There are very few men on Earth who would willingly engage in a fight with Mike Tyson – let alone back themselves to come out on top.

However, when you are former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell, such a bold statement takes on an entirely different meaning.

During the height of his powers, the Ice Man was a dominant force inside the octagon, dispatching the likes of Vitor Belfort, Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz, and also knocking out 13 of his 30 opponents and defending his title four times.

As for Tyson, he is the youngest heavyweight champion of all time and won his first 37 fights before suffering a shock defeat.

His intimidating aura owed much to his freakish power and controversial exploits in the ring – as well as his antics outside of it.

It is not uncommon for fans to speculate who would win a bout between fighters past and present, but Liddell himself is confident he would get the better of Iron Mike if they clashed.

“In a street fight, I’d win,” Liddell told Ed Mylett. “I mean, he’s got a puncher’s chance.

“He’s got a chance to catch me coming in. But other than that, it’s over.”

Liddell has not fought since a first round knockout defeat this time last year, when he took on Ortiz for a third time, while Tyson has not boxed since an embarrassing loss to journeyman Kevin McBride in 2005.

While Tyson, 53, is long retired, the 49-year-old Liddell continues to flirt with the idea of fighting again, much to the dismay of UFC president and close friend Dana White.

“Chuck Liddell is 50-years-old (sic) and should not be fighting,” White told TMZ recently. “He’s a grown man and can do whatever he wants to do, but let me tell you what. The commission who sanctions that fight… wow.”