FORMER two-time world heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon believes Mike Tyson could knockout Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder.
Iron Mike returned to the ring last month following a 15-year lay-off for an exhibition bout against four-division world champ Roy Jones Jr.
Mike Tyson could still knockout the current kings of the heavyweight division[/caption]
That is according to former two-time heavyweight champ Tim Witherspoon[/caption]
And despite being 54, the boxing icon produced an impressive display with many of the millions who purchased the spectacle believing he should have won despite it officially being deemed as a draw by the judges.
Witherspoon was one of those to tune in, and he admitted he was surprised by Tyson’s display.
And even though he believes the veteran would need to get in much better shape, he still thinks he has enough to finish off the kings of today’s heavyweight division.
Speaking to Sun Sport, he said: “I think if he were to come back and fight Tyson Fury or Deontay Wilder, I think he would need a couple of warm up fights.
“He couldn’t do it in one fight. He will need a couple of fights and then take the fight. If he did that, I think he would do really well against Fury or Wilder.
“To me he was sharp and strong, but needs to engage in a couple more fights before fighting these guys.”
Witherspoon continued: “I think it would be a big fight with Fury. Like I said, if Mike goes
down that direction he will need a couple fights first.
“He looked really stiff but did punch good. His movement wasn’t like the old Mike, so couple fights will mould him back into the Mike that looked like in the past.
“These young guys are training hard and they have all these different methods, they’re more energized.
“Mike Tyson punches hard and has the heart to get in there and hurt one of these and knock them out. All Mike has to do is get used to the sparring and boxing to get back to his old self.”
But Witherspoon, 62, added: “I do believe that if he hit one of these guys, Wilder, Joshua or Fury, he’d knock them out in a real boxing fight.
“I’m not saying they can’t take a punch, but if Mike hit’s them they are definitely going down. They lack defense.
“Wilder has five per cent defence out of 100 per cent. Joshua 15 per cent. Fury 25 per cent because he moves a lot and does a lot of fakes.”
Witherspoon has also revealed to Sun Sport that Tyson gave him and his daughter £2,000 from a bag full of cash in a secret act of generosity.
The two heavyweight legends were in Liverpool doing a tour in 2010, speaking at dinner events.
Witherspoon, who has a British daughter named Shanayiah with an English woman, met Tyson in his hotel room.
And when a bundle of cash was laid out on the bed, he was preparing to make an exit – before Iron Mike stopped him in his tracks.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
