Mike Tyson was known in his prime as an explosive and destructive force in the heavyweight division, but there is one fighter a few divisions below who Tyson sees much of himself in.
Mike Tyson possesses an 88% knockout rate with only six of his fifty wins coming by decision.
One of those to survive Tyson’s power was a gangster who Tyson broke the eye socket of in a street brawl following their fight.
Tyson’s aggression and style, despite being a relatively short heavyweight, made him a unique fighter, though, in his words, there is one fighter who reminds him of himself, someone who fought Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.
Mike Tyson sees himself in fighter who went the distance with Gervonta Davis
In his explosive career, only three men have taken Tank the distance, with only two of those being across a twelve-round fight.
The latest was Lamont Roach, who just last night fought to a draw with Davis, the first of Tank’s career. Roach is suspicious of the scorecards, as it seems in round nine, Tank voluntarily took a knee, but it was not counted as a knockdown.
This is not the first time Roach has been affected by flawed scorecards against Davis, as Roach claims one of Tank’s amateur wins over him was scored erroneously too.
The only other man to go twelve rounds with Tank, and the man who reminds Tyson the most of himself, is Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz.
Cruz fought Tank as a late replacement for Rolly Romero in 2021, and ran a close fight with Davis, with the scorecards reading 115-113, 116-112, and 115-113.
Speaking on ‘Pitbull’ Cruz, who was homeless before becoming a world champion, Tyson said:
“If I had to say someone, I would say Isaac Cruz. He’s short and stubby for his weight like I was, and he comes at you.”
Isaac Cruz reacts to Gervonta Davis’ draw with Lamont Roach
Following the event, Cruz, who faced two men on the card – Davis himself and Jose Rayo Valenzuela, who he lost his world title to, was asked what he made of his former foes’ performances.
On Davis’ fight with Roach, Cruz said: “It was a good fight but I think Roach took it very comfortably even though they didn’t count when he took the knee.”
When it came to Valenzuela, Cruz was shocked: “[I’m] without words. No round won.”
When asked if he wanted a rematch with Davis he responded: “We have been asking for it for several years.”
He claims he will return in the middle of the year and was rumored to be facing Ryan Garcia in May, though Garcia will now be fighting Romero.