Heavyweight boxing legend Mike Tyson revealed that his favorite knockout win of his career was the one against Larry Holmes – the boxer who defeated his idol Muhammad Ali.

“My favorite knockout win was Larry Holmes,” Tyson told Complex on October 22. “When I was 14, Holmes beat Muhammad Ali, and I cried and promised myself I would avenge Ali. So that win meant more than the knockout. Holmes had never been knocked out before.”

Muhammad Ali, whose real name was Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., died in 2016, two days after being hospitalized for respiratory problems. Ali once called himself “the greatest of the greats.” Ali made his professional debut on October 29, 1960, and it took him another four years to become the world heavyweight boxing champion, at the age of 22, by defeating Sonny Liston. During his professional career, Ali fought 61 times, winning 56, including 37 by knockout, and losing five.

Among them was a defeat to Larry Holmes in Las Vegas in 1980 – the penultimate fight of Ali’s career. At that time, Ali did not win a single round and lost the title to his longtime training partner.

Seeing his idol fall, Tyson – then 14 years old – determined to become a professional boxer to avenge Ali. In 1988, Tyson fought Holmes in New Jersey. At this time, Tyson became the absolute champion, while Holmes lost the title to Michael Spinks.

Ali was the guest of honor and came to watch the fight live. Before the fight began, the late American legend walked up to Tyson and said, “Destroy him.” The boxer nicknamed “Iron Mike” fulfilled his promise to his idol when he knocked out Holmes in the fourth round.

Mike Tyson’s promise to avenge Muhammad Ali.

In another interview, Tyson considered Evander Holyfield his most formidable opponent. When he was still at his peak, Tyson fought Holyfield twice, but lost both times. On November 9, 1996, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Holyfield defeated Tyson by technical knockout in the 11th round to win the WBA and The Ring heavyweight titles. Half a year later, Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield’s ear, creating the most scandalous scandal in the history of world boxing.

In May 2021, Tyson wanted to fight Evander Holyfield for the third time. However, negotiations fell through when Holyfield’s side announced that “Iron Mike” rejected the $25 million offer. Holyfield then moved on to fight former UFC champion Vitor Belfort. This match lasted just under 1 minute and 50 seconds, as Belfort was declared the winner by technical knockout.

Tyson won the WBC title in late 1986, at the age of 20. To this day, he remains the youngest heavyweight boxer in history to hold a world title. However, the peak of “Iron Mike” lasted less than four years, before losing to underdog Buster Douglas in early 1990. After this defeat, Tyson’s form declined, and he was imprisoned for rape. In the late 1990s, he attempted a comeback, but the biggest impression he left was the Evander Holyfield ear-biting incident, rather than the titles.

Tyson retired in 2005, after losing three of his last four fights. On November 28, 2020, he returned in an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr. With scores from three guest judges of 76-76, 79-73, 76-80, Tyson and Jones Jr. were declared a draw. Both fighters received a special “Frontline Battle” belt from the WBC.