‘I’ve never been able to handle it’: Mike Tyson admits he struggled with being a fighter… before insisting a ‘normal person’ could take a punch from him if they had the right ‘morality’
Mike Tyson has admitted he has ‘never been able to handle being a fighter,’ insisting he found it difficult to overcome fear during his boxing career.
Tyson was only 20 years old when he defeated Trevor Berbick to become heavyweight world champion in November 1986, but he struggled with nervousness before each of his 56 professional fights.
In a YouTube discussion with American actor and comedian Kenan Thompson, the 53-year-old reflected on his life in the ring.
‘I never thought I could handle being a fighter. It just was. I’ve never been able to handle it,’ Tyson explained.
‘You always get nervous. I’m nervous now. That’s just part of life. I believe from my experience that the feeling is a natural defence mechanism. You rise to the occasion or you freeze. You learn to deal with that.’
Tyson made nine defences of his titles before losing to underdog Buster Douglas in Tokyo in 1990. He was convicted of rape in 1992 and spent three years in prison.
He returned to boxing but was unable to recapture the awe-inspiring form which saw him win his first 35 fights.
Asked whether a ‘normal’ or ‘non-athletic’ person could take on of his punches, Tyson said: ‘What is a normal person?
‘It has nothing to do with being an athletic person, it’s about your morale. Fighting has a lot to do with morality too.
‘It’s not about taking it, it’s the willingness to die, that’s what life is. When you stand up to it you no longer have to fear it.
Tyson had his boxing license revoked and was fined 3 million dollars after biting Evander Holyfield on the ear in their 1997 rematch, but went on to fight another 10 times, retiring in 2005 with a record of 50 wins and six defeats.
Now he says his passion for the sport has helped him to maintain a healthy balance in later life.
‘I’m working out, I’m getting up every day, I do an hour on my bike, an hour on my treadmill, then I do some light weights.
‘I’m getting ready to go there, another week or two and I’m going to start hitting the bag.’