Mike Tyson names Muhammad Ali, Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard as boxing idols

Mike Tyson has named Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard alongside Muhammad Ali as his boxing idols. His admiration for Ali shaped how he approached his title defence against Larry Holmes, the man who had stopped Ali.

Mike Tyson has told DJ Whoo Kid that Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard are among the fighters he most appreciates, placing two of the Four Kings beside Muhammad Ali among his boxing idols.

Tyson's regard for Ali, as a fighter and as a man, turned one of his heavyweight title defences into a personal mission. Larry Holmes had stopped Ali in 10 rounds around eight years before he met Tyson, and Tyson treated their fight as a chance to avenge that defeat rather than as a routine defence. He stopped Holmes in the fourth round.

Duran and Tyson share a style. Both were hard-hitting fighters who usually faced taller opponents and worked to get on the inside. Leonard has less in common with Tyson stylistically, but he is a fighter many others also name among their all-time favourites.

Tyson drew on all three as he rose to become the youngest world heavyweight champion in history. He won the WBC title in 1986 by stopping Trevor Berbick in the second round.

Tyson, who became known as the 'Baddest Man on the Planet', made nine successful title defences before James 'Buster' Douglas stopped him in the 10th round.

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