Mike Tyson has been backed to beat Tyson Fury, who was named after the boxing legend, in a fantasy fight between the pair.

Heavyweight champion Fury has always shown admiration for Tyson, who remains the youngest boxer ever to win a heavyweight world title, achieving the feat at just 20 years old. Former world champion Carl Froch was asked about a hypothetical fight between Tyson and Fury – and thinks ‘Iron Mike’ would have knocked the Brit out cold.

“Mike Tyson knocked out a few big lumps and tall guys too. I think Tyson Fury would be able to keep him out of the way for an amount of time but you’re talking about a peak Mike Tyson, who was world champion at 20,” Froch told Lucky Block. I think a peak Mike Tyson beats almost anybody.

“Just the way he used to be in the ring he was a dangerous, dangerous man. He didn’t stop throwing punches. He used to roll his way into range. If they tried to grab him, he’d push him off and he’d throw big hooks and big uppercuts and he’d land on the chin and render them unconscious. I think the answer to that question for me would be Mike Tyson beats Tyson Fury.”

Fury was supposed to fight Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed world titles last weekend but the fight now takes place on May 18 after Fury was cut above his eye in sparring. The Brit is hoping for a better performance against Usyk than his last fight with former UFC champion Francis Ngannou.

Tyson was helping Ngannou in his preparations to fight Fury and was even challenged to a fight by the Brit’s dad John at their press conference. Tyson laughed off the call-out and John has now been challenged to a fight by Joe Egan, who once used to be a sparring partner for the heavyweight legend.

“He’s out of mind about the exhibition,” Tyson told reporters about John. “I’ll tell you what has impressed me so much at the weigh-in and press conference, normally they have to be tough but it was all love in there. It was a majestic sign of ‘We’re fighting each other’, just amazing. I’ve never experienced anything like that.”