Mike Tyson knows a special talent when he sees one.
In 2019, the former undisputed world heavyweight champion spent some time with Coco Gauff, then a budding tennis star.
Iron Mike was clearly impressed with what he saw from the then-15-year-old, who was filmed hitting a punching bag with Tyson stood behind it.
“Future GOAT 15 year old WTA @CocoGauff,” Tyson captioned the footage which was shared to social media.
“Awesome example of kindness, courage and tenacity. Look out for what she does in 2020”.
He wasn’t far off with his prediction.
Gauff burst onto the scene in 2019 when she beat idol Venus Williams at Wimbledon when she was just 15.
Since then, the Atlanta native has gone from strength to strength, claiming her first WTA 1000 title at the Cincinnati Masters last year and winning her first major singles title at the 2023 US Open.
The 20-year-old has soared to No. 3 in the WTA Rankings and has the same seed at this year’s French Open, which gets underway next week.
Tyson has been a key mentor in Gauff’s rise to prominence, and in January 2023 she revealed she’d trained with the boxing icon to help boost her chances of winning her first Slam.
“To help me follow in Emma [Raducanu’s] footsteps and win a Slam, I added a new activity into my pre-season training – boxing,” she wrote for the BBC.
“My fitness trainer wanted me to box to help improve balance and so I went down to a gym near where I live in Florida.
“I’m not a fighter – even though I have trained in the past with Mike Tyson.
“If someone came up and punched me I would be out first punch!
“The pre-season training was in a proper gym where there were professional fighters training and whenever they would come to watch I was talking really loud – like, ‘yeah my tennis tournament’ – so they knew I wasn’t a fighter.
“I didn’t want them to think this girl is trash and is going to get whooped! I wanted them to know this is not what I do.”
It was a special year for Gauff in 2023, and Tyson was at the US Open to watch the talented teen win her first round match.
Gauff battled past 35-year-old German Laura Siegemund in a gruelling three set match.
The 57-year-old, currently training for a showdown with Jake Paul, loved what he saw and praised Gauff’s grit and determination in the face of adversity.
“She’s a young girl, she has perseverance, she continues on, she doesn’t get discouraged,” Tyson said. “She’s going to be a big-time champion.
Tyson’s bold prediction proved prophetic once again.
Later that month, Gauff won the tournament at Flushing Meadows, New York, beating world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka in three sets in the final.
In doing so, Gauff became the first American teenager to win the US Open since Serena Williams in 1999.
In October, Gauff capped off a memorable year by returning to the World No. 1 doubles ranking with compatriot Jessica Pegula.
Gauff returns to Roland Garros this week with the hopes of securing a second Grand Slam singles title.
She’s reached the final in Paris before, losing to world No. 1 Iga Świątek in straight sets in 2022.
The American will look to go one better this year and will undoubtedly have tennis-obsessed Tyson backing her all the way.
News Summary:
- Mike Tyson predicted Coco Gauff would become tennis GOAT when training precocious 15-year-old on punching bag
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