Mixed martial arts legend Chuck Liddell has made a bold prediction on a potential clash with Mike Tyson in the street.
Liddell recently come out of retirement and fought his old rival, Tito Ortiz, in their trilogy fight under Oscar Dela Hoya’s Golden Boy MMA Promotion.
While he won the past two meetings, the 49-year old fighter came up short on his return as he was finished by Ortiz in the first round.
Talks of another retirement loomed for Liddell after that loss, but in a documentary by ESPN, he said nothing is certain about his future in fighting.
In fact, he has brought up the idea of fighting the legendary boxer in a street brawl.
Speaking to Ed Mylett on Fighting Is The Reward, ‘The Iceman’ said he would definitely win against Tyson.
“In a street fight, I’d win,” Liddell claimed, (transcript from MMA Mania).
“I mean, he’s got a puncher’s chance. He’s got a chance to catch me coming in. But other than that, it’s over.”
Combat Sports Legends
Both Tyson and Liddell have established great careers in their respective combat sport.
Tyson was an undisputed champion of boxing’s heavyweight division while Liddell defended the UFC light heavyweight title for four straight times.
A three-fight losing streak from 2008-2010 forced the UFC Hall of Famer to hang up his gloves, ending his career with a 17-7 win-loss slate.
However, Liddell’s former manager and now UFC president,Dana White, was not happy with his decision to unretire last year.
“Chuck is actually a smart guy and I tried to talk both of them out of this De La Hoya fight, told them that this De La Hoya thing was bad,” White told TMZ Sports.
“Chuck, I tried to talk out of the fight period. Chuck Liddell is 50 years old and should not be fighting.”
“He’s a grown man and he can do whatever he wants to do but let me tell you what, the commission that sanctions that fight, wow.”
Great Person
But while White was disappointed with Chuck’s return to MMA, the outspoken promotion chief cannot deny the love and respect for his former talent.
“Chuck Liddell is one of the greatest people you could ever meet.”
“He’s a good person. He’s a good guy.”
“He’s a guy that you become friends with and you’re friends with that guy for the rest of your life.”
“He’s that guy. He takes care of the people that are around him. All the people that were around him in the beginning of his career are still around him now and still friends with him.”
“He’s a good person. When you meet Chuck Liddell, when you get to know Chuck Liddell, you love Chuck Liddell.”
“To his core he is a fighter, it’s what he loves to do, but that third fight should have never happened.”
Would you like to see Chuck Liddell and Mike Tyson in a street brawl? Or will we see him don the four-ounce gloves again?
(Featured Image Source: Instagram/ Chuck Liddell and Mike Tyson)