r/interesting • • 2d ago

Wholesome At 71 Muhammad Ali playfully challenges Mike Tyson during a visit in 2013

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9.7k Upvotes

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539

u/Alive-Ad4532 1d ago

Unbelievable how sharp he used to be to see it taken away like that and yet some spark of that wittiness and expression in his face is still left

58

u/Nasuke1 1d ago

Eyes are definitely alive. Wild what happens to the bodies of us all. Some more drastically than others.

1.9k

u/Sustainable_Twat 2d ago

It’s amazing how humble and kiddish Tyson was around Ali.

720

u/_Phil_McCracken_ 2d ago

I was just watching the new Tyson documentary and Ali was a huge inspiration for him. Interesting doc. 

330

u/pikap83 2d ago

I can see Ali being an inspiration to many people of that age. The guy was the real deal.

105

u/PorcoRosso6969 1d ago

Eddie Murphy mentions Ali in his documentary too. He says something about how he’s the reason why he can do what he wants and be proud of it and his race. It makes sense because in a sense he was really the first one to be proud of himself and be adamant about it. He’s a civil rights hero on top of everything else.

11

u/Dynospec403 1d ago

Cassius Clay is gonna make em pay!

7

u/Blahblahblah5084 21h ago

Thats mr Ali to you

1

u/ScipioCoriolanus 11h ago

"What’s my name?"

82

u/AceofKnaves44 2d ago

One of my dad’s heroes. Him and Superman.

21

u/SelwanPWD 1d ago

Wow same here, nice to meet you long lost sibling.

5

u/AceofKnaves44 1d ago

Sibling 🫂

7

u/Acrobatic-List-6503 1d ago

Did your dad know the two fought in a boxing match?

4

u/AceofKnaves44 1d ago

Of course he does. I bought that for him as a poster.

3

u/mr_skeletonbones 1d ago

Real deal? Thought that was Holyfield

4

u/cbflowers 2d ago

I started it last night and it’s very good.

3

u/Khelthuzaad 1d ago

Tyson always was a chill dude.

Until some brat started to mess up with his pigeons.

3

u/montaron89 1d ago

Just finished first episode and its looking really good

1

u/cp8125 1d ago

Same. First episode done.

6

u/Individual-Drawer-79 2d ago

I’m interested because I didn’t know there was a new documentary on tyson. Where did you watch it?

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u/Amateur-Top 1d ago

Ali was his hero. He has always given Ali his flowers and always picks Ali to beat him whenever anyone throws up the hypothetical. Even menaces like Mike get starstruck lol

107

u/ThereIsNoIInMapei 1d ago

Tyson LOVED Ali. To get a feel for this, go youtube the Tyson v. Larry Holmes fight. Don't hit play just yet, here's the pre-amble.

Larry Holmes fought Ali when Ali was 38, way past his prime. Ali already was showing signs of neurological damage. The fight should have been stopped sooner than it was, which led to America watching Holmes wail on a feeble, clearly damaged Ali. Young Mike Tyson watched that and swore revenge.

When Tyson and Holmes faced off, Tyson refused to shake Holmes' hands. He ferociously shit talked Holmes before the fight.

Now go click "play". That's a VERY angry young man. An angry young man who perhaps is the deadliest fighter ever. An angry, dangerous young man who sees the guy who irreparably hurt his childhood hero. Tyson just fucking DESTROYS him. It isn't boxing, it;s just this massive ugly cage fight. Tyson rips him apart. when it's all done, he says it was for Ali.

He doesn't "love" Ali, it's more like he sees himself as Ali's sworn protector or little brother or something. You really have to see the Holmes vids to get a feel for it

11

u/Turak64 1d ago

Also Ali spoke to Tyson just before the bell, apparently it was something like "get this chump for me"

7

u/_somebod 1d ago

I forget if it was in Mohammed Ali's autobiography or Mike Tyson's. Maybe both. But Mike Tyson spoke to Mohammed Ali after this and swore to avenge him. I think he was 14 years old at the time. I think he may have been in a young offenders prison. He told his hero of his that he would avenge him. He didn't just come across the opportunity to avenge his hero. He had been plotting since 14 years old.

