them both.

‘I want to see more of Australia, I feel like I got to see a little bit more of Singapore. So I’m going to say Singapore was a little bit more interesting for sure.’

He went on to reveal that he had a ‘unique’ and ‘cooler’ experience in Singapore, but was quick to add: ‘But I was only in Australia for a couple of hours.’

His brother Jason then compared Sydney to Florida’s Gulf Coast city Tampa, which is known for its beaches and Riverwalk.

Tampa has a population of almost 400,000, compared to Sydney which boasts more than five million residents, while it is known for its lively arts scene and waterfront activities.

Comparing Sydney to the American city, Jason said: ‘I feel like Sydney is just like Tampa, I don’t think it’s that much different.’

To which Travis replied: ‘Which is probably why I want to see more of it, I’m intrigued, I’m there. The Aussies know how to have a good time man.’

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The NFL star, 34, jetted to Australia last month for a very brief 48-hour getaway to watch pop star Taylor (both pictured in January) perform at Sydney’s Accor Stadium amid her Eras tour

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Travis also made a rare comment about his girlfriend Taylor, 34, as he gushed about watching her Eras tour shows in Sydney and Singapore

Travis also made a rare comment about his girlfriend Taylor, 34, as he gushed about watching her Eras tour shows in Sydney and Singapore.

He said: ‘I got to see two amazing shows of the Eras tour, the last leg that Taylor has until she’s back at it in a couple of months.’

Taylor will have a much-needed break from touring until May and it was recently revealed how she and Travis are planning to make the most of the free time together.

The smitten couple will finally get the chance to ‘play house’ and experience being a ‘normal couple’ after a hectic few months due to Travis’ NFL season and Super Bowl victory and Taylor’s Eras tour.

‘This is the first time the two of them have had no commitments and they are both really looking forward to being a normal couple and playing house,’ a source exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com.

Taylor is known for spending her downtime baking and hosting her friends – and the singer is said to be looking forward to doing the same with her partner.

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Taylor will have a much-needed break from touring until May and it was recently revealed how she and Travis are planning to make the most of the free time together as a ‘normal couple’

Travis Kelce jams to girlfriend Taylor’s hit song while she performs

‘She is looking forward to sleeping in and cooking dinners at home,’ the source continued.

‘They both want their relationship to be as normal as possible and it works because they are both very aware of their fame but neither let it go to their heads.’

The duo will still have to travel back and forth between their home bases in Kansas City, Missouri and New York City as Taylor prepares for the release of her next studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, on April 19.

Credits: Imago

Following Red Bull’s dismissal grievances against Christian Horner, everyone thought the saga would be over. However, a new angle emerged when the team reportedly decided to suspend the female employee who appealed against Horner. Despite following the correct procedure and reporting the matter internally instead of going to an outside authority, the employee faced dire consequences. Stemming from the same, Independent.co.uk reports that the female employee is now appealing the decision.

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As informed by a friend, the suspended employee is “disappointed with how it’s all gone.” Having done everything by the book, the treatment from her ex-employer has left her disappointed. She faced suspension from a job she loved and in a sport where she was supposedly highly regarded. Furthermore, the lack of support from within the team also played a part in weakening her morale.

“The lack of support is noted and she’s just so disappointed with the treatment from her employer.”

Following the unsatisfactory resolution, the suspended employee will now reportedly be appealing the decision. She has also changed her legal representation and hopes for a better outcome this time around. Red Bull is yet to comment on the appeal as the situation continues to evolve. The last two months have been a rollercoaster ride for the Austrian team, and it seems like the ride is far from over.

It all began when the female employee reportedly accused Christian Horner of inappropriate behavior. A three-week internal investigation followed, where rumors emerged of a potential sacking of Horner should the allegations be true. However, the British engineer was cleared of any wrongdoing. Two days after the verdict, alleged WhatsApp leaks between Horner and the employee leaked on social media. The screengrabs carried text messages of sexual nature, but the credibility of the texts was questionable. Since then, there has been little to no comment from Red Bull on the leaks.

Geri Halliwell has her friends’ support amid the Christian Horner situation

Christian Horner’s wife Geri Halliwell has become an unfortunate victim of the entire situation. The former Spice Girl is even reportedly questioning her marriage to the Red Bull team principal. Amid the saga, Halliwell has received support from her former group. Speaking on behalf of all the members, Mel B (quoted by GB News) took center stage, and they were all supporting her. On a more personal touch, Mel B added she felt “really sad for Geri [Halliwell].”

