According to John Bray, one of Tyson’s former sparring partners, Mike Tyson never participated in friendly sparring sessions at the gym. Instead, anyone who stepped into the ring with him had to face a fierce battle for survival.

As we all know, Mike Tyson continues to evoke a sense of awe and trepidation among many individuals and opponents, given his experience as a seasoned veteran and former heavyweight champion.

At the age of 56, Tyson engaged in an “exhibition” bout against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, approaching it with utmost seriousness. There may be at least one more such event before Tyson retires permanently.

Throughout his career, Tyson earned the monikers “Iron Mike” and “The Baddest Man on the Planet,” although he later disassociated himself from these titles as he embraced Islam.

Now, the question arises: where does this New Yorker fit into the broader landscape of formidable heavyweight contenders and those capable of winning fights even before the first bell rings?

One individual believes that Tyson still reigns supreme in terms of instilling fear in others.

Still regarded as the most formidable individual in the boxing world, former National AAU Heavyweight Champion Bray, who has also sparred with Tyson’s rivals Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis, firmly holds this belief.

In a recent interview with Elie Seckbach, Bray openly expressed just how intimidating it is to step into the ring with Mike Tyson.

“Sparring with Mike Tyson was an entirely different experience. It wasn’t just sparring; it was a battle against Mike Tyson. Your goal was simply to survive,” Bray shared with ES News.

“He may have dropped all his other sparring partners, but he never dropped me. I can confidently say that.”

When asked about Tyson’s current abilities, even in his 50s, Bray chillingly responded, “He would achieve the same level of success he had during his prime.”

Such high praise for Tyson is a clear indication that anyone who follows Roy Jones Jr. as his opponent could potentially face significant challenges.

Prior to their exchange of punches, Roy Jones Jr. openly acknowledged to Luke Thomas that Mike Tyson still possesses a considerable level of danger.

“I am fully aware of who Mike Tyson is. I won’t underestimate him when we step into the ring,” Jones affirmed.

“I know he will come at me with all his might, so I must be prepared for that. Anything can happen, and I need to be ready for every possibility.”

In another statement, Jones emphasized the anticipated difficulty of the Tyson fight scheduled for November 28.

“If it turns out to be a tremendous success, I might consider it, but I find it unlikely. For me, this is a one-time occurrence as Roy Jones Jr.”

Jones remained true to his word after their fight resulted in a draw. However, there are indications that Tyson may be preparing for another bout in the near future.