17

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

29

u/Pseudotm 1d ago

Sounds like poetic justice then.

3

u/donkeybray 1d ago

Sounds childish to me, again I'm ignorant about that side of the world.

4

u/Tolan91 1d ago

He got the same treatment he gave. And it's not like Holmes was jumped in a back alley, he knew what he was faced with and agreed to it.

2

u/MyBraveAccount 1d ago

First paragraph: "Tyson LOVED Ali."

Last paragraph: "He doesn't "love" Ali."

wow that was a rollercoaster

1

u/exmagus 1d ago

Thanks, I'll check it out

36

u/Special_Spirit8284 2d ago

Man I always enjoy watching Tyson avenge Ali. That look when he saw his idol lose and that look when he avenged him too. Fucking goosebumps

6

u/ConsistentAsparagus 1d ago

“Every head must bow, every tongue must confess” he said

1

u/Jonesgrieves 1d ago

And now he bends the knee to a child molester for a few bucks. I guess we know how much his morals are worth.

-16

u/MexTorito 2d ago

Mike 'The Rapist' Tyson.

15

u/Otherwise-Weird1695 1d ago

He should run for president 

-1

u/IBeDumbAndSlow 2d ago

Is actually Mike 'Iron Mike' Tyson. The Rapist.

-16

u/MexTorito 2d ago

See by the downvotes, I've stumbled upon an American Conservative controlled sub.

14

u/ADHD_DEEZ_NUTS 1d ago

Oh people really dont like it when you mention Tyson is a rapist and an all around scumbag.

9

u/MexTorito 1d ago

Yup.

Rape apologists somehow claim to be all about 'family values'.

5

u/StrangerDanga1 1d ago

I laugh so hard every time I think of that canadian host asking about it and Tyson getting so mad haha

0

u/AnOrdinaryMammal 1d ago

Nah it’s mostly just boring. We all know, we’ve all heard about it. No one wants to see you two rub one out together in the comments over it.

Almost certainly happened before you were born, it’s really common knowledge.

3

u/AuntFritz 1d ago

Someone is always surprised when I post it.

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u/FrogsMakePoorSoup 2d ago

Amongst conservatives rape is ok if the person is popular enough, not that politics needs to be raised here.

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u/MexTorito 1d ago

Uh, why? It's obviously a more serious issue when one defends a rapist?

2

u/FrogsMakePoorSoup 1d ago

I'm not gonna pretend I fully understand how conservatives brains work.

1

u/MexTorito 1d ago

Impossible

453

u/DangerMacAwesome 1d ago

Right before he brightens at the end, there is a look of such sadness on Tyson's face.

I am truly saddened that Ali was reduced to such a state for so much of his life.

155

u/Calamity_Jay 1d ago

IMO, it's equal parts sadness for looking at what Parkinson's and neurological damage had done to Ali and the realization that it could be him in the future.

64

u/usr_pls 1d ago

and that's why he fell to Paul, one last big bout for the last biggest wad of cash to leave your family and legacy... just in case...

31

u/LomoBaconQueso 1d ago

You’re saying 58-year-old Tyson threw the fight?

23

u/dont_be_that_guy_29 1d ago

More likely it was all staged from the beginning in order to lock down all that cash, similar to WWE.

13

u/2Kortizjr 1d ago

He was 58 at the time of that bout, he didn't need to throw it, Paul is a decent boxer that's way younger than Tyson, time's a bitch even I a scrawny kid with some grappling training has a shot against current Tyson

0

u/Renard_Fou 1d ago

As much of a loser as Jake (and his brother) Paul is, he's undeniably a boxer. His more recent jaw injury is proof that he's not playing arlund

11

u/OppositeDay247 1d ago

Wondering if I just imagined that

663

u/supervillaindsgnr 2d ago

Damn he looks 107, head trauma is no joke.

