Two-time heavyweight champion Mike Tyson is fabled for his ruthless mindset during his rise to superstardom, taking on all comer’s and dispatching of them with little remorse. Now, as the 58-year-old prepares for a comeback to professional boxing, that same fear inducing mentality appears to be creeping back into the head of ‘Iron Mike’.
Tyson became the youngest heavyweight world champion in history when he dethroned Trevor Berbick with a second-round knockout in 1986 aged just 20-years-old. Just nine months later, Tyson would defeat Tony Tucker to become the undisputed heavyweight champion, extending his record to 31-0 with 27 KOs.
However, as impressive as this run was, it was the mindset of the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ that made him a global sensation, just as much as his knockout wins and obvious skill.
After being on the wrong side of the biggest upset in the history of boxing and later enduring a stint in prison, a matured Tyson would return to the heavyweight throne in 1996 before losing his belts to Evander Holyfield.
During a run that would eventually result in an unsuccessful bid at three-time champion status, it was clear to see that the vicious mindset of Tyson was still present in a 33-year-old Tyson – who unleashed one of the most famous and intimidating speeches in sporting history after he knocked out Lou Savarese at Hampden Park in 2000.
Mike Tyson’s message after knocking out an opponent in 38 seconds.
Glasgow, Scotland, 2000. pic.twitter.com/HcjdOjudjH
— fastr (@fastrlife) November 4, 2022
“I was gonna rip his heart out. I’m the best ever. I’m the most brutal and vicious, the most ruthless champion there has ever been. No one can stop me. Lennox is a conqueror? No! I’m Alexander! He’s no Alexander! I’m the best ever. I’m Sonny Liston. I’m Jack Dempsey. There’s never been anyone like me. I’m from their cloth. There is no one who can match me. My style is impetuous, my defence is impregnable, and I’m just ferocious. I want his heart! I want to eat his children!”
In 2005, Mike Tyson hung up the gloves after suffering a defeat to Kevin McBride and he has mellowed out since, caring for his pigeons as well as his cannabis business and appearing much calmer and content with life on his popular podcast ‘Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson’.
Yet, now that a professional fight is scheduled, it seems as though Tyson has reverted back to the killer instincts of old, reluctant to allow YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul have a permanent impact on his résumé.
Speaking with talkSPORT, Tyson admitted that he does not fear for Paul, despite the vast difference in their ring experience and declared that his goal is to ‘catch and slaughter’ his younger dance-partner.
“He is going to be running around and I have to catch him and slaughter him.
“[No, I don’t fear for him], because he is stepping into the ring. If my Mother stepped into the ring, she has a problem with me. Whoever is in that ring – they have a problem with me. Don’t go into the ring if you don’t want that problem.”
Paul-Tyson will take place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on November 15th, headlining an intriguing card that will be available to watch live on Netflix.
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