Mike Tyson Lauds Floyd Mayweather, Reveals How He'd Do Against UFC Fighters

Mike Tyson credits Floyd Mayweather for fighting Conor McGregor and addressed how he well he would’ve done against UFC fighters.

Back in 2017, the unimaginable happened as undefeated boxing champ Mayweather fought UFC superstar McGregor inside the ring. The blockbuster fight was so hyped that some boxing and MMA pundits even thought that McGregor could really win pro boxing debut. However, though MMA and boxing are both combat sports, the boxer dismantled the UFC star and retained his flawless record.

Roughly three years later, McGregor and Mayweather both announced their return. As expected, it rekindled their epic rivalry and reports claim that both parties are open for a possible rematch.

In an exclusive interview with The Sportsman, legendary boxer Tyson was asked to comment about Mayweather insisting he’s done fighting boxers and how does UFC fighters challenging pro boxers affect boxing.

Being a UFC fan himself, “Iron Mike” doesn’t think that the integrity of both respective sports is being damaged by the so-called “cross-over fight.” The 53-year-old also lauded Mayweather for being the first boxing superstar to step inside the ring with a UFC champ.

“I think that’s pretty awesome! He was the first to do that. I like that. It’s going to happen more, absolutely,” Tyson said of Mayweather vs. McGregor and boxing-MMA cross-over fights.

Tyson also tried to address what most of UFC and boxing fans have been longing to know: How well would Tyson and other boxers do against UFC fighters? According to Tyson, he’s not really sure but it will all depend on the “rules.”

“I don’t know how well we would’ve done fighting them - it always depends on under which rules you’re fighting,” Tyson said.

In 2013, “UFC Tonight” host Chael Sonnen had the privilege to ask Tyson “how he would have done in a fight against former UFC champion Royce Gracie. Tyson’s response was quick and straight-forward as he said there was “no way” he would have earned a victory against a seasoned grappler

“In '93, I was in prison, so there wouldn’t have been a fight, but there is no way I would have won. I had no idea what was going on with that type of fighting and would’ve been taken by surprise,” Tyson said.

As he grew older, Tyson admitted that he learned to like UFC and MMA more than boxing, saying UFC events is “like a real safe party with your parents there. You can’t get too bombed. Everybody is laughing, having fun.”