422

u/Nybear21 2d ago

He had also had Parkinson's for like 30 years at that point

141

u/cuddly_degenerate 1d ago

The two may well be related

112

u/nope-its 1d ago

My dad was on planes with him pretty regularly (like 1-2 times a year by coincidence) over like 15-20 years. They both flew the same route regularly.

My dad says he was always kind and at the beginning he’d sign autographs for whoever came over to him. As he declined he had a briefcase that he’d have business cards with his signature on that he’d have to hand out instead of signing.

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u/unclestickles 2d ago

Mike looked at him with a moment of recognition that that is probably his future. :(

22

u/SpotCreepy4570 1d ago

Mike smokes to much weed for that.

16

u/unclestickles 1d ago

Does he? Never heard that but I get it, I smoke too much weeds too

7

u/Aggravating-Sun-5783 1d ago

He literally has videos smoking hella weed lol look on YouTube

5

u/Zodiac_Chiller 1d ago

Oh yeah, he’s got his own brand of edibles. They’re alright

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u/doonspriggan 1d ago

When Tyson walks into a room, everyone calls him champ. But the only person Tyson ever called Champ was Ali.

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u/tropicbrownthunder 1d ago

"every head must bow, every tongue must confess, this man is the greatest of all time"

Mike Tyson when was asked if he, on his prime, could beat Muhammad Ali on his prime.

Tyson is far from being a favorite of mine (on sportsmanship or as a celebrity) but those words got ingrained in my head

1

u/Abe2sapien 1d ago

Probably Roberto Duran as well!

82

u/Hot_Major8602 2d ago

The look on mikes face at the end looked like a child

37

u/Hiphopapocalyptic 1d ago

Mike almost looks sad for a bit until Ali brings up his fist 🥺

28

u/Crafty-Interest-8212 1d ago

He was still his hero.

22

u/Interesting_Button60 1d ago

Mike turned to a kid meeting his hero. He didn't see the sick Ali, he saw the world beater he wanted to be. There is no bigger Ali fan than Mike.

14

u/IkerWanKenobi 1d ago

I like how he calls him champ

25

u/WrinklyPlantLeaf 1d ago

This is just sad

10

u/blicka7 1d ago

Man getting old sucks

7

u/Fabulous_Army_1321 1d ago

I'll do you one better, getting old as a boxer sucks

1

u/Waste-Piccolo-7324 1d ago

That was likely not caused by old age (or at least not old age alone), but rather from frequent heavy head trauma

6

u/GRDT_Benjamin 1d ago

Two legends

1

u/HueyYamazaki 12h ago

Ali had sex with a 12 year old girl when he was 33 and had many underage girlfriends he also said interacial couples should be killed and Mike is a serial sex pest who grabbed an 11 year old on the ass and said he would rape her and that's just the tip of the iceberg for these two

46

u/PuddingMent 2d ago

He didn’t playfully challenge anyone. He had no idea where he was or what was happening.

157

u/JerkingSpine 2d ago

Just because he doesn't physically react as someone healthy would do it doesn't mean he is absent minded. He knew exactly what was going on.

78

u/newbrevity 2d ago

He was famously sharp even as his body was breaking down.

9

u/RichardBCummintonite 2d ago edited 2d ago

It is impossible for you to be able to tell that from a short video. As someone who had family that went through Parkinsons, even your closest relatives find it hard to tell sometimes when your loved one is actually remembering you or not. It is very obvious much of time and heartbreaking, and that face is the same one my grandpa would give when we knew he didn't know who we were. Well, either that or when he was visibly scared, but that's not happening to Ali* here. It looks like the playing along face patients end up doing because they end up not even being able to tell the difference from remembering or not at some point. It's really hard to tell. He could be aware, but from personal experience, chances are he's not

34

u/Lucky-Savings-6213 2d ago

Buddy, you're saying that they couldn't know this from one short video. Correct. They probably knew it because it is public knowledge. He had issues with speech and motor functions, while his cognitive abilities and awareness was fully intact.

