Boxing legend Mike Tyson has paid homage to Ireland’s fighting heritage, but surprisingly left UFC superstar Conor McGregor off his list of favorite Irish combatants.
In a recent interview with iFL TV, “Iron Mike” reflected on the Irish boxers who inspired him during his youth, naming several historical figures instead of the contemporary MMA champion.
“You know how many great Irish boxers there are. Johnny Kilbane is one of my favourites. Let’s see, I like Mike McTigue, Jack Dempsey is my favorite Irish boxer,” Tyson said.
The former heavyweight champion’s comments have raised eyebrows among combat sports fans, as McGregor is widely considered Ireland’s most famous fighting export in recent decades.
Tyson’s favorites instead reach back to boxing’s golden era. Johnny Kilbane, son of immigrants from Achill, was a celebrated featherweight champion. Mike McTigue found success in the light heavyweight division during Ireland’s wartime period. Jack Dempsey, who had Irish ancestry, dominated as heavyweight champion from 1919 to 1926 and became an iconic figure in 1920s boxing.
While McGregor has primarily made his name in mixed martial arts, he did venture into professional boxing for a high-profile 2017 match against Floyd Mayweather Jr. Despite this crossover attempt, Tyson appears more impressed with the accomplishments of boxing’s Irish legends.
The interview also revealed Tyson’s characteristic boldness when discussing other topics. When asked about the viral hypothetical question of whether 100 men could defeat a gorilla in combat, Tyson displayed his trademark confidence.
“The gorilla is in serious trouble. He’s in serious trouble,” he told The Ring, suggesting that if those men were versions of himself in his prime, the outcome wouldn’t favor the gorilla.
Tyson even shared an anecdote about once offering $10,000 to a zookeeper for the opportunity to enter a gorilla enclosure. “When we got to the gorilla cage, there was a huge silverback gorilla intimidating the others. They were very powerful, but their eyes were like those of an innocent baby,” Tyson recalled.