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Halliwell has mostly stayed away from the public ever since the controversy began. She did make an appearance in both races so far, standing in solidarity with her husband. The couple even kissed each other in front of the cameras as a gesture of support. Halliwell attended the Commonwealth Day Service, where she stepped in front of the public without her husband for the first time.

There have also been various reports suggesting major shareholders at Red Bull are in favor of dismissing Horner. Max Verstappen’s father also wants to see the 50-year-old gone from the team. Despite this, Horner remains confident that he has full support from the management. The contrasting reports and opinions only add to the uncertainty around the situation.

Credits: IMAGO Eibner, IMAGO / NurPhoto

Over the past few days, surprising reports have emerged claiming that there is a possibility that both Helmut Marko and Max Verstappen could move to Mercedes in the near future. Amid such rumors, even Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff explained how he would like to have both Marko and Verstappen on his side. However, the 80-year-old has now crushed his compatriot’s hopes of signing both him and the Dutchman together at Mercedes.

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When quizzed about the ongoing speculations surrounding his future, Marko replied (as quoted by Soymotor.com), “At the moment, we are not going to go to Mercedes together“. The rumors of there being a possibility that Mercedes could sign Marko arose after the Austrian himself claimed that Red Bull could suspend him for his alleged involvement in the ongoing Christian Horner saga.

As a result of Marko’s claims, he also got the hopes of Toto Wolff high to sign him. The 52-year-old further got a boost when even Max Verstappen pledged his loyalty towards Marko. The Dutchman explained how it would be difficult for him to stay at Red Bull if Marko were to leave.

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While speculations have been rampant about Verstappen’s future, Christian Horner has revealed that he would allow the 26-year-old to leave (if he wanted to) despite the three-time champion having a contract until the end of the 2028 season. The turmoil surrounding Red Bull at the moment could indeed have a huge role in influencing Verstappen’s decision.

What is the latest update on the ongoing Christian Horner saga?

A few weeks ago, an independent barrister hired by Red Bull GmbH dismissed the grievance against Christian Horner after a female employee had made allegations of “inappropriate behavior” towards her. Soon after the barrister made the decision, reports emerged that both Horner and Red Bull together had paid the employee a $1.1 million severance fee to close the case permanently.

All the while the investigation against Horner continued, several reports emerged about how some of the other top officials of Red Bull Racing could leave because of the ongoing turmoil at the team. One such name was Adrian Newey.

However, much to the delight of Red Bull’s fans, the 65-year-old has reiterated his commitment to the team’s future goals. Losing Newey would have indeed been a huge loss to the Milton Keynes-based outfit, who have won a total of six Constructors’ Championships thanks to all the cars he has helped design.

Credits: IMAGO NurPhoto, IMAGO HochZwei

Oscar Piastri may already be a multi-time podium finisher in F1 but he is still very young and belongs to the new generation of drivers. The 22-year-old has now explained how being born in this generation resulted in him following different steps as compared to the veterans of the sport to eventually get to F1. Piastri explained the same by comparing his situation to the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.

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In a recent interview with Esquire Australia, Piastri said, “When Fernando and Lewis started racing, simulators weren’t a thing much at all. So that aspect of things is very different. And the sport’s advanced a long way. Even just for me, the guys a few years younger than me, they’re playing iRacing in home simulators from the [same] age they’re racing go-karts”.

Piastri then shed some light on the benefits aspiring motorsports drivers can learn from simulator racing. The current McLaren driver revealed that since aspiring racers do not “really think about the fear side of things much,” sim racing helps them learn how to “just jump in the car and drive quickly”.

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Oscar Piastri believes that the likes of Hamilton and Alonso did not have this luxury. However, the Australian believes that compared to the 2007 McLaren duo, the amount of actual on-track testing time today’s drivers have is “basically zero”.

This is a fact as even Alonso has mentioned how relative to his early racing days, testing has reduced quite a lot. Regardless, similarly to Piastri, Max Verstappen also believes that sim racing helps him improve as an F1 driver.

Verstappen explained how sim racing helps him improve as an F1 driver

On several occasions previously, Max Verstappen has explained how sim racing has helped him perform better in F1. Other than just getting his mind off F1, sim racing also helps the Dutchman understand different tracks better and improve his reaction timing, among other things.