3

u/BrotherMcPoyle 1d ago

He might be cognizant but for 71? My FIL is not athletic but definitely in better mental shape than Ali was in this video and my FIL is closer to 90. He has significant trauma from boxing.

0

u/RandomCleverName 2d ago

Cognitive abilities and awareness fully intact

plays chess with no board

18

u/TheMightyShoe 1d ago

That was for Mike's sake. 😁

2

u/Szoboontheright 1d ago

That floored me brother 😂😂😂.

16

u/PowPowPunishment 1d ago

He raised his finger to his head which was a trademark of older Ali to playfully mock someone as crazy. He didn't have the motor skills here to do the signature finger twirl but it was clear that's what he was indicating.

7

u/BlinkyThreeEyes 1d ago

Wrong, I am friends with therapists who worked with him at his home in berrien springs. He was sharp and witty despite having trouble expressing himself due to parkinsons

2

u/HonestWeevilNerd 1d ago

Did you know you can be physically disabled and still have your mental faculties?

2

u/IndependentOk9075 1d ago

Ignorant comment 

2

u/Gr8_Nobody 1d ago

The matchup we always wanted, but never got to see.

4

u/hetqtje 1d ago

Mike is a good guy

17

u/Realistic_Pen9389 1d ago

Do a bit of reading on that topic and then come back 😭

14

u/Longjumping_Excuse_1 1d ago

Shades of grey nah? Dude's redeeming himself day by day, showing he's changed from the angry younger man he used to be? If you don't give chances to people who fucked up and did bad shit in the past, what reason do they have to try and change at all.

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u/Public-Fig3304 1d ago

Why not just say what your issues are with him vs being mysterious and vague lol

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u/CeemoreButtz 1d ago

Maybe do a bit of reading on rehabilitation and redemption. Then come back.

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u/hetqtje 1d ago

Just give a guy a second chance. Everyone bits someone’s ear off at some stage of their life

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u/Not_Comfortable_1989 1d ago

He was headbutted multiple times in that fight before he did that. Not excusing, but it does explain it when the ref does nothing.

3

u/Brs76 1d ago

Hell yeah.  Holyfield fought a dirty fight. 

4

u/Realistic_Pen9389 1d ago

That’s not what I’m talking about

1

u/j_767 1d ago

Idk if that’s what they’re referring too lol

1

u/Medium_Wind_553 1d ago

He’s a rapist

0

u/blinkgendary182 1d ago

*convicted rapist.

As in he was actually found guilty and served time for it

-1

u/Legally_done 1d ago

And no innocent black man has ever been convicted of a crime they didn’t commit, have they? Look, I don’t know what happened in that hotel room, but I was alive and paying attention during the trial. There’s a lot to question.

1

u/PittsburghPenis 18h ago

Tyson denies raping her, but does admit he raped other women. So even if he was innocent of that rape, he was a self proclaimed rapist.

1

u/WhoMattB 15h ago

Also there was forensic proof, looking into the case it seems pretty clear that Tyson got of lightly considering the circumstances

1

u/Medium_Wind_553 14h ago

What a sick and demented thing to say. Imagine saying that to the girl who got raped or her family’s faces?

1

u/Legally_done 12h ago

Questioning the accuracy of a verdict is sick and demented? It’s a good thing you aren’t an appellate attorney—at least I hope you aren’t.

1

u/Own_Teach9963 1d ago

That’s the truth

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u/oak1337 17h ago

His redemption arc is strong. People change.

Good on him, and I hope he continues.

I'm not even a religion guy, but truly, "yet he who is without sin cast the first stone". Everyone makes mistakes. All we can do is get better day by day.

