Mike Tyson predicted Coco Gauff would become tennis GOAT when training precocious 15-year-old on punching bag

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.