Verstappen believes that sim racing is more realistic than what most people believe as barring the real-life dangers of F1, virtual racing incorporates most of the other elements. The 26-year-old is so dedicated to sim racing that he was up all night just hours before the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix took place.

However, it is pertinent to note that Verstappen is not the only F1 driver who enjoys sim racing. Even the likes of Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, George Russell, and Alex Albon are avid sim racers. They all often stream their sim races via platforms such as Twitch.

Credits: IMAGO NurPhoto – Lewis Hamilton

It is no surprise that Ferrari President John Elkann played a pivotal role in bringing Lewis Hamilton on board Ferrari. Elkann got himself personally involved in the negotiations to ensure he brought Hamilton to Ferrari after multiple failed attempts. The Italian industrialist was a huge admirer of Hamilton and had always dreamed of bringing the Briton to Ferrari.

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Addressing the media for the first time since signing Hamilton, Elkann spoke about how great a driver Hamilton is. Elkann added that he was certain Hamilton could achieve great things with Ferrari. Ferrari’s short- and mid-term plans pleased Hamilton a lot. Additionally, the promise of keeping in line with Hamilton’s vision of inclusivity and diversity added to the ‘glamor’ behind the move.

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As read in an update on X by user Deni, Elkann also lauded Hamilton’s sportsmanship for the way he greeted debutant Ollie Bearman. Elkann claimed that the hug that Hamilton wanted to give Bearman was a true indicator of his champion spirit. It showed “what a great champion he (Hamilton) is on and off the track.”

Starting in 2025, Hamilton will don the iconic scarlet red of Ferrari, making way for a legendary partnership. Hamilton is the most successful driver in the history of F1. Meanwhile, Ferrari stands as the most successful team in the history of the sport, despite not winning any titles after 2008. With the upcoming partnership, fans hope glory will return to Maranello and the Tifosi will once again be able to celebrate a championship win.

Lewis Hamilton fans accept John Elkann as one of their own

Following Elkann’s comments after the Saudi Arabian GP, Hamilton fans took note of everything he said. They took to X to show their support for Elkann’s words and also admire him for respecting Hamilton’s achievements.

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Some fans were happy to see Hamilton go to a team that valued him a lot.

Of late, fans of the 7-time world champion felt like Hamilton wasn’t getting his due respect. Mercedes often chose to ignore his input on the car, and that stands as a major concern for the fans. With Ferrari showing signs of great respect, it is hardly a surprise that Hamilton fans are growing increasingly in favor of the move.

As Mike Tyson turns 57, regardless of the twists and turns his life journey has taken, he is still regarded as one of the greatest sporting figures in the world. The world boxing legend, known as “Iron Mike,” is a truly fearsome name, with devastating punches.

Many people are willing to pay thousands of dollars to witness Tyson “destroy” – perhaps that’s the only fitting description – his opponents in just 30 seconds. It is an incredible sight to behold.

During his peak, Tyson had everything he wanted and couldn’t be denied anything. He was the king of the world. Tyson believed he had all the power and the world at his feet.

Alongside fame came money and women, but also vices and deceitful friends. In addition to the nickname “Iron Mike,” Tyson was also associated with the moniker “The Baddest Man on the Planet.” Throughout his childhood, Tyson lived in and around neighborhoods with high crime rates. According to a detailed interview, his first fight was with an older kid who had pulled the head off one of Tyson’s pigeons.

Tyson was arrested multiple times for petty crimes and fighting with those who dared to mock his voice and lisp. At the age of 13, Tyson had been arrested 38 times.

In 1992, Tyson was imprisoned after being accused of raping Desiree Washington, a contestant in the Miss Black America pageant. Tyson denied the charges but was sentenced to 10 years, with 6 years in prison and 4 years of probation. However, due to good behavior, he served only 3 years. Tyson was released in 1995.

His time in prison was the best years of his life.

June holds both joyful and sorrowful memories for Tyson. Prior to his birthday on June 27, 1988, Tyson defended his unified heavyweight championship title and won by a brutal first-round knockout against Michael Spinks in Atlantic City, New Jersey. On June 28, 1997, there was the infamous ear-biting incident with Evander Holyfield…

Tyson reached the pinnacle of his career before his imprisonment. For many, those 3 years were undoubtedly challenging for Tyson, but the reality was quite the opposite. It seems he had a surprisingly wonderful time during that period.

