I IDOLISED him [Mike Tyson] and Muhammad Ali since the age of nine. That was one of the best nights of my life because not only did I beat Tyson, I also met Ali on the same night.

His daughter [Laila] fought on the card and after I’d won, she said Ali wanted to talk to me. He whispered in my ear, “You’re the latest, I’m the greatest.”

But Tyson, even though he wasn’t training like he used to, he still hit very hard. But I beat Tyson with tactics, by using my strength and weight and leaning on him and pushing him around.