Mike Tyson Predicts Boxer Will Win Championship At New Weight Class

Mike Tyson might not be making a return to the ring, but the former heavyweight champion is paying attention to the world's top boxers. Tyson recently predicted that one fighter will win a title as he moves up in weight.

Shakur Stevenson was forced to drop his super featherweight titles when he weighed in at 1.6 pounds over the 130-pound limit for last Friday's bout with Robson Conceiçã. Stevenson defeated Conceição by unanimous decision without the championships on the line.

Stevenson, 25, now has his eyes set on conquering the lightweight division, where Tyson believes he'll thrive.

"Shakur Stevenson is a first-class fighter and I don't think it's going to make any difference that he's given his titles up because of weight difference," Tyson said in a social media post. "He'll just go to the next division and win that title as well."

The victory improved Stevenson's professional boxing record to a perfect 19-0. Nine of those victories have come by knockout.

Stevenson will have no shortage of top-flight opponents at 135 pounds. Lightweight champion Devin Haney is set to defend his belts against George Kambosos Jr. on Oct. 16. Vasyl Lomachenko could soon get a title shot and lurks as a possible opponent for Stevenson in the future.

Tyson can certainly relate to Stevenson's quick rise up the ranks in the world of professional boxing. Tyson won his first heavyweight title at 20 years old, defeating Trevor Berbick on Nov. 22, 1986. Tyson needed just two rounds to secure the knockout and become the youngest heavyweight champ in history.

Tyson won the first 37 fights of his career before losing his heavyweight titles in a monumental upset at the hands of Buster Douglas.

Tyson fought his last professional bout in 2005. The boxing legend returned to the ring for an exhibition fight against Roy Jones Jr. in November 2020. The retired boxers fought to a draw.

Since facing Jones Jr, Tyson has flirted with a return to the ring, though it seems unlikely that the 56-year-old will be fighting anytime soon.