Mike Tyson is best known for his knockout ability, however, in his post-career, he once turned himself into a recognizable podcast host.
Tyson hung up his gloves in 2005, before making an unlikely return to boxing in 2024 to fight Jake Paul.
However, his bout against the influencer-boxer is just one of the many interesting ventures of his career after fighting. This even includes a movie appearance involving Tyson that led to a lawsuit.
Between 2021 and 2024, millions of fans were tuning into ‘Hotboxin with Mike Tyson’, a podcast hosted by the former champion and one of the greatest heavyweights of all time.
With some of the biggest names in boxing and beyond appearing on the show, there were memorable moments on the podcast before its conclusion in 2024.
One episode that resulted in a memorable moment was when Tyson was joined by boxing legends Thomas Hearns, ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard, and Shane Mosely.
- READ MORE: Mike Tyson knocked out 17 opponents in 11 months to become the most feared teenager in boxing
‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard and Thomas Hearns get into heated face-off on Mike Tyson’s podcast
Former opponents Leonard and Hearns were both guests on a 2021 episode of Hotboxing with Mike Tyson, where the former champions were joined by Mosely.
The pair first met when Leonard and Hearns fought in 1981. Competing for the WBC World Welterweight title, it would be ‘Sugar’ who claimed the bragging rights with a 14th-round TKO.
The two would meet again eight years later, this time for the WBC and WBO World Super Middleweight titles. However, the pair could not be separated as the bout was scored a split draw.
Despite the draw, the two would never have a trilogy bout.
Although Leonard and Hearns were friendly with one another throughout the episode, they did have a light-hearted back and forth during the podcast.
During a discussion about the finishing sequences in fights, Leonard and Hearns began to recall their bouts, with both men claiming they landed significant shots on one another.
This would include Hearns recalling a punch he landed on Leonard, claiming it scared his opponent. However, Leonard responded, “I wasn’t scared, I was concerned.”
Then, in retaliation, Leonard told Hearns, “I could knock you out now,” as well as adding “I will break you down.”
Despite Tyson telling the fighters to “hug each other,” the two stood up and began sizing one another up.
Although the two exchanged words for a while, and were eventually encouraged by Tyson, the two put the tensions to the side and continued the episode.
- READ MORE: The promise Mike Tyson made Muhammed Ali
Ray Leonard vs Thomas Hearns is considered one of the greatest fights of all time
In their first meeting, Leonard would get the better of his rival, Hearns. His 14th-round knockout would come at the end of what is considered one of the best fights of all time.
Leonard came into the bout with a professional record of 30 wins and one loss, while Hearns’ record was 32-0.
The two showed a relentless pace throughout the fight, with both men having success across the 14 rounds.
However, Leonard would retain his world welterweight title. Scoring a knockdown at the end of round 13, ‘Sugar’ put the pressure on in the 14th round.
Constantly on the front foot, Leonard would eventually earn a standing TKO victory over his rival in Ring Magazine’s Fight of the Year for 1981.