JAMES TILLIS will not be a reputation that rolls of the tongue for a lot of boxing followers – however he’s somebody that Mike Tyson actually remembers.
Nevertheless, the now 65-year-old American is adamant that the Baddest Man on the Planet was not the toughest puncher he took on.
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The previous heavyweight boxer amassed a 20-0 file to land a WBA title shot in opposition to Mike Weaver in 1981, a bout he misplaced on factors.
In an try to bounce again and get again into championship competition, Tillis took on the late Earnie Shavers.
Shavers was 37 on the time however he nonetheless possessed unimaginable punching energy – one thing Tillis felt first hand in spherical 9 as he was floored.
Regardless of that, he managed to climb off the canvas to win a ten-round unanimous determination.
Sadly, he was unable to proceed that progress and suffered three defeats in 1982 and 1983 to fall out of the title image.
He then misplaced 5 out of six between 1984 and 1986 – the final of which got here in opposition to a then 19-year-old Tyson.
Iron Mike was a wrecking machine on the time and had recorded 19-straight knockouts as he surged in direction of superstardom.
However the cussed Tillis managed to face agency and go the gap, surviving a fourth spherical knockdown, the place he misplaced through a unanimous determination.
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Tyson went on to develop into the youngest-ever heavyweight champ whereas Tillis would later tackle different legendary names resembling Evander Holyfield and Frank Bruno.
Regardless that he has confronted the entire large weapons, Tillis is in completely little question who possessed the toughest punch.
Talking beforehand to Boxing Information 24/7, he stated: “Individuals ask me about Tyson and Shavers – let me inform you, there’s no comparability. None in any respect.
“Shavers, he hit so arduous he might flip horse p*** into gasoline. He hit so arduous he might carry again tomorrow.
“Tyson hit like a sissy as compared.”
Tillis added: “I beat Shavers, and I do know I beat Tyson. I wished a rematch with Tyson actual dangerous, however Shavers? No method.
“When he hit me and knocked me down, I noticed pink mice and rats smoking cigarettes.
“That struggle was the hardest half-hour of my life. The Acorn was one dangerous dude, let me inform you.”
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