Earlier this year, in a rare interview, 68-year-old former heavyweight fighter Mitch Green insisted that Mike Tyson would never agree to a fight if the opportunity arose. “He wouldn’t do it,” he told DJ Vlad. As far as Green is concerned, he’d accept the challenge with ‘quickness.’ But the question remains: leaving aside age and retirement, why would Iron Mike call him out? Because he’s beaten him not once, but twice? Twice? Well, they only fought once, in the ring, 39 years ago.
A long-forgotten chapter of Mike Tyson’s colorful career resurfaced recently. During an appearance on Shaquille O’Neal’s podcast, the youngest heavyweight champion in history looked back on his infamous encounters with Mitch Green from 37 years ago. Alongside James Tillis, Green ended Tyson’s 19-fight knockout streak. And then, two years later, picked a fight with him in the streets of Harlem.
Somewhere mid-conversation, Shaq brought up Green. “Tell me something about Mitch Green,” he asked. The question made Tyson visibly pause, his mind wandering back to those turbulent days. O’Neal’s co-host, Adam Lefkoe, seemed largely unaware of who Mitch Green was. Just how forgotten this name has become over the decades.
Boxing Mike Tyson Mike Tyson training at Cus D Amato s gym in Catskill, NY in 1986. Catskill Cus D Amato Boxing Gym New York United States Copyright: xPaulxJxSutton/DUOMO/PCNx BX0201_106019
Tyson didn’t hold back. “Mitch Green’s a fighter/junkie/stickup kid. And I heard he’s a born-again Christian now,” he said. Though he acknowledged Green’s boxing ability, he emphasized the trouble that followed him. “He’s the kind of guy… Oh, you got to hear. He would go in the gas station, tie the gas station guy up, and start pumping gas and getting the money, taking the money. And that’s the kind of guy Mitch Green is.”
“A total bully,” Mike Tyson summed up. And maybe that’s why things escalated. “That’s why I had to kick his a**. I thought he was trying to go in my pocket. Yeah, in real life I hit him up too because he was trying to play me cuz I was in Harlem.” Tyson added.
The brawl emerged seemingly out of nowhere.
When Mike Tyson handed Mitch Green another beating
On August 23, 1988, two years after losing to Tyson in Madison Square Garden, Mitch Green confronted the then-undisputed heavyweight champion at Dapper Dan’s, a high-end boutique in Harlem.
The confrontation quickly spiraled into a full-on street fight. According to Green, he was owed money by Tyson’s promoter, Don King. But words gave way to punches. A thunderous straight right from Tyson left Green with a swollen-shut left eye and a gash across the nose that required five stitches.
Boxing: Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr, Nov 28, 2020 Los Angeles, CA, USA Mike Tyson black trunks exits the ring after his split draw against Roy Jones, Jr. white trunks during a heavyweight exhibition boxing bout for the WBC Frontline Belt at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Scarnici/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports, 28.11.2020 21:33:26, 15246716, Boxing, NPStrans, Staples Center, Roy Jones Jr, Mike Tyson, Roy Jones, TopPic PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJoexScarnicix 15246716
But Tyson didn’t leave the scene unscathed. He fractured his right hand during the brawl. At the time, he was riding high after a 91-second knockout of Michael Spinks and was gearing up for a title defense against Frank Bruno that October. The fight had to be postponed until February 1989 because of the injury.
Reflecting on it later, Tyson didn’t mince words. “He must have thought I’m some punk,” Tyson said before adding, “I picked his a** before but he thought he didn’t know I’m from the street.” As far as the boxing legend was concerned, “He made me beat that a**.”
The Tyson-Green street fight remains one of the most infamous and bizarre moments in boxing history. A raw reminder of Iron Mike’s explosive life both inside and outside the ring.
What’s your favorite Mike Tyson story? Let us know in the comments.
The post 37 Years After Nearly Beating Him to Death, Mike Tyson Reopens Mitch Green’s Old Wounds appeared first on EssentiallySports.