Mike Tyson reveals the secret of his knockout power ahead of Jake Paul Netflix fight
by Steve Wollaston, https://www.facebook.com/stevewollastonjournalist/, Aaron Morris · Birmingham LiveBoxing legend Mike Tyson credits his impressive punching power to divine intervention, along with rigorous training and refinement.
The 58 year old, often celebrated as one of the greatest heavyweights in the history of the sport, is famed for his explosive strength, quick pace in the ring, and relentless attack on his opponents. Known as 'The Baddest Man on the Planet', Tyson's last professional fight was a loss to Kevin McBride in 2005, ending his career with an impressive record of 50 wins, six losses, and two no contests.
An astonishing 44 of those victories were knockouts, many so fierce that his opponents were left either desperately trying to beat the count or completely unconscious on the canvas. Tyson began his professional career in the ring against Hector Mercedes in March 1985 and quickly secured the WBC heavyweight title the following year with a second-round TKO over Trevor Berbick.
Incredibly, 22 of Tyson's 44 career knockouts happened in the first round, which seems less surprising when you consider he was already knocking out grown men at just 12 years old. Tyson admits he was naturally blessed with a powerful punch, a gift he has meticulously refined over time.
Speaking to GQ Sports, heavyweight boxing legend Tyson disclosed some of the philosophy that shaped his aggressive style: "I think I was born that way. But I developed it through Cus D'Amato telling me repetitiously over and over again to do this movement and to punch with this type of bad intentions," as noted by the Mirror.
"And just to have ferociousness and mean intentions whenever you throw punches and stuff. And try and punch through your opponent, not at him. It was some nasty stuff that I would never tell my kids to do."
The fighter made headlines from an early age, stepping into D'Amato's Catskill Boxing Gym in New York at only 12, carving out a path under the expert guidance of the renowned trainers Cus DAmato and Teddy Atlas. His prowess was evident, capturing gold at the Junior Olympic Games at ages 15 and 16 in both 1981 and 1982.
Tyson launched his professional career dramatically, defeating Mercedes in a first-round TKO in March 1985. His rookie year was packed with boutsas many as 15where he consistently triumphed.
November of that year alone saw Tyson notch up an impressive trio of victories: besting Sterling Benjamin on the 1st, overpowering Eddie Richardson 12 days later, and surmounting Conroy Nelson after another nine days. In his storied career, Tyson clinched the WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles, establishing himself as an all-time great in the sport.
Tyson's past opponents have included big names such as Evander Holyfield, Frank Bruno, and Lennox Lewis. Boxing fans are on tenterhooks to see if Tyson can bring his famous power to bear in the forthcoming bout with Jake Paul, who has recently made the switch from YouTuber to boxer.
The pair are due to go head-to-head at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on November 15, in a match that promises to be a nail-biter and will be streamed live on Netflix.
Over the last four years, Paul has built up an impressive professional record of 10-1, taking down UFC stars like Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva and Mike Perry in the boxing ring. Tyson, meanwhile, hasn't set foot in the ring since his 2020 exhibition match with Roy Jones Jr, which ended in a draw after eight rounds.
However, recent training footage has sparked worries for Paul's safety in their upcoming fight, as Tyson still shows the raw power and aggressive mentality he is famous for.