Late last month, WBC champion Deontay Wilder (39-0, 38 KOs) raised some eyebrows when he conducted an interview and stated that he would destroy a prime, 1986 version of Mike Tyson, who at the time seemed unbeatable and captured his first heavyweight title (also WBC) and eventually unified the entire division.
Wilder was speaking with TMZ Sports, during a press conference last week to announce his March 3rd showdown with Luis Ortiz.
"Me vs Tyson in 86, I'd kick the hell outta that guy," said Wilder. "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 no. 1 on earth."
One of the boxers who took offense to Wilder's comments, was former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, who famously stopped Tyson in the eight round of their highly lucrative 2002 encounter.
After watching Wilder's interview, Lewis took to social media to check the younger fighter.
"I just heard Deontay Wilder said he would destroy a young Mike Tyson. My thoughts are that it’s easy to talk until you actually get in the ring. I like Wilder but he’s never been in there with someone that ferocious who truly wants to break his ribs with every punch. I don’t see it," Lewis stated.
"I love Wilder’s confidence... you need that to sit atop the heavyweight division... he’s hungry and shows up in probably best shape in division... but there’s levels to it... and he’s still adding to his arsenal.
"My best advice to the entire crop of young heavyweight champs is to focus on being the best of YOUR era! Out of respect and reality. It’s unprovable. Of course people asked, but I found no need to speculate or compare myself to my idol Ali or any other of the past greats.
"History will decide your place among the all time greats... so go out there, clean up the division, defend your title, reign supreme and your work will speak for itself."
Wilder is well aware of Lewis' statements and stands firm that he would do a number on a prime Tyson.
And Wilder goes even further, to make it clear that no heavyweight fighter from the old school should be capable of beating a top heavyweight in the current era - based on advancements in training also because today's heavyweights are much bigger than the heavyweights of the past.
"My hand speed, I'm too long, I'm too tall, my athleticism, my foot work, all that gives me an advantage, it plays a big part," Wilder said when asked for his thoughts on Lewis' criticism.
"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."
2023-10-20 12:04:36
