Which Boxers Could Beat Mike Tyson, According To Mike Tyson

Even though Mike Tyson has been out of the boxing game for almost ten years, he remains a force to be reckoned with, and taking one of his right crosses to the face still sounds like the worst way to spend a day. But how does the former heavyweight think he would stack up against some of the greatest real and fictional boxers of all time? Appearing on The Nightly Show, Tyson somewhat surprisingly admits he wouldn’t win against everyone that host and former Daily Show correspondent Larry Wilmore names.

Here are the ones that Tyson knows he'd lose to.

Muhammad AliHilary Swank in Million Dollar BabyJake LaMottaRocky in Rocky IVMike Tyson's Punch-Out!!'s Soda PopinksiRobert De Niro as The Godfather films' young Vito Corleone

To be fair, the only reason he says he'd lose to Vito is because that character has guns. And we have to assume he's talking about Million Dollar Baby in the first 3/4 of the movie. Also, we're not entirely certain that Soda Pop would win every time, but maybe once or twice.

Here are the fighters Tyson says he'd definitely beat.

Joe LewisApollo CreedRocky in RockyRocky in Rocky IIRocky in Rocky VIRocky in Rocky BalboaRobert De Niro as Jake LaMotta in Raging BullPaul Simon singing "The Boxer"

Oddly enough, all of the Rocky movies except for Rocky V get mentioned. And when asked how he'd fare against fat Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull, Tyson said it depended on how fat he himself was. Tyson was also on the fence about George Foreman, saying it would be close. I'm now going to need a collection of fan-made videos that bring all of these fights to life. I'll just be waiting in my corner.

Check out the entire "Keep It 100" segment below, with Tyson’s part coming in around 2.12. But the whole thing is worth it, as it starts with the other guests stating who they think the greatest boxers ever are.

With any luck, we’ll get to see Jamie Foxx playing Mike Tyson on the big screen in a biopic reportedly to be directed by Martin Scorsese. But until that comes to light, pop in a mouthguard and watch The Nightly Show weeknights on Comedy Central.

Nick Venable
Assistant Managing Editor

Nick is a Cajun Country native and an Assistant Managing Editor with a focus on TV and features. His humble origin story with CinemaBlend began all the way back in the pre-streaming era, circa 2009, as a freelancing DVD reviewer and TV recapper.  Nick leapfrogged over to the small screen to cover more and more television news and interviews, eventually taking over the section for the current era and covering topics like Yellowstone, The Walking Dead and horror. Born in Louisiana and currently living in Texas — Who Dat Nation over America’s Team all day, all night — Nick spent several years in the hospitality industry, and also worked as a 911 operator. If you ever happened to hear his music or read his comics/short stories, you have his sympathy.

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