The only heavyweight champion Mike Tyson declined to compete during his career is named.

After that, Tyson engaged in a plethora of fights with varying degrees of success, including those with Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Larry Holmes, Frank Bruno, Michael Spinks, and Tony Tucker. However, there was one fighter that “Iron Mike” infamously avoided meeting in the ring: former world champion Riddick Bowe. Bowe was a two-time world champion, having first won the title in 1992 after defeating Holyfield. Twelve months later, “The Real Deal” exacted retribution. In 1995, Bowe won a third bout by stopping him in the eighth round.Bowe’s sole loss during his career occurred in 1993; he finished with a 43-1 record and one no-loss.Mike Tyson gave an example of why he never wanted to fight “Big Daddy” in a film from his fighting days. “Riddick Bowe is my favourite. Together, we attended school. One thing I would do differently is that. Being as morally upright as I am at this point in my life, I doubt that I would [attack him]. Simply put, it is too disrespectful. “If you are conscious, the only reason you would touch someone in a street fight is if you don’t respect them.” Children quarrel because they lack self-awareness. However, as mature men battling, if they are conscious, I will only touch you if I don’t respect you in the event of a battle.