Deontay Wilder boasts a better knockout record than boxing legend Mike Tyson in a side-by-side comparison of their first 42 professional bouts.
The 35-year-old KO artist has often claimed he is better than ‘Iron Mike’ and the greatest of all time (GOAT) in heavyweight boxing.
Former WBC champ Wilder holds an impressive 42 wins in his 44 professional fights, with a draw and defeat to Tyson Fury being his only blemishes.
Ahead of Wilder’s victory over Luis Ortiz last year, ESPN dropped a comparison between the ‘Bronze Bomber’ and Tyson.
Tyson competed in 42 professional bouts by the age of 24, while Wilder notched his 42-fight record up at the age of 34.
Tyson, who was the youngest boxer to win a heavyweight title, suffered one defeat in his first 42 fights when Buster Douglas caused an upset in their 1990 clash.
Wilder also boasts a superior knockout record over the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet,’ with 40 KOs compared to Tyson’s 36 at that time.
However, Tyson holds the advantage over Wilder when it comes to titles won.
The 54-year-old former undisputed world heavyweight champ had already won the WBA, WBC, IBF, The Ring, and lineal titles by the age of 24.
Meanwhile, Wilder has won the WBC championship once in his career.
Some boxing fans have criticized the stat comparison, arguing that a younger Tyson would have defeated Wilder.
Wilder has previously stated that he could have knocked out the 1986 version of Tyson.
The Alabama-born star also responded strongly to a fan who suggested he couldn’t have competed in the Mike Tyson era.
Fight fans have debated their rivalry, with many arguing that a prime ‘Iron Mike’ would have beaten Wilder.
When Tyson was asked if the ‘Bronze Bomber’ could have beaten him in his prime, he told TMZ in 2018: “I don’t think so.”