MIKE TYSON insists he is the greatest boxer “since the conception of God”.
The American heavyweight’s blistering speed and power – plus wild lifestyle – could be seen as the work of the devil.
But the 54-year-old reckons his talent to destroy people in the ring is purely heaven-sent.
Tyson is coming out of retirement 15 years after his last fight to take on Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition bout on November 28.
Many have questioned whether it is right for two men with a combined age of 105 to fight.
And, alarmingly, in footage chronicling Tyson’s build up to the showdown, the former heavyweight king said: “If I fail, I’m going to die.”
That was part of a wider conversation in which The Baddest Man on the Planet said he had to be considered the best fighter ever.
Tyson said: “Anything I do, I put so much into it.
“If I fail, I’m going to die. How many people do that? That’s what I like to do.
“I go all out or nothing. I play for keeps.
“You know, I’m the greatest fighter since the conception of God.
“How could I not take this opportunity up?”
Floyd Mayweather might have something to say about Tyson’s boast though.
The retired 50-0 fighter, widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound of all time, left Tyson off his list of the five greatest boxers.
Even Muhammad Ali was not good enough for that one.
Mayweather, who says he could make £54million from an exhibition fight like Tyson’s, put himself top of the pile.
Pernell Whitaker came second, Roberto Duran third, Larry Holmes – who lost to Tyson – fourth and Aaron Pryor fifth.
