David Haye Shakes Up Heavyweight Rankings With Tyson Snub

Boxing fans and pundits alike are buzzing after former world champion David Haye shook up the heavyweight conversation by revealing his top five greatest heavyweights of all time—deliberately leaving out the polarizing figure of Mike Tyson. Haye’s remarks, made on the BBC’s Costello and Bunce podcast on January 18, 2026, have reignited debate across the sport, with many questioning what it truly takes to be considered among the elite in heavyweight history.

Haye, known as ‘The Hayemaker’ during his own storied career, didn’t mince words about his reasons for omitting ‘Iron Mike’ Tyson from his prestigious list. Tyson, who became the youngest ever heavyweight champion at just 20 years old by defeating Trevor Berbick in 1986, is still widely regarded as one of the most intimidating and electrifying fighters to ever step into the ring. His record—50 wins and 6 losses—speaks for itself, and his aura during the late 1980s was the stuff of legend. Yet, Haye took a critical stance, focusing not just on Tyson’s highlights but also on his perceived shortcomings.

“How many fights did Tyson have where he was behind on points?” Haye asked during the podcast, raising a pointed question that has echoed throughout the boxing community. “Where he got put down, hurt and came back, that’s the question. The moment he started to lose or it started to get tough, it seemed to go the other way. Many fighters have had tough fights where they are on the brink of losing and found a way to win, I’ve never seen that with Tyson. I find it hard to say someone’s in the top five of all time if they’ve never had a fight which they were losing and they came back to win.”

Tyson’s career, of course, was marked by both breathtaking highs and dramatic lows. After his shocking defeat to 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas, Tyson’s life spiraled amid personal and legal troubles. He was convicted of rape and sentenced to three years in prison, an event that forever changed the trajectory of his boxing journey. Tyson did manage a resurgence, regaining the world title by defeating Frank Bruno in March 1996, only to lose it later that year to Evander Holyfield. The infamous rematch—where Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield’s ear—remains one of the sport’s most controversial moments. After a final professional loss to Kevin McBride in 2005, Tyson stepped away from the ring, only to return for an exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr. in 2020 and a pro loss to Jake Paul in November 2024.

Despite Tyson’s later struggles, many still rank him among the all-time greats, citing his early dominance and cultural impact. Haye, though, argued that Tyson’s potential was never fully realized. “If he’s 21, he’s a baby in boxing terms. He was only going to get better and better. But what happened was, he peaked at 21 and didn’t get better, he got worse every fight. He did less training, less sparring, had less discipline, more money, different women. He got worse and worse until he lost.”

So who did make Haye’s heavyweight pantheon? His list, revealed in full, reads like a roll call of boxing’s most revered names:

5. Larry Holmes: Holmes, with a record of 69-6, held the WBC heavyweight title from 1978 until 1983 and the IBF title from 1983 until 1985. Known for his jab and technical prowess, Holmes was a dominant force in his era, calling time on his career in 1991 after a loss to Tyson himself.

4. George Foreman: ‘Big George’ Foreman’s career spanned an astonishing 30 years, racking up a record of 76-5 with 68 knockouts. Foreman’s legacy includes his shocking defeat to Muhammad Ali in the legendary ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ in 1974, but he made history by becoming the oldest heavyweight champion ever at age 45, defeating Michael Moorer in 1994.

3. Evander Holyfield: ‘The Real Deal’ Holyfield is the only four-time heavyweight champion in history, finishing with a record of 44-10. His legacy is inextricably linked with Tyson, having defeated him twice, including the infamous bout that ended with the bite. Holyfield’s resilience and willingness to face all comers cemented his place in Haye’s top five.

2. Lennox Lewis: Lewis, a three-time world champion, lost only twice in his career—first to Oliver McCall in 1994 and then to Hasim Rahman in 2001—but avenged both defeats in rematches. Lewis’s technical mastery and ability to adapt made him a dominant force, and he holds wins over both Tyson and Holyfield.

1. Muhammad Ali: Topping Haye’s list is ‘The Greatest’ himself. Ali’s record of 56-5 is impressive, but his charisma, activism, and the magnitude of his fights—such as the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ and the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’—set him apart from every other heavyweight. Ali’s impact on the sport, and on society, remains unmatched.

While Haye’s ranking has sparked debate, it’s impossible to ignore the context in which these legends competed. British boxing, in particular, has experienced a renaissance in recent decades, thanks in part to figures behind the scenes. Promoter Frank Warren, for example, has spent more than 40 years shaping the sport, helping to build the careers of fighters like Frank Bruno, Naseem Hamed, Ricky Hatton, and Tyson Fury. Warren’s resilience—surviving a shooting and financial setbacks after building the London Arena in 1988—mirrors the grit found in many of the fighters he’s promoted. “Getting shot. I built the London Arena; I put a lot of money into that. I was the first person to build an arena in 50 odd years, 12,000 seat indoor arena, the biggest back then in ’88. I had a couple of other public companies I was involved with and I was doing extremely well. Cut a long story short, I got shot,” Warren recounted in an interview with Clubhouse Boxing. Despite losing investors and facing immense challenges, Warren recovered and remains a key figure in the sport, with Queensberry Promotions now boasting a roster of top heavyweight contenders.

The legacy of British heavyweights was further celebrated in the Channel 4 documentary ‘Four Kings,’ which aired on January 18, 2026. The four-part series revisited the golden age of British boxing in the early 1990s, when Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn, Frank Bruno, and Lennox Lewis captivated half a billion viewers worldwide. The documentary featured candid reflections on the rivalries, the physical toll of the sport, and the societal issues—like racism—that shaped their careers. Lennox Lewis, who features prominently in both the documentary and Haye’s top five, reflected on the era’s significance and the enduring impact of those battles on British boxing’s global standing.

As the debate over heavyweight greatness continues, David Haye’s controversial omission of Mike Tyson has added fresh fuel to a discussion that never seems to lose its punch. Whether fans agree or disagree, one thing’s for sure: the history and future of heavyweight boxing remain as compelling as ever.