MIKE TYSON has claimed that he would ‘kick Conor McGregor’s ass’ in a boxing fight.
The 54-year-old is coming out of retirement to lock horns with Roy Jones Jr on September 12 in an eight-round exhibition showdown.
Iron Mike has shed six stone in anticipation for his return to the ring and promised to give everything once he climbs between the ropes.
The “Baddest Man on the Planet” won 44 of his bouts by KO and was a two-time world heavyweight champion.
And despite his last fight coming back in 2005, Tyson is confident he’d have the edge over several fighting icons.
While appearing on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the American claimed he’d destroy Rocky Balboa and Ivan Drago.
When asked about UFC legend McGregor, Tyson responded: “Imma kick his ass anyway, we’ll play boxing rules.”
McGregor, 32, lost his first, and only, professional boxing match back in 2017 to Floyd Mayweather.
And speaking on his podcast, Tyson had actually praised the Irishman for his skills on his in-ring debut.
He said: “He never really had a boxing match in his life, right. He went 10 rounds with the greatest fighter in the last 100 years of boxing.
“He went 10 rounds, scored punches on the greatest boxer in the last 100 years.
“Did he do something? Did he accomplish something? People should look who he had the fight against and look what he did when he fought against him.”
McGregor responded on social media and wrote: “Thank you Mike and just know that for the inevitable rematch, with the knowledge I now hold of Floyd’s style, plus under the tutelage of my old school boxing coach, I will crack the puzzle, and I will beat Floyd. I promise my life on it.
“It’s great to see you back Iron Mike.”
Mayweather hasn’t fought professionally since his 2017 bout against McGregor where he stopped the Notorious in the tenth round.
Though the 43-year-old admitted recently that he would welcome another match-up against the two-weight UFC world champion.
Floyd Mayweather takes credit for Mike Tyson comeback at 54 and claims he is the ‘pioneer’ of exhibition fights
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
