in my opinion:

While Mike Tyson was becoming greater and greater, Muhammad Ali saw him as a great fighter and put him over like he always did with up and coming fighters years after his retirement. And no, I don’t think it was for him a big threat to his reputation as the “Greatest of All Time”:

During Mike Tyson’s 3 years of greatness ( 1985-1988), Ali lowered himself willingly out of modesty, was humble and gracious to Tyson and to every “still learning” fighters.

In an interview from the Arsenio Hall show, Muhammad a lot of good things about the 23 years old beast like:

“I am scared of him.”

“He can be modest humble and nice. But this man is great. I don’t know what would happen if he hit me.”

And of course, the question of which of them would have prevailed in their primes was asked.

Hall asked both men their thoughts on what might have gone down had the 2 fighters met inside the ring. Muhammad said:

“I was dancer. I wasn’t that powerful. I was so fast. But if he hit me…….”.

But I would say “Iron” Mike’s short period at his highest level didn’t represent a big threat to his idol’s reputation.

Simply because I don’t think Tyson would ever put himself in Muhammad’s class.

AND, Mike himself didn’t do enough to warrant an opportunity to be in the same level with the Greatest……that counts, too.

He was not as dominant as Muhammad Ali, plus, he fought and beat lesser competition.

His performances during his peak might warrant the elite statue or even a place amongst the all time greats, but he still has 0 right to be in the same conversation with the likes of Ali, Louis, SRR or Ezzard Charles.

But, if it wasn’t for his rapide decline, I strongly believe that he would’ve had a higher placing and a very good chance to be in this list.