Freddie Roach reveals what it feels like to take a Mike Tyson right hand as he opens up on ‘difficult’ training sessions
Freddie Roach believes Mike Tyson could have been the best of all time had he not spent three years in prison during his peak years.
In fact, the legendary trainer admitted training Tyson during his twilight years was 'a lot of fun', but often futile.
'Iron Mike' worked with the Wild Card gym chief after being knocked out by Lennox Lewis in 2002.
Despite a sensational knockout of Clifford Etienne in their first fight together, Tyson's injury problems blighted their progress.
It did not stop the 'Baddest Man on the Planet' from landing a series of devastating right hooks in training, however.
"Mike’s a great guy and I did train him for a couple of fights before the end of his career, but his heart wasn’t really in it at that time," Roach told .
"If he didn’t knock you out in a couple of rounds he’d get a torn meniscus in his knee or an injury somewhere here or there.
"But the thing is Mike is a great puncher, he trains very hard.
"Being with Mike for two fights it was a lot of fun, I enjoyed it. Catching him on the mitts was very difficult and a lot of fun.
"Getting whacked by Mike Tyson with the right hook isn’t my favourite spot but I lived through it!"
Roach often tells the story of when Tyson connected with his chin and sent him to sleep while standing up.
"He was very explosive. He hit me in the chin one day, I didn’t go down but I was definitely knocked out on my feet!" Roach told .
"He hit me so hard! His speed was the big factor. He has it on tape somewhere but he won’t give it to me."
Despite their largely unsuccessful stint together, Roach still maintains the 53-year-old had all the attributes to have been one of the greatest to ever lace up a pair of gloves.
"If he didn’t go to jail he might have been one of the greatest of all time, I do think that, yes," said the veteran trainer.
"I was in jail once for one day and I didn’t enjoy that one day, so spending three years in jail I think that might take a lot out of anybody in the world."