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During the latest episode of Patrick Mouratoglou’s famous podcast, boxer Mike Tyson talked about the importance of tennis in his life and his love for the racket. The former world boxing champion has appeared more than once on the most important stages of world tennis and had the opportunity to meet several players.
Among them, Tyson appreciated Novak Djokovic's personality and mental strength. Iron Mike said, as reported by Super Tennis,: "I am very proud to see someone in the family who understands how things don't always go our way.
Because life is like this, it's about learning to handle all kinds of situations. Now Djokovic is my favorite tennis player. If he's fine, I really enjoy watching him play games. It's amazing how he came back from injury and beat champions like Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
Djokovic is a real fighter. Tennis changed my life. He has broadened my horizons and I am grateful to be involved in this sport." A few weeks before the start of the new season, Djokovic's presence in Australia is not yet certain.
The Serbian champion has decided not to talk about his personal choices and only time will provide the necessary answers. Djokovic is the tennis player who has won the Australian Open several times in history. Tyson is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time, heavyweight world champion from 1986 to 1990, with a brief spell in 1996.
Among the most recognizable and paid athletes of the eighties and nineties, despite the low height for the heavyweight category, and thanks to his remarkable technique and physicality, he was one of the most effective and fearsome hunters in history.
Tyson won his first 19 fights by knockout, 12 of them in the first round. In 1986, at the age of 20, 4 months and 22 days, he took the WBC crown against Trevor Berbick, becoming the youngest heavyweight champion of the world, a record that still remains unbeaten.
A year later he also won the WBA and IBF titles, becoming the undisputed champion and the first heavyweight to unify the world championships. In 1988 he became linear champion when he KO'd Michael Spinks in 91 seconds. He defended his belts on nine occasions, before being knocked out by Buster Douglas in what was termed one of the greatest surprises in the history of the sport.
In 1992 he was charged with rape of Desiree Washington and sentenced to 6 years in prison. During his detention he converted to Islam and took the Islamic name of Malik Abdul Aziz. Released in 1995, he made his return to the ring and in 1996 won the WBA and WBC titles by defeating Frank Bruno and Bruce Seldon by KO respectively.
This made him one of the heavyweights capable of regaining a division belt after losing it. After being deprived of the WBC World Cup, he lost the WBA crown in a match against Evander Holyfield in November of the same year and in their rematch he was disqualified for biting his opponent's ear by pulling off a piece of cartilage.