Tyson provided a glimpse into the current heavyweight division.
Mike Tyson dissected the current crop of best heavyweight boxers, including Anthony Joshua, in an interview with Joe Rogan, and it’s extremely intriguing.
Tyson went on the ‘Joe Rogan Experience’ podcast in April 2022 and was asked to offer his opinion on Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua.
He also gave his opinion on WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, as well as WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
Tyson went in-depth on all four fighters, and it’s the kind of analysis you wouldn’t hear from anyone else.
Deontay Wilder
On Wilder, he said: “Having a hard punch is like having a nuclear war, but it doesn’t serve any military value if it doesn’t land on his target.”
‘The Bronze Bomber’ suffered two consecutive defeats to Fury in 2020 and 2021, despite putting up a valiant effort in both fights.
After bouncing back with a KO win over Robert Helenius, Wilder then suffered a surprise defeat to Joseph Parker in December, where a win would likely have set up a showpiece fight with Anthony Joshua.
Anthony Joshua
Talking of Joshua, Tyson summarised: “He has never lost hope, he is still learning. That’s why he’s dangerous. Because he’s still f***ing learning.
“Joshua needs to pick up the pace, he’s got so much potential. He has got to turn those jabs into something. Joshua is no walk over. He’s going to have a beautiful life after boxing, he’s beautiful.”
Joshua is a two-time WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight champion, having lost the belts to Andy Ruiz Jr. in June 2019 before claiming them back the following December.
He slipped to a shock loss against Usyk in September and lost a rematch against him the following summer.
Joshua has since won his last three fights, including a fifth round stoppage of Otto Wallin in December last year.
Oleksandr Usyk
Tyson focused on Usyk’s performance in his first fight against Joshua in his analysis, stating: “Usyk is very hard to hit, he has that elite amateur level movement. It was too much for Joshua.”
After Rogan claimed that the Ukrainian moves like a lightweight, Tyson went on to suggest Wilder as a potential future opponent – although that fight seems a way away currently.
Usyk returned to his homeland of Ukraine in 2022 to help fight off invading forces from Russia.
Following a year’s inactivity after his second victory over Joshua, Usyk defeated Daniel Dubois via knockout in August, and is scheduled to fight Fury in February.
Tyson Fury
Last but not least was the self-proclaimed ‘Gypsy King’, and ‘Iron Mike’ spoke glowingly of the WBC heavyweight champion.
Tyson admitted: “It’s weird to take him seriously, because he’s so funny. He doesn’t take fighting seriously, he laughs at people, licking the blood. What’s wrong with this guy? You’ve got to be out of your mind.
“He would be a prophet in biblical times, how do you explain how good he is? They couldn’t explain that.”