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Topics: Boxing, Mike Tyson, Wladimir Klitschko
Nasir Jabbar
Boxing legend Mike Tyson didn't hesitate when asked if he would have beaten the Klitschko brothers in his prime.
At the peak of their powers, both Vitali and Wladimir reigned over the heavyweight division from the mid-2000s, possessing all of the major world titles.
Vitali was the WBC world heavyweight champion while his younger brother Wladimir owned the WBA, IBF and WBO belts.
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Wladimir was an unstoppable force in his prime after appointing famed trainer Emanuel Steward.
He enjoyed an unbeaten spell from October 2004 to November 2015, unifying the heavyweight division.
But Tyson, who's still the youngest world heavyweight champion in history, reckons he'd beat 'almost anybody' on water, vegetables and vitamins.
"I'm not being offensive; I'm not being egotistical. Clean fighting, no drugs, food and water - the basics and I think I could beat almost anybody. I think I'd put my life on it that I could," he explained.
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"I would beat anybody in my prime on water, vegetables and vitamins."
Speaking before facing Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition bout back in November 2020, he was then asked if he would return to the sport in the form of a reality show which pits former champions against each other, to which he replied: "Never. I don't want to be a part of bringing somebody back to the ring. The risk is so high.
"Now we are dealing with guys that have enhancement drugs. You are going to hurt these guys or they're gonna die, get brain damage or broken bones."
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'Iron' Mike, though, acknowledged the Klitschko brothers' brilliance.
A fan on social media asked the American great if he reckons Wladimir would have been a 'formidable heavyweight champion in the Golden Age?'
Tyson replied: "I think he would have done well in any era."
Wladimir's reign as unified world heavyweight champion came to a stunning end when Tyson Fury dethroned him of the WBA (super), IBF and WBO titles.
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He ended his professional career with 64 wins from 69 fights, with 53 victories coming inside the distance.
'Dr. Steelhammer' holds three major records of the modern heavyweight era; the most wins in heavyweight title bouts (25), the most wins in unified championship bouts (15) and the most consecutive defences of the unified titles (14).