1

u/CarParks 10h ago

No sir he is not

-3

u/ReMuS2003 1d ago

Yeah how about no

3

u/Final_Location_2626 1d ago

Hes a man who did some terrible things, served his time and has done things to turn his life around.

Hes a better man than he was.

9

u/heyboddiker 1d ago

He has actively worked to change and become a better person. He isn't doing it to improve his public image. He is doing it because he didn't like who he was and wants to be better. People can change. I find him inspiring

3

u/Away_Investigator351 1d ago

You can recognise someone has amended their flaws whilst recognising they have done horrible things.

It's both fair to appreciate his evils, as it is his rehabilitation.

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u/manofsteel24 1d ago

Ali would be ashamed of Mike if he was alive. Stepping on stage with the orange turd.

1

u/throwaway6968969420 23h ago

not surprised mike would do that because of his sexual assault cases

2

u/PittsburghPenis 18h ago

Sexual assault is something Tyson and Ali had in common. Mohammad Ali was a child rapist, as much as people like to forget that. Ali began having sex with Tamika Williams when she was 11/12 but denied the child was his then fought her in court until the statute of limitations ran out. His wife Porche Ali, stated Ali admitted to raping being seduced by the 11 year old but denied the child was his, because according to Ali, everyone was banging that kid in his fight camp.

1

u/Han2023- 1d ago

Those eyes

1

u/rel1800 1d ago

Just like Jerry Lee Lewis, Woody Allen, Freddi Moore, Fergie with Justin at 16, Joel Madden with Hilary Duff at 16.

1

u/AvocaRed 1d ago

Brain damage is scary

1

u/Dreckiger-_-Dan 1d ago

After that they went into the Ring and Tyson did Not hold Back.

1

u/Octopus_Radar 1d ago

Ultimate respect from Tyson, he was thrilled to be with The Greatest. Man this made me cry

1

u/VisibleRoad3504 1d ago

That is so sad to see that disease take someone, anyone.

1

u/IdealStatus7549 1d ago

That last shot at the end is priceless.

1

u/ChildoftheApocolypse 1d ago

I had my chance to meet Ali the year following this and I didn't take it.. Still regret..

1

u/SnakeThruster 1d ago

Oh snap, I remember them from Baki

1

u/SagHor1 1d ago

Did they ever correlate his brain condition with concussion from boxing?

3

u/internetcosmic 1d ago

I don’t know if there’s a way to definitively correlate it but it’s pretty obvious. Almost all boxers end up with CTE and CTE can cause a ton of other brain problems (like Parkinsons)

1

u/Naive-Equal-9959 1d ago

When I think of Muhammad Ali I can only help but think of my grandma. She died on the same day and was just as tough. She had 17 kids.

1

u/gilbertbenjamington 1d ago

Rapists aren't wholesome

1

u/IndependentWooden363 23h ago

Tragic but also quite provoking in that does Tyson look in those few seconds of doubt at the husk of the Greatest believing that some day could be his fate due to taking punches?! Iron Mike does his best to show the respect due but there’s a moment there you can see some form of sympathy(?) in his eyes. I think it’s been documented enough that Ali just fought too many fights and took one too many punches to the head.

-12

u/AuntFritz 2d ago

Mike Tyson is a convicted rapist.

17

u/mojizus 2d ago

Genuine question, do you not believe people can be rehabilitated?

He served his time for that 30 years ago and hasn’t re-offended, I’d say that’s a pretty good showing of rehabilitation.

Not saying he’s a good person by any means, just not sure how relevant this is to the post.

11

u/NickWangOG 2d ago

Theft and drug charges are a lot more forgivable than violent felons like convicted murders and rapists

5

u/Front-Cabinet5521 1d ago

He was a good boxer so they don't care. Prime example of how being good at sports makes people bend their morals.

2

u/kittenconfidential 1d ago

rehabilitation means owning up to your past mistakes. he’s never truly apologized to his victim (a letter he wrote “apologizing” did not actually apologize or admit culpability). after writing the “apology” letter, he’s also repeatedly denied it happened after serving his sentence.

