Mike Tyson has always been an emotional fighter, but all of his feelings came out when talking to and about Sugar Ray Leonard.
Both men were hugely successful in their careers, winning multiple world titles and earning huge amounts of money.
Sugar Ray Leonard was undoubtedly the most successful in terms of honors, winning belts in five different weight classes and going down as an all-time great as one of the legendary “Four Kings” of the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions.
Decades after his retirement, Leonard is still seen as an inspiration to many aspiring boxers, with Mike Tyson bursting into tears to explain how much he loved the legendary fighter.
Mike Tyson was inspired to start boxing after watching Sugar Ray Leonard while locked up
Despite being a Heavyweight champion, Tyson was inspired by the much smaller and lighter fighter in Leonard.
On an episode of Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson, the Heavyweight legend burst into tears when discussing Leonard and his clash with Wilfred Benitez to win his first world title.
Tyson admitted to being inspired by the all-time great after watching “the master” as a 13-year-old locked up early in his life.
Tyson said: “I’m locked up in juvenile. I’m watching the fight. He wants the title, but he’s fighting the master.
“No one’s saying he’s fighting the guy who was champion of the world at 17, both amateur and professional.
“So when he’s probably 21 now, fighting you, right, and he’s fighting… I can’t even talk. You inspired me so much.
“I saw you fight Duran. It changed my life. Just look at me. You may not think you’re anybody, but I love you.”
Tyson got incredibly emotional during the episode, while Leonard returned the kind words throughout the conversation.
Sugar Ray Leonard’s career ended with a brutal knockout in his fifth comeback fight
Leonard was an inspiration in the ring for Tyson, although his final comeback fight is one that both men will want to remember.
After his fourth and longest temporary retirement, at six years away from the ring, Leonard came back to boxing in 1997 to take on Hector Camacho for the IBC Middleweight belt.
He had traversed the plane between retired and active since 1982, having last finished his career following a loss to Terry Norris in 1991.
This return was, once again, a fight too far for Sugar Ray. Leonard was knocked out in five rounds by Camacho, the referee having no choice but to end the bout due to the punishment he was taking.
Leonard never went into exhibition boxing like Tyson and preferred to stay retired after his devastating final loss.