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When Tyson met Tyson

When Tyson met Tyson

Before Tyson Fury entered the ring to engage in a war of words with Deontay Wilder after Wilder’s ninth-round destruction of Artur Szpilka, the Brit had the opportunity to meet the man he was named after: Mike Tyson.

The freshly minted WBA and WBO world heavyweight titleholder is known as an unpredictable personality with a penchant for the outlandish. But upon meeting the original enigma who was known for his savage knockouts and erratic behavior, Fury approached Tyson with his figurative hat in hand.

There would be no threatening words of violence exchanged. Instead, Fury embraced Tyson, kissed him on the hand and spoke words he has yet to reveal into Tyson’s ear.

For his part, Tyson has been complimentary of Fury and even went on record before meeting Fury to state that he’s the “best heavyweight champion since myself.”

Former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson is a Tyson Fury fan. (AP)
Former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson is a Tyson Fury fan. (AP)

"I'm just happy he was the champ," Tyson said to The Sun in a recent interview. "You can say what you want about Tyson Fury, make fun of him, but there's one guy in the U.S. named Michael Gerard Tyson who's so proud he has my name.”

Tyson also offered a pass for some of Fury’s recent questionable comments in the media.

"I know this is going to sound ignorant, he can say what he wants to say,” Tyson said. “You know who is going to look up to him? The people who never thought they had a chance in their life.

"He is the man, I don't care what anybody says.”