1

u/DarknessEmpireLeader 21h ago

Does rehabilitation mean he's no longer considered a convicted rapist? Genuine question.

1

u/MasterpieceAlone8552 2d ago

If he's so reformed why was he on stage going to bat for another sex pest just last week?

1

u/AuntFritz 2d ago

I believe some people can be rehabilitated.

I believe people given celebrity status are more likely to be believed than their victims.

3

u/idontknowman139 2d ago

Damn it Every celebrity in the world is a rapist or something

1

u/JazzmatazZ4 2d ago

The guy went to prison and paid for his sins, what more do you want?

2

u/AuntFritz 2d ago

Loss of celebrity status.

-7

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

18

u/Dysmn 2d ago

oh so we're just making shit up now?

-2

u/Ok-Macaron7274 2d ago

I've never heard this one. Yikes!

17

u/Dysmn 2d ago

you didnt hear it because its not true lmfao

9

u/I_WILL_GET_YOU 2d ago

It's a comment from an average redditor, it must be true

3

u/AuntFritz 2d ago

Google Temica Williams. Ali's wife confirmed the "affair," but I don't believe paternity was ever confirmed.

-8

u/I_WILL_GET_YOU 2d ago

And I'm sure you're squeaky clean, never did anything wrong

12

u/BringPheTheHorizon 2d ago

I definitely didn’t rape anyone. I can’t believe you actually just said that.

5

u/JazzmatazZ4 2d ago

Probably not rape.

1

u/MiserableMagician254 2d ago

He looks good!

-3

u/Marin_Wuz_Here 1d ago

Two child rapists, mind you. Tyson molested a 10 year old girl, and raped a woman, and Ali impregnated a 12 year old girl when he was 33. These freaks don't deserve the reverence they get.

3

u/bbbeast19 1d ago

People will downvote you but they won't dispute what you said lol. Neither of the two were good people

-18

u/Prudent-Aspect5085 2d ago

Yikes. Why are we posting this.

8

u/Jean_Luc_Dikard 1d ago edited 1d ago

Yikes.

Reddit moment.

A word exclusively used by people you don't want to be within 500ft of.

-14

u/Tetra-san 2d ago edited 1d ago

they're both terrible people the media just decided to protect these 2 specifically but still heart warming moment
research before downvoting, sheep

2

u/Accomplished-City484 1d ago

Why was Ali a terrible person?

1

u/Tetra-san 1d ago

Joined the Nation of Islam

Changed His Name to Muhammad Ali

Adopted Racial Separatist Beliefs

Hostility Toward White People

Opposed Interracial Relationships

Relationship With Malcolm X

Loyalty to Elijah Muhammad

FBI Investigations of the Nation of Islam

Malcolm X's Break With the Nation of Islam

Elijah Muhammad's Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Betrayed Malcolm X

Ali's Reaction to Malcolm X's Assassination

Allegations of Sexual Misconduct With Minors

Met His Future Wife at 10, Married at 16

Infidelity and Affairs

Domestic Abuse Allegations

Allegedly Impregnated a 17-Year-Old

Allegedly Impregnated a 16-Year-Old

Allegedly Impregnated a 12-Year-Old

Marriage Laws and the Alleged Legal Loophole

Muhammad Ali vs. Antonio Inoki

The Controversial Inoki Fight

1

u/MonkeEatDmt 1d ago

Idk why you getting downvoted. This shit is true. He not a good person. He a true racist

1

u/CeemoreButtz 1d ago

Fukin nerd.

-11

u/_togepi96 1d ago

Remember when he groomed an underage girl? Haha, that’s our favorite boxer!

2

u/MonkeEatDmt 1d ago

Downvoted for telling the truth is crazy.

1

u/rel1800 1d ago

Just like Elvis with Priscilla, or Seinfeld with a teenage girl.

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u/Either-Response-5757 1d ago

You can say that without the energy of a douchebag

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