Tyson had an interview with “The Pivot Podcast” where he shared many things. In the interview, Tyson appeared calm and composed when discussing sensitive topics like his time in prison. Tyson said, “I had the best three years of my life in prison. I found peace. Money doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have peace, stability, and balance. You need your sobriety to navigate through any part of life.”

“I had good food, and everyone treated me well. They treated me well. I would run around the yard for 8 or 9 miles, and in the evening, I would jump rope for four hours in the cell. Everyone treated me well there; they were afraid of me, but I was always a good person.”

The American legend also had a message for his fans: “I want everyone to know that living is being ready to die. I believe that once you’re ready to die, that’s when you start living. There’s more than just us out there. You have to kill your ego to truly appreciate life. The ego is good, but it’s not life. Use it for soccer, boxing, or whatever, but live a life without it.”

The video below captures the entire moment Mike Tyson defeated his opponent with extremely precise and powerful punches, proving that he is the most dangerous puncher on the planet.

Mike Tyson – The most dangerous young boxer on the planet

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Legends heavyweight tournament starring Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis?

A legends heavyweight tournament featuring former champions Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis is the logical next step as a rematch stalls.

As World Boxing News reported earlier this week, a second fight between the pair initially set for September has failed to materialize.

A long-standing supporter of the now-retired Prizefighter format, WBN sees a three-round tournament between some of the biggest names the top division has ever seen as a winner.

Given the fact that the biggest punchers in the world shouldn’t get advised to trade blows longer than a few rounds in their later years, pitting Tyson, Lewis in with Evander Holyfield, Shannon Briggs, and possibly even Vitali Klitschko is a no-brainer.

Tyson fought eight rounds against Roy Jones Jr. last year. But it was clear both had to conserve energy throughout the contest. This scenario meant large portions of no action in the bout.

If they condensed this into three rounds, it would be a lot more entertaining and certainly more action-packed.

Organizers, potentially Tyson’s Legends Only League, wouldn’t be short of competitors either.

Many heavyweight champions of the past are already preparing for swansong appearances. Jones Jr. and James Toney could join Tyson, Lewis, Holyfield, Briggs, and Klitschko.

The last name could come from a pool featuring many contenders.

HEAVYWEIGHT CONCEPT

It makes complete sense not to allow heavyweights over a certain age to bash each other in the head later in life. The dangers posed are grave.

Going back to the Prizefighter format without doing it all in one night seems the way to go. One night, having the quarter-finals would be a huge event, followed by the semi-finals with another current bout added as the headliner.

Then, the finale could be staged as part of a broader Pay Per View event and possibly another tournament from a lower division.

It all makes sense. It’s just a wonder nobody has begun putting it together yet. Tyson’s “Legends Only League” had the idea. However, they are yet to reveal any details of putting it into practice.

They also stated intentions to have celebrities involved, which is wrong any way you look at it.

Hopefully, somebody puts the concept together soon. It looks to be a sure-fire winner with fans.

Boxing fans have been captivated by a conspiracy theory suggesting that a ‘time traveller’ attended Mike Tyson’s fight against Peter McNeeley in 1995.

The match, which ended in the first round with Tyson’s dominant performance, has been revisited through a video that surfaced on YouTube in 2015. In the footage, an individual in the audience can be seen recording the fight on what appears to be a modern-day smartphone.

The reason behind the speculation is that the device in question features a camera lens located at the top left, resembling the positioning on contemporary phones, whereas cameras from that era typically had the lens in the center. This led some fans to believe that a ‘time traveller’ was present, capturing the action on a futuristic device.

However, further investigation into the matter has offered a plausible explanation. A report from HITC suggests that the device may not have been a smartphone after all, but rather a camera such as the Casio QV-10A or the Logitech Fotoman. Both cameras were released in 1995 and featured corner-mounted lenses. Another theory proposed by a Twitter user is that the device could have been a Fujix Simple HI8 Camcorder, released in 1993.

Despite these explanations, there are still those who remain convinced that the individual with the device was indeed a ‘time traveller’ who traveled back to witness Mike Tyson’s extraordinary skills firsthand. The debate continues among boxing enthusiasts, with the allure of the ‘time traveller’ theory adding an intriguing element to the story surrounding Tyson’s iconic fights.

After McNeeley, Tyson would engage in a brief but earnest series of serious bouts that momentarily positioned him as the prospective champion once again. He faced an undefeated Buster.

Two years ago, the boxing world found itself on the brink of an unexpected event: a real prizefight between Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr., the former “Kid Dynamite” versus the former “Captain Hook.” This unlikely match-up between two aging legends, well into their sixties, eventually took place as an exhibition bout, resulting in a split draw after eight rounds of action. However, what captivated fans even more than the fight itself was their reaction to the prospect of Jones and Tyson returning to the ring.

Twenty-five years later, Mike Tyson once again stepped into the ring, in a match which could also be termed a parody, though not a comeback. In a bid for some pre-fight publicity for “The Lockdown Knockdown,” Mike made an appearance on Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week,” the program billed as, believe it or not, “Tyson vs Jaws: Rumble on the Reef.” All the hype for the Tyson vs Roy exhibition match just proved once again that the Mike Tyson spectacle has never really ended. And it remains highly profitable. Make of it what you will, but Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr. was the biggest boxing pay-per-view event of 2020, grossing over eighty million dollars in revenue.

In June 1988, two undefeated boxers fought – Mike Tyson, the undisputed world heavyweight champion and best boxer regardless of weight class, and Michael Spinks, the light heavyweight, and heavyweight world champion. Since the first fight between Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier, for the first time, these two undefeated world champions, former and current, faced each other in the ring. This fight was called the once and for all. It was the most important event in boxing at the time, with the World Heavyweight Absolute Champion title, the vacant title of The Ring, the title of Line Champion, the WBC name belt, and the title of the strongest boxer in the heavyweight division on the line. Essentially, two undefeated boxers were challenging for the title of the best boxer on the planet. One of them had to lose for the first time in their careers. The fight took place, but no one expected to see this.

What is the current reaction within the boxing world to John Fury’s call-out to Mike Tyson – Shame He Didn’t Get to Fight Tyson Fury

The boxing world is buzzing after a very bold request was made. John Fury, father of the WBC World Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury, has called out the legendary Mike Tyson. But why does Fury want to fight Tyson now? Didn’t both retire from the sport?

With a career in the late 80s and early 90s that lasted eight years, John Fury definitely knows his gloves. When he hung them up, his record stood at 8-4-1. But does it hold against ‘Iron Mike’? While Fury’s son, Tyson Fury, believes it’s a fair match, fans are not convinced.

Why does John Fury want to fight Mike Tyson?

Indeed, John Fury is eager to fight ‘Kid Dynamite’ but the reason is also quite fascinating. It is because fighting ‘Mike’ would be the iconic highlight of his life. John Fury had a surprisingly wholesome reasoning to share.

He said, “I did say to him in the podcast, me and you should do something and fight. You know what he said? ‘Yeah, I would love that’. When he said that to me, that is the highlight of my life. If I can get in the ring, punch-for-punch, whatever he wants to do if I get carried out or die on a stretcher, that is my life completed.”

His son, Tyson Fury, believes John Fury would wreck Mike Tyson in the ring. “My dad would beat him up,” is what Tyson Fury said. But fans have shared their verdict and ‘The Gypsy King’ may not be happy with it.

A fan started the conversation by highlighting the monetary gain for Fury. They wrote, “Translation: I want a big payday.” Then, another fan had a quite humorous input. According to them, ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’ will put him in his place. The comment read, “Ha ha iron Mike will hit him so hard he will think he’s good.”

Next, a fan warned Fury about fighting Mike. The fan wrote, “Don’t do it Tyson is a legend, shame he didn’t get to fight Tyson Fury all the cr*p going around with him at the moment would have been blow away and the real champ prevailed.”

Several fans were convinced Mike Tyson would be difficult for Fury to handle. After all, Tyson had a much longer and explosive career. Out of the 50 fights he won, 44 were through KOs. Several of those KOs were in the initial rounds of the fight, which cemented his legacy as a dangerous boxer. On the other hand, John Fury has been in 13 professional bouts.

Furthermore, another user questioned the integrity of boxing. The comment said, “Is this really where boxing is heading??”

A follower even sent best wishes to John because they felt he would need it. The comment read, “Good luck mate you’ll need it.”

With what John Fury recently said, it is clear he admires Mike Tyson. In fact, speaking about ‘Iron Mike’, Fury once said, “I love the guy, I named my son after him.” This is something Mike Tyson is aware of.