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Mike Tyson was once snubbed by his ex-trainer when naming the hardest hitter of his career

Originally posted on HITC | By Jamie Theodosi | Last updated Dec 28, 2025 5:00 AM ET

Despite being known as one of the hardest hitters in boxing history, Mike Tyson was once overlooked by a trainer who picked someone else as the strongest fighter he had worked with.

Tyson’s career was defined by his overwhelming power and speed. He built a reputation early on as the most intimidating fighter in boxing, a status that only grew as he rose quickly through the ranks.

He became the youngest heavyweight champion ever in 1986 after knocking out Trevor Berbick, delivering on a promise he had made years earlier to Muhammad Ali.

Early in his career, ‘Iron Mike’ worked with trainer Johnny Tocco, who also coached several prominent heavyweights from before Tyson’s era.

Johnny Tocco picked Sonny Liston over Mike Tyson as the hardest-hitter he worked with

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Along with working with Tyson early on, Tocco also spent time training Larry Holmes, Earnie Shavers and Sonny Liston.

Liston had a reputation for being one of the sport’s most intimidating figures. Tocco once described him as having a stare that unsettled opponents before the first bell, and called him a “killing machine.”

Tocco even went so far as to call Liston the hardest-hitter he ever trained, a nod that overlooked not just Tyson but several other heavy punchers he had worked with over his career.

Even so, Tyson did not seem to mind the comparison. In fact, he has said similar things about Liston himself in the past.

‘Iron Mike’ once said on the Big Podcast with Shaq: “Sonny Liston is the scariest fighter to ever live.”

“There’s no fighter like Sonny Liston. Sonny Liston is a monster.”

Mike Tyson’s next fight is against Floyd Mayweather

In a move that caught many off guard, Tyson and Floyd Mayweather are set to face each other in what is already being called one of the most controversial match-ups of 2026.

Mayweather, who retired from professional boxing in 2017, has kept busy with several exhibition bouts since then. Tyson also returned to the ring last year for a fight against Jake Paul.

A date for their meeting has not been set yet, but Tyson, now 59, has said it will likely happen somewhere in Africa.

This article first appeared on HITC and was syndicated with permission.

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