Fighters who said they'd beat ATGs of earlier eras?

Tyson was extremely respectful and kind of in awe of Ali

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I get the sense Ali genuinely was in awe of Tyson too - at the very least, pre-Douglas. Anybody see that video where a reporter is sitting with Ali, Frazier & Holmes & the latter is predictably calling Tyson a loser (this is some time after Holmes was knocked dead by him), & while Holmes is saying Tyson would have been a nobody in the 70’s, just barely off camera you can hear Ali utter, “Speak for yourself.”

 

Tyson was like two personalities. One was a man who talked about wanted to eat Lewis's children, or the best punch he ever landed was on Robin Givens.
And the other was a very humble, student of boxing history. Who gave praise to the greats that came before him.
I believe the former was what he thought the world wanted him to be .
The ladder was who he is....

 

Probably don’t get to be champion without a lot of self belief. I doubt if any of the fighter’s mentioned in this thread would have been hesitant to fight past greats. The difference is how you say it. The Rocky Marciano and Tyson way, or the Larry Holmes way. Larry was great but he should have just kept his mouth shut, although saying Marciano couldn’t carry his jockstrap may not mean he thought he could beat him, perhaps he was just super possessive of his jockstrap?

 

The kind of fighters who get to this level, tend to not be short of self belief.

Don't judge them for it, because it is part of what they are.

It comes down to human nature as well.

I run 100mile footraces, that typically have a 30- 40% attrition rate, and they generally expect you to complete something like a 40 miler before they will let you enter.

After I went 7-0 in these events, I started to think that I was indestructible.

Obviously the 8th one cut me down to size.

 

You're probably right.

 

You forgot his other personality - one of the greatest practitioners of unintentional comedy (my favourite kind, personally) of any era.

 

It's more delusional to have Holmes ranked at 10 than 1 imo.

 

Id have to disagree. Holmes’ résumé isn’t particularly deep, & has its share of poor performances. He’s top 10, but I’d have him nearer 10 than 1.

 

Same here.
Tyson's personal flaws and vices are well known.
But oddly he was kinda humble and gracious regarding former ATG.

 

Really? Lewis made comments he could beat the greats of the past?

Where can i find proof of this? Source?

 

Agree on Holmes but Gene Tunney was absolutely shocking from memory as well.

 

There is a interview in small bus where one man interviewed few good boxers and Lewis was talking about McCall.