Mike Tyson, one of the greatest legends of boxing, made it clear that he would never have entered the UFC octagon, not even at his best as a professional boxer. The former world champion explained his reason bluntly: money.
During a chat with rapper Fat Joe, Tyson was asked if he would ever have considered competing in mixed martial arts. His response was as blunt as it was characteristic of the former boxer:
“Listen, five of the biggest UFC fighters together couldn’t match my salary. I wanted to be the biggest, have the biggest purse. I wanted all that. When Mike Tyson fights, everything stops.“
Tyson, a legend who never needed the cage
Tyson, with a professional record of 50 wins, 7 losses and 2 no-contests, is considered one of the most dominant and feared fighters in boxing history. His devastating power and aggressive style made him an icon of the sport and one of the most recognisable figures in the world.
During the 1980s and 1990s, “Iron Mike” was synonymous with spectacle and huge earnings. At his peak, Tyson was generating astronomical figures per fight, far above what even the most prominent UFC champions were earning in their early years.
That’s why the former world champion believes that it would not have made sense to make the leap into the octagon. “I wanted to be the greatest,” Tyson repeated, stressing that his priority was always to dominate in his own field: boxing.
Daniel Cormier gives his opinion on Tyson Fury’s possible return
Meanwhile, former UFC champion Daniel Cormier gave his opinion on rumors that Tyson could face Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition fight next year. In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Cormier shared his skepticism about such fights.
“My biggest question always with these things is how do they explain [this] to the public. It won’t be a real fight; it will be an exhibition. To what extent are we supposed to believe that they’re really fighting?” the former fighter said.
Cormier also recalled the exhibition bout between Tyson and Roy Jones Jr., noting that such fights should be taken with caution and understood more as spectacles than legitimate fights.
“Iron Mike’s” legacy remains intact
Although Tyson has shown interest in getting back in the ring for exhibitions, he made it clear that his focus is on his legacy as a boxer and businessman. For him, boxing was always more than a sport: it was the stage where he built his identity and his empire.
And although many wonder how he would have fared in the UFC, Tyson himself settled the discussion with his most blunt phrase:
“When Mike Tyson fights, everything stops.”
Read the full article here
