Boxing: Mike Tyson Shares How To Get Up After Reaching Rock Bottom

For long time boxing fans, the idea of seeing Mike Tyson step in the ring with almost all of his opponents will always end up with someone sleeping in the canvas remain. Tyson’s toughness is not an easy thing to ignore, thus, earning him the moniker “Iron”.

Now long retired, the 53-year old former boxer revealed in an interview that he is aware of the danger every time he steps in the ring on each of his fights, let alone during his training sessions in preparation for his bouts.

“I knew there was a possibility that I could die during training, during a fight. I knew that,” said Tyson, who was once called “The Baddest Man on the Planet.” “But I wasn’t scared, because I thought if anybody was going to die, I would do the killing,” he added per The Sportman’s interview transcript.

“That self-confidence was a survival mechanism. But now, from my experience, from what I believe, the more I know about not existing, the more willing I am to die.”

Tyson was top of the world as one of the best sluggers in the ring during the 80s, had been in jail, and went bankrupt the succeeding decades – but he remains one of the relevant personalities in the sport until now. He’s been through it all and his message to overcome the struggle is just on one’s mindset.

“You can change your mind anytime you want. You could be who you want anytime you want,” said the former heavyweight king. “You could say, right now, “I want to be in entertainment” – become that person! Work with that.”

Tyson’s 88-percent knock-out rate as a professional boxer had produced some of the most vicious in the business. One solid punch, the opposition either lays down flat on the floor or struggle to get back on their feet and suffer even more damage. As dangerous as it looks, the former world champion said he’s not afraid of it – even death.

“Yeah. I don’t fear it. Living might be more complicated than dying to me,” he responded. “Because living takes a lot of courage. Without courage, you can’t handle living. Living is a journey, living is a struggle.”

Tyson ended his career after back-to-back KO losses to Kevin McBride and Danny Williams. He compiled 50 wins – all but six by way of knock-out, six losses and two no-contest in a career that spanned for two decades. He’s currently a host of his podcast Hotboxin’ where few of his most recent guests were Sugar Ray Leonard, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, and Tyson Fury.