Mike Tyson's promise to Ali that shocked the world

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Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson are two names that are forever engraved in golden letters in the history of boxing. The iron man takes his inspiration in the ring precisely from the first three-time world champion in boxing, but few people know the interesting story of a conversation between the 14-year-old Tyson and the now retired Ali, who had just lost his penultimate professional fight.

On October 2nd, 1980, Ali stepped into the ring in an attempt to become a 4-time world champion, a year after retiring from the sport. Far from his best and after a controversial medical clearance to enter the ring, Ali faced Larry Holmes and lost decisively in the 10th round when the legend's corner threw a towel into the arena, acknowledging Holmes' superiority. Ali's fans are disappointed, but not as much as 14-year-old Tyson, who is in Albany to watch his idol. The next day, his coach is on the phone with Ali and tells him that he has a 14-year-old under his wing who will become a world champion. And hands the phone to Tyson.

"When I grow up, I'm going to fight Holmes and get revenge on him for you," said an excited Tyson succinctly, something he himself said in a 2011 interview. After all, he does just that.

7 years later, Iron Mike is on the crest of the wave in the heavyweight division - he is now the world champion and crushes all his opponents. Only at the age of 21, it seems that there is no competition for him in the heavyweight division, which makes Larry Holmes return to professional boxing, although he has given up the sport. On January 22, 1988, the two entered the ring - 21 months after the last fight of the former world champion. The special guest in the hall is none other than Muhammad Ali, who addresses Mike: "Remember what you told me - beat him for me."

That's exactly what's happening at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Tyson crushes Holmes from the fight, knocking his opponent down twice in the 4th round, and the final blow of the match is a brutal right hook with which Holmes finally falls to the arena and is knocked out - Tyson keeps his promise and avenges the defeat of Ali 7 years earlier, and thus recorded a memorable 33rd victory in the professional ring.

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