Deontay Wilder has claimed he would beat Mike Tyson – even when the boxing legend was at his peak.
Many believe Iron Mike, now 54, to be among the greatest heavyweight fighters to ever lace up the gloves.
But the Bronze Bomber has previously claimed that he would “kick the hell” out of The Baddest Man on the Planet.
He told TMZ back in 2018: “Me vs Tyson in ’86, I’d kick the hell outta that guy.
“Listen, I’ve got to keep it real. I know people always go back to the old school or look at the new school and there’s no school where I’m not No1 on Earth.”
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The then-WBC heavyweight champ’s fight with Tyson Fury finished in a controversial draw in December of that year.
And in the week prior to this year’s rematch between the pair, Wilder doubled down on his assertions that he’d beat Iron Mike at his best.
Nobody has a natural killer instinct as I do, ain’t anybody could ever knock me out. Deontay Wilder In February.
He explained to EsNews: “My hand speed, I’m too long, I’m too tall, my athleticism, my feetwork, all that gives me an advantage, it plays a big part.
“No disrespect to Mike Tyson, in his era he was the best but this is a new era.
“No old-school fighter should beat a new-school fighter. Look at the technology we have.
“Nobody has a natural killer instinct as I do, ain’t anybody could ever knock me out. I’m very confident in what I say and I speak what I do.”
Wilder, 34, was soon left with egg on his face, however, as knocked out is exactly what he found himself as he lay sprawled on the canvas in the seventh round.
Undeterred by this humbling defeat, the Bronze Bomber has exercised his option for a trilogy bout with Fury.
