Mike Tyson idolized the late Muhammad Ali throughout his time in the ring, and when offered the chance to fight the boxer who retired the former, he had bad intentions in mind.
The youngest heavyweight champion in the sport’s history, Tyson would draw the final opponent of the late Ali in his first title opportunity — then boasting an undefeated 27-0 record in the ring.
And in his history making performance, Tyson had scored quite the ferocious finish — scoring a knockout win inside just two rounds in the 1986 showdown.
But before the outing, the Catskills’ favorite admitted he had distinct plans to “kill” the defending champion in a bid to avenge his idol Ali’s retirement loss.
Mike Tyson’s scary plan to “kill” opponent in the ring
Tackling the late Trevor Berbick in his first career shot at world championship spoils, Tyson would face the last fighter to share the ring with the late Ali.
Back in 1981, Berbick took on the 39-year-old Ali in a pairing billed as Drama in Bahama (sic) — turning in a one-sided unanimous decision win over the all-time heavyweight great in a rather one-sided display.
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Eventually making history with his second round knockout win over Berbick, it seemed Tyson wanted to inflict more damage and punishment on the late Berbick for his victory over Ali. Even fatal damage to the former WBC heavyweight champion.
“100%, there’s no doubt about it,” Tyson told DJVlad four years ago about his plan to get revenge for Ali against Berbick.
“I was going to kill him (Berbick),” Tyson explained. “You know, I saw the way he was beating — he was hitting Ali really hard with everything he had. Ali didn’t have nothing left. But he was trying to kill him.
“I was like, ‘Oh, I can’t wait to get him — and Larry Holmes.'”
Eventually facing off with Holmes — who also defeated Ali in a one-sided stoppage win, Tyson relished the chance to fight the heavyweight great.
Mike Tyson’s fight with Larry Holmes in 1988
As part of an active year in 1988, the then-unbeaten Tyson would share the ring with the trio of Michael Spinks, Tony Tubbs, and the above-mentioned Holmes.
Once more hoping to get revenge for the late Ali, Tyson needed just four rounds to stop Holmes — finishing the former world champion with a knockout to defend his WBA, WBC, and IBF undisputed heavyweight titles.
With the stoppage success, Tyson became the first and only fighter to stop Holmes by knockout in ‘The Easton Assassin’s’ lengthy 75-fight professional career.