Mike Tyson names the smartest fighter he ever faced and it is not Lennox Lewis or Evander Holyfield

Last year, Tyson returned to the ring for the first time in nearly two decades when he was outpointed by Jake Paul in a huge event that was watched by millions around the world . 

The success of the show proved that Tyson, boxing’s youngest heavyweight champion, was still a huge draw and it has now been speculated that he will face Floyd Mayweather at some point in 2026 . 

When competing in his prime, Tyson was one of the sport’s best fighters as he ripped through the heavyweight division in the late 1980s and into the following decade. 

Taking on dangerous fighters like Michael Spinks, Evander Holyfield, and Lennox Lewis, Tyson often sought out the biggest tests on his way to becoming the face of boxing and a box office superstar. 

At the backend of his career, Tyson’s lengthy career caught up with him as Danny Williams and Kevin McBride beat him in the mid-2000s, but despite his absence from boxing for such a long time, his appeal has not declined. 

Reflecting on his career, Tyson was asked several questions about the fighters he faced, but who does he consider to be the smartest boxer he ever shared a ring with? 

“Larry Holmes was the smartest of all,” said Tyson when speaking to The Ring back in 2014. 

“It comes with being a champion for seven years.”

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