As one of the most dominant players in league history, Shaquille O'Neal is not one to mess with on and off the floor. His physique and demeanor make him a tough guy to intimidate.
However, there are a few people who have had the legendary hooper hesitating to fight back when they teased him with a slap or fist. How could he do that when two of them were once world-class fighters and former champions of their respective sports?
"It's only...three times people have touched me," O'Neal said . "I don't want to use the word 'scared,' but when you turn around and see their face, you turn it off. So we walkin' to the Super Bowl...and the motherf***** hit me in my back hard as hell. I turned around, like, 'Motherfu—, oh, what's up, Jon [Jones]? How you doin', my boy?'
"And [Mike] Tyson did the same thing. One time, I'm in a club in L.A. The motherf***** hit me right in the top of my neck with a fist, boom. It's like, 'Motherfu—, oh, what's up, Mike? How you doin'?"
Fighting legends
Shaq might be nine inches taller than Jones, but he knows better than to try to get into a physical altercation with the legendary UFC champion. The mixed martial artist holds several records in the organization, including being the youngest champion in UFC history, having the most title defenses, and having the longest unbeaten streak.
Some consider Jones the best mixed martial artist of all time, and considering that he has never been knocked out or outscored in any of his fights, that assertion might hold water.
On the other hand, Tyson is also highly revered in sports circles after an illustrious boxing career. Controversies aside, "Iron Mike" is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers ever. It wouldn't be surprising if he knocked out the bigger O'Neal with just one punch, as he finished his career with a knockout-to-win percentage of 88%.
At 58 years old, Tyson continues to be a menacing presence. He is even set to face YouTuber-turned-professional boxer Jake Paul in the ring later this year. Despite being 31 years older than his opponent and having never fought as a pro since 2005, "The Baddest Man on the Planet" is favored by some people, including "Diesel," to win the heavyweight bout.
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Shaq's fight history
While O'Neal let his game do the talking on the court, he also figured in some fights or brawls. Perhaps his most infamous one was against Charles Barkley, as that altercation saw the former Los Angeles Lakers superstar on the ground. Fortunately, that ended on a positive note , and they have become good friends because otherwise, we probably wouldn't be watching their undeniable chemistry on "Inside the NBA" all these years.
What if Shaq trained in fighting, though? Would he have been able to take on Jones or Tyson? Interestingly, he had the opportunity to take on two boxing legends as part of his previous show, "Shaq Vs." O'Neal fought Oscar De La Hoya in the first season, surprisingly holding his own in the handicapped exhibition match.
The four-time NBA champ then faced another boxing Hall of Famer in season two. However, he lost again to Shane Mosley in a unanimous decision. Maybe O'Neal should try to revive his show and invite Jones and Tyson this time.
Related: "Put that b*tch as* n**** through the goddamn hole" - When Kobe went off on Shaq to dunk on Duncan
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