Former heavyweight boxing champion and legend Mike Tyson has cemented his place among the greatest athletes of all time. When asked about who he considered the GOAT of basketball, in a recent episode of “The Big Podcast with Shaq,” he simply responded by saying:
“I’m a Jordan guy.”
Tyson’s response reflected a personal preference rather than a definitive statement. Still, when one of the fiercest boxers of all time speaks, people tend to listen.
To follow this up, Shaquille O’Neal then asked Tyson who he believed was the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. Surprisingly, the boxing legend, who usually proclaimed Muhammad Ali as the greatest, responded by saying, “Me.”
O’Neal asked whether Tyson would be bothered when people mentioned other names. The former heavyweight champion claimed, “I’m not being egotistical, okay? They said they know if you put up the statistics or something. Ask the world.”
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The audience naturally applauded Tyson’s comment. As one of the most successful and controversial individuals in boxing, he has truly etched his name alongside the sport’s all-time greats.
In a different sport, Michael Jordan soared to similar heights at roughly the same time in history. Jordan’s rise through the 90s was nothing short of awe-inspiring. In an era that practically redefined the NBA as a league and grew its global audience, Jordan was at the forefront, leading the effort.
The Chicago Bulls legend is widely regarded as the GOAT for several reasons. While his statistical achievements and accolades speak for themselves, the Bulls guard distinguished himself from his contemporaries.
His personality on the floor, his competitiveness, and his unrelenting desire to win often gave him the edge over some of the other great players in his era. Fueled by the need to dominate, Jordan mounted one of the most successful postseason careers in NBA history.
In the span of eight years, Jordan and the Bulls won six NBA titles with an unreal 6-0 record in the NBA Finals. Although there were shortcomings and obstacles in the way, with Jordan’s retirement and adjustment pains after making a comeback, he remains one of the most successful players in the sport.
At the start of the 90s, Tyson had already established himself as one of the most feared men in boxing. Having secured the heavyweight title in 1987, Tyson steamrolled through his opponents, racking up a 37-0 record by 1990.
The early 90s were also a time of turmoil for the boxing legend. After losing the title, Tyson saw a dramatic fall from grace, including time spent incarcerated. Although he made a comeback, this was short-lived. After his loss to Evander Holyfield, he became known more for his controversies than his dominance.
In many ways, the rise and fall of Tyson and Jordan intersected. In an interesting coincidence, the two were also born in the same hospital in Brooklyn. While their greatness wasn’t a byproduct of that fact, they both went on to make their names known